Opposition files motion for COI into fatal shooting at Lusignan Prison

Nov 18, 2020 News

Killed: Earl Graham (Photo Courtesy of Stabroek News)

Kaieteur News – Opposition members of parliament (MPs), on Monday filed a parliamentary motion for the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate September’s unrest and shooting at the Lusignan Prison which left two inmates dead.
According to the document seen by this media house, the motion was raised by Geeta Chandan-Edmond and seconded by Jermaine Figueira both members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Chandan-Edmond told reporters during a press conference, held in front of Parliament Buildings before the motion was filed, that relatives of the dead inmates are seeking answers and it’s the government’s duty to give them satisfaction.

Scene from the unrest at Lusignan Prison on September 19

Janice Williams, the sister of Earl Graham, one of the inmates shot dead during the unrest, was also present in front of Parliament on Monday. She detailed to reporters that she had received information and evidence suggesting that there is another version to her brother’s death. She detailed that he was shot inside the perimeter of the prison and questioned the reasons why the officers chose to discharge live rounds into a crowd. The woman said that she loved her brother and shared a wonderful relationship him which has led her to seek answers and demand justice.
The Opposition MPs at the press conference, which included executive members of Alliance for Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman, Cathy Hughes and Sherod Duncan, then headed up the flight stairs leading to the office of Sherlock Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly.
The document handed over, detailed that the motion was filed on the basis of Article 138(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana. That article prescribed that no person shall be deprived of his life intentionally, save in the execution of the sentence of a Court in respect of an offence under the Laws of Guyana of which he has been convicted.
It was further detailed in the motion that in accordance with the Commission of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03, “The President may issue a Commission appointing one or more Commissioners and authorizing such Commissioners to inquire into any matters in which an inquiry would in the opinion of the President be for the public welfare.”
The opposition contested in the motion that the Minister of Home Affairs has failed to provide credible information and to provide answers on a matter of such importance. The motion stated that, “Should it be resolved the motion stated that the National Assembly calls on the Government of the Guyana to accept collective responsibility to this House for the unrest in accordance with Article 106(2) of the Constitution.”
Kaieteur News had reported on September 20 that unrest had escalated on the afternoon of September 19 after some 120 prisoners had tested positive for COVID-19. Two government ministers who had visited the prisons that day were pelted with objects and forced to run for safety. Prison authorities had reported that things spiraled out of control and called the situation a massive disorder. They resorted to firing live rounds from the towers in the prison walls. Two inmates were killed and several others were injured.
In October it was reported by another section of the media that family members of one of the dead prisoners wanted an investigation to be launched into his fatal shooting. That inmate was identified as Earl Graham, 51, who was at the time serving a three-month sentence for malicious wounding and resisting arrest.

Pic: Unrest
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