Rodney CoI will not be cheap, but money will be well spent – President Ramotar

Mar 28, 2014 News

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By Latoya Giles
The Commission of Inquiry into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney, which is likely to begin sometime after the Easter holiday weekend, will not come cheap. This was the assertion of President Donald Ramotar at a press conference yesterday.
“I don’t have the figures at my fingertips….but I know it’s not cheap,” the Head of State saidead Head of stateH+. He said that once government decided to “go down that road of having the inquiry”, it knew for a fact that the money would be well spent.
Ramotar explained that contrary to reports about something being sinister in the holding of the inquiry, his government is fulfilling the wishes of Rodney’s wife, Patricia.

“This process started and it was not initiated by me, but by a request by the family, particularly his wife, Patricia Rodney”, Ramotar said.
He said that the Terms of Reference which some parties have been protesting against were crafted by Rodney’s family and advisors, along with some technical help from government. Ramotar stressed that it was Rodney’s wife who made the comment about not wanting it to be political.
“We created all the conditions that no one will be criminally prosecuted and people could come forward and speak what they know,” the president said. He made the point of persons trying to put a spin on it to imply that there’s something sinister, which he dismissed.
Last Wednesday was the deadline for persons who wished to give evidence in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI). Those persons were asked to submit written statements to the Commission containing the nature and substance of the proposed evidence, “no later than March 26”.
According to an advertisement published in this newspaper on Saturday, the Commission was asking for persons to submit statements with their name, address and telephone numbers. Persons wishing to tender documents, books and plans could have submitted copies of those along with their written statements.
Lawyer attached to the Commission Ms. Latchmie Rahamat had told Kaieteur News that they had been receiving statements from persons both in Guyana and overseas. She, however, said that it would be premature at this point to say exactly how many persons have come forward.
Statements could have been dropped off at the Secretariat of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, Supreme Court Library Building, South Street, Georgetown.
Further it was noted that the statements being submitted must be relevant to the Terms of Reference which were crafted by the sponsoring agent, the Government. The terms include “examining the facts and circumstances immediately prior at the time of and subsequent to the death of Dr. Rodney in order to determine as far as possible who or what was responsible for the explosion resulting in the death of Rodney”.
Commissioners would have to enquire into the cause of the explosion in which Dr. Walter Rodney died; whether it was an act of terrorism and if so, who were the perpetrators. Commissioners would also have to specifically examine the role, if any, which the late Gregory Smith, a sergeant of the Guyana Defence Force, played in the death of Rodney and if so, to inquire into who may have counseled, procured, aided and or abetted him to do so, including  facilitating his departure from Guyana after Rodney’s death.
Several days ago at a press conference, Chairman for the Commission Sir Richard Cheltenham (QC) said that the hearings are likely to begin sometime after the Easter Holiday weekend.
According to the Chairman, once there is enough material and witnesses available, the sittings will begin the Tuesday after Easter. He said that the Commission would sit for an initial nine days, before taking a break for about two weeks and resuming.
Cheltenham had noted that the circumstances surrounding Rodney’s death weren’t fairly investigated and made known to the world, so it’s an unresolved issue for his family.
“There has been no clear answer from any investigation to determine this,” the Chairman said.
Cheltenham also said that they intend to “dig deeply” in relation to the facts and come to a conclusion as to who was responsible and why it was done.  He said that to get an answer would be good, especially for the family, which is mainly the purpose for the inquiry.
Since being appointed and during their second visit to Guyana, the Commissioners received their instruments with which to work. He said they have been building support for the Commission which is necessary when dealing with an incident that goes back so far.
He said that they have had several meetings with various stakeholders in Guyana. He disclosed that they have held discussions with the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Phillips, Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell, the Private Sector Commission, the Guyana Trades Union Congress, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman.
Political parties were not left out of the loop; Cheltenham said that they have held meetings with both the People’s Progressive Party Civic and A Partnership for National Unity.

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