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Mark Benschop refuses private testimony at Prison COI
Social activist, Mark Benschop, has condemned the actions of officials attached to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into Camp Street Prison disturbance for their refusal to allow his testimony about his five years as a prisoner to be conducted in the presence of the media and members of the public.
Social Activist,
Mark Benschop
Benschop was charged for treason and was incarcerated for five years at the Camp Street facility during the tenure of former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Given his experience in the penitentiary, the social activist had submitted a statement to the Commission and was scheduled to testify before the panel headed by Justice James Patterson on Friday.
However, when the social activist turned up to offer his testimony to the commission, he was informed by the Chairman,(Justice Patterson) that his testimony will be conducted in camera.
The social activist became incensed and noted that he was not prepared to speak to the commission privately at a public hearing. Benschop reiterated his desire was only to tell the truth about his experience as a prisoner at Camp Street without fear or reservation.
Following the incident on Friday, the social activist took to social media to express his disappointment.
“So, the Commission of Inquiry (COI) has refused to allow members of the media and public listen to my testimony about my five years as a Political Prisoner. The fact that it’s a Public Inquiry, I’m suspicious of the decision to exclude the media, and members of the public. So, I’ve refused to testify in private and partake in a farce,” Benschop posted.
The COI was ordered by President David Granger following one of the deadliest riots that took place within the prisons in recent years. Seventeen prisoners persished after a fire broke out in Capital Block A of the Camp Street jail.
The President appointed Justice James Patterson, Merle Mendonca and retired Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine as Commissioners to oversee the work.
The panel is expected to investigate, examine and report on the causes, circumstances and conditions that led to the disturbances on the morning of March 3, 2016, that resulted in the death of prisoners and any other subsequent disturbances at the Camp Street Prisons; the nature of all injuries sustained by the Prisoners, and any other subsequent disturbances.
According to the rules of procedure, the commission was expected to render its report, findings and recommendations to the Minister of Public Security.
Stakeholders whose views will be considered by the commission may include staff of the Prisons and their representative unions, members of the judiciary, prisoners accommodated within the Camp Street facility, functionaries in the Ministries of Public Health and Social Protection and any other stakeholder whose input would be deemed appropriate.
The Inquiry is being conducted in the Conference Room of the Department of Public Service, Ministry of the Presidency, 164 Waterloo Street, South Cummingsburg, and can be held in such other places as the Chairman may determine.
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