Brother tells hearing… Walter Rodney explosion ‘no accident’ –he was not fiddling with device at the time
Donald Rodney at the scene of the explosion outside what is now the White Castle Fish Shop as he explains to the Commissioners what transpired on the night of Friday June 13, 1980
Donald Rodney at the scene of the explosion outside what is now the White Castle Fish Shop as he explains to the Commissioners what transpired on the night of Friday June 13, 1980

THE PUBLIC hearings into the June 13, 1980 bomb explosion that killed Working Peoples Alliance (WPA) Leader, Dr. Walter Rodney resumed yesterday with the lone survivor and witness to the fatal incident returning to the crime scene.Donald Rodney was accompanied by Commission of Inquiry (COI) Chairman, Sir Richard Cheltenham, and Queens Counsel Seenauth Jairam and Jaqueline Samuel-Brown.

Donald Rodney discounting the route that police alleged he used on the night of the incident and explains to commissioners by the police’s account is improbable (Photos by Delano Williams)
Donald Rodney discounting the route that police alleged he used on the night of the incident and explains to commissioners by the police’s account is improbable (Photos by Delano Williams)

Also in the entourage were Attorneys-at-Law, Keith Scotland and Christopher Ram among stakeholders and other interested parties.
Departing the High Court shortly after 09:30hrs, Donald Rodney firstly took the Commissioners to Russell and Howes Street where he’d parked his car on that fateful night to go and retrieve the ‘walkie-talkie’ set from Guyana Defence Force (GDF)’s Sergeant Gregory Smith.
Indicating to the Commission where the car was parked a few yards east of Russell, on Howes Street, the witness recounted how he left his brother, Walter, in the parked car before making his way to Smith’s house, in the second yard on the western half of Russell Street, north of Howes Street.
After detailing to the Commissioners where he met Sergeant Smith in Russell Street, the entourage then proceeded east along Howes Street, before turning north onto Adelaide Street as recalled by Donald Rodney.
He took the Commissioners to the location just north of Princes Street, where he and Dr. Rodney had stopped and waited for the first signal before moving on to the second location.
Rodney testified that he and Dr. Rodney then drove north, about 90 yards past the Georgetown Prison to the scene of the explosion, located immediately in front of White

Donald Rodney detailing the layout of the Howes Street house where Gregory Smith lived
Donald Rodney detailing the layout of the Howes Street house where Gregory Smith lived

Castle Fish Shop on Hadfield Street.
According to the Witness, he did not observe his brother fiddling with the device at any time, a speculation that has led many to believe that Dr. Rodney had accidentally set off the explosive. He indicated to the Commissioners that following the explosion, before even rendering assistance to his brother, he made his way north to Croal Street, before turning east into that corner and heading to the home of Dr. Omawale. The property at reference is located on the lot which now sits the Caribbean Chemicals Building on Croal Street.
Donald Rodney is expected to resume his testimony and be cross examined by Attorneys.

 

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