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Camp Street prison fire deaths…Eyewitnesses set to testify at COI
Inmates of the Georgetown Prisons, who are said to have witnessed the inferno which claimed the lives of 17 prisoners on March 3, last, will be given an opportunity to present their evidence to the Commission of
Attorneys at the COI speak to the media.
Inquiry (COI) into the deadly riot.
The COI was ordered by President David Granger. The Commission is expected to take statements from inmates from the Camp Street Prison and even from the other prisons. They will also take statements from the relatives, prison officers and anyone else they deem necessary.
Based on the information yielded, Commissioners former Justice James Patterson, former Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine and human rights activist Merle Mendonca are expected to make recommendations with the aim of improving the prison system and infrastructure.
These recommendations are to be presented to the Government to act on the Commission’s recommendations and institute reforms.
Yesterday, the hearing convened but witnesses who were scheduled to testify were unavailable. However, members of the Commission met in chambers to discuss legal matters pertaining to the application by the Guyana Bar Association to officially join the Commissioners. Statements procured from witnesses were also circulated and perused by the Attorneys.
According to Counsel for the Commission, Excellence Dazzell, prisoners Owen Belfield and Clifton Joseph were set to testify yesterday. She reported that the men will not be available for the hearing due to different reasons.
She told the Commission that she was informed by Belfield‘s Attorney, Emily Dodson, that her client is unable to attend the hearing because of the time he will spend travelling to the city. The Attorney further disclosed the other prisoner, Clifton Joseph, could not attend the COI because he was ill; Joseph is said to have been injured during the fire.
Attorney Dexter Todd, who was retained to provide legal representation for relatives of those who perished in the fire, noted his satisfaction in the manner in which the hearings are being conducted thus far. He said that the Commission has displayed a level of maturity and fairness as it seeks to inquire into the fatal scenario.
He said, however, that there are concerns about the issues of procedure. Todd raised the contention about inmates who would have been called before the Commission the last few days.
He noted that none of the prisoners could have given evidence which indicate that they had substantial knowledge of the incident.
“If there was any need for someone (inmates) who would have witnessed the incident then we must look to those who were outside. This is the application by Counsel and I think for the Commission to accept and grant that would be very good for the purpose of the (COI).
Todd was joined by Attorney Darren Wade who was recently retained by a group of prisoners who are said to be eyewitnesses to the event. The inmates belong to Capital C of the Camp Street Prison. Wade told the media that he is hoping that his clients’ version of the story would be heard and the truth of what really transpired in Camp Street will be revealed to the nation.
Wade said that he believes Guyana deserves to know the truth.
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