Latest update February 24th, 2025 6:16 AM
Latest News
President to bring end to Rodney COI
…one more sitting possible
The public hearings of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of historian and former Working People’s Alliance (WPA) co-founder, Dr. Walter Rodney, may soon come to an end, according to President David Granger.
Walter Rodney
The recently elected President made the revelation as he engaged members of the media at the Ministry of the Presidency, shortly after nine new Ministers of Government were sworn in last Friday.
Granger said, “The Rodney Commission has not performed adequately. It has allowed a lot of hearsay evidence; a lot of time and money has been wasted and I would like to bring it to a conclusion as early as possible.”
Granger noted that the inquiry was commissioned last year and despite a four-month deadline, it has gone on for well over a year, costing Guyanese millions. He emphasised that the Commission of Inquiry had already received several extensions and “money is being wasted.”
“I did not say I would stop it. I would like to bring it to a conclusion as early as possible. I don’t envisage any more extensions,” the new Head of State said. He told members of the media too that he has not met with the Commissioners since assuming office.
Since the death of the WPA co-founder and political stalwart on June 13, 1980, fingers have been pointed in the direction of the People’s National Congress (PNC), one of the parties that fall under the coalition, a Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), that President Granger heads.
The CoI was initially scheduled to last four months, following its April last year commencement date.
President David Granger
Since, the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic-led administration had extended the inquiry’s life on several occasions.
Last April, Members of Tenth Parliament were unanimous in their approval of $112M to fund the work of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, an allocation that was listed under the Office of the President’s $2.2B expenditure estimates in the 2014 Budget.
Subsequently, the hearings were opened in the Supreme Court Law Library in Georgetown last May by Chairman of the CoI, Sir Richard Cheltenham.
Back in February, last year, former President Ramotar had said that the Rodney Commission will not come cheap and that he knew for a fact that the money would be well spent. Subsequently, the former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, stated that the Commission spends about $20M a month.
Ramotar had said that the Terms of Reference document was crafted by Rodney’s family and advisors, along with some technical help from the then 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 inquire 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.
Dr. Rodney was killed when a bomb exploded in the car in which he was sitting. He was 38 years old at the time. Dr. Rodney was, at the time of his death, an eminent political leader engaged in a struggle against authoritarian rule for democracy and social justice.
Since the commencement of the Commission, many have travelled from places like the United States and French Guiana to offer their testimony into the incident which occurred over three decades ago.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Crowds, chaos and complaints
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The folly of the cash grant distribution is a textbook case of what happens when a government,... more
Why the U.S. Should Strengthen Trade Ties with the Caribbean
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- A rules-based international trading system has long been a foundation of global commerce,... more
Weekend Cartoon
