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Walter Rodney COI Report riddled with unverifiable evidence, fictitious conclusions –Harmon
— it flies in the face of natural justice
By: Kiana Wilburg
After six hours of debate, Parliamentarians from the Government’s side of the House refused to lend support
Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira
to the Opposition’s motion on the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report. This motion was brought before the National Assembly on Thursday by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.
The Member of Parliament said that it is a victory in the name of transparency and accountability to have the report debated in Parliament. She said that it is morally and ethically right that the Guyanese legislators do this, and the time is now to support the motion which she believes is of great importance to the nation and its people.
The Opposition Member said that it is important to have a debate on the matter in the “House of Democracy” so as to right an injustice that was done to a revered Guyanese scholar, Dr. Walter Rodney on June 13, 1980.
Teixeira recalled that the government laid Volume One of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry in the National Assembly on May 12, last. She said, too, that the Commission in its Report presented its findings including 11 significant recommendations.
The Opposition Chief Whip then called for the House to adopt the report and its findings. She also called for the Government to take measures to implement the recommendations in the report to ensure that the democratic architecture of the state is preserved and strengthened.
Teixeira noted that many individuals in certain sections of the society had challenges with the CoI process
The late
Dr. Walter Rodney
saying that it was riddled with confusion. She recalled with dismay that some persons even challenged the integrity of the process and that of its Commissioners.
The Opposition Member said that such a process which was intended to bring the truth to light, was subjected to aspersions being cast by some persons on the evidence given by witnesses in the matter.
In spite of what the “naysayers” believe, Teixeira stressed that many Guyanese felt vindicated by the outcome of the Commission of Inquiry.
But her call for support on the motion from members of the Government side met absolute rejection.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said that successive governments have attempted to bring closure and an end to the speculation of the cause of Rodney’s death and the culpability of that death.
Harmon said that the House would recall that the PPP led by Donald Ramotar appointed a COI into Rodney’s death on February 6, 2014. He said that the CoI had a number of terms of reference one of which included to inquire into the cause of the explosion that led to Rodney’s demise , ascertain whether it was an act of terrorism and who were the perpetrators.
The Minister of State said that the APNU and the AFC opposition at that time supported the establishment of the CoI but stressed that the terms of reference remained a serious area of concern. The Parliamentarian said, too, that what was also contentious was the approach in the selection of the Commissioners for the Inquiry.
Harmon also spoke extensively about the fact that there was a lack of consultation with the then APNU
Minister of State
Joseph Harmon
and AFC opposition members on the appointment of the Commissioners and the terms of reference.
The Minister of State said that information on the process and the information coming out of the CoI were manipulated and used during the May 11elections to hoodwink the nation.
Harmon said that he and his colleagues could not throw their support behind the findings of the CoI Report, as it would contribute to a well orchestrated attempt by the PPP to deceive the nation.
The politician said that the CoI failed to fulfill its mandate outlined in the terms of reference. He said, too, that the report is riddled with opinions, conjecture, unverifiable evidence and fictitious conclusions and would fly in the face of natural justice.
Harmon emphasized that the CoI into Rodney’s death missed a great opportunity for moral clarity on this 36-year-old anomaly. He added that while the Government cannot support the motion in its entirety, it is prepared to capture some of the recommendations in the report.
Other speakers on the motion included, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; PPP’s Komal Chand, Joseph Hamilton and Cornel Damon; Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.
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