SHORTLY after 11:00 hrs yesterday, members of the Commission of Inquiry into the Linden killings arrived at the Mackenzie Bridge in their visit to the mining town, and were greeted by a small vociferous crowd that had come out to give its side of the tragic July 18th incident.

Under able police escort, CoI members, along with members of their secretariat; state lawyers and members of the media; Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, representing the interests of the deceased; and APNU Attorneys James Bond, Basil Williams and Llewellyn John; E&F Police Divisional Commander, Asst Commissioner Gavin Primo; Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon, and Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis were the senior officers in attendance.
The atmosphere was electrified by the shouts of the crowd: “We want justice! We want justice!” and a woman broke down in tears, showing her emotions as she saw the police officers and the commissioners at the bridge.
The commissioners, seeking to have a firsthand experience of the situation on the day in question, were taken through the experience by APNU Councillor Callender, as he detailed the activities of the police, protesters, and bystanders before and after the shooting.
Questioned by members of the CoI, Callender gave clear answers, and indicated that he would make himself available to testify to the commission if called, as his statement had already been submitted.
The crowd was asked to step back a few metres to allow the commissioners free movement and to facilitate their viewing the area in question. The crowd cooperated.
Commissioner Mr. K.D. Knights then asked for Senior Superintendent Hicken, Assistant Superintendent Todd, Sergeant English and Constable Grant, who were in a police vehicle in the convoy with three other ranks, covering activities of Social Activist Mark Benschop, who was inciting the crowd to chant, “Murder! Murder! Murder! Look the murderers!”
The policemen came to the eastern entrance of the Mackenzie Bridge, where they spoke to members of the commission and answered a few questions.
The commissioners, attorneys and members of the media then began walking to the western side of the bridge.
The crowd, prevented from coming close to the commissioners’ space, earlier remained on the eastern side of the bridge while the commissioners looked at the structures and other materials which were shown to them by Calendar.
The commissioners then questioned Constable Grant on the photographs he had taken, and where he was when he had taken the shots on this side of the bridge.
Grant then gave details as he recollected, pointing out where the protesters were gathered; and the commissioners where then given a tour to the Wismar Police Station and the Half Mile and One Mile areas, before returning to the Wismar Police Station to have a firsthand look at a police station in Guyana.
Commissioner Knight was given a tour of the Wismar Police Station by Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Gavin Primo. While there, Knights was introduced to a female rank on duty, and had opportunity to observe the procedure that obtained at that police station, being facilitated by the rank present.
The convoy then returned to the bridge, where the waiting crowd had increased in number and were carrying slogans of “Welcome to Region 10”, “Help us stop police brutality”, “Justice must be served for our dead and injured”, among others.
The bus carrying the commissioners, attorneys and police officers was forced to stop as the protesters advanced on it, although they were stopped by Primo and other ranks.
The angry crowd, again with incitement from pardoned treason-accused Benschop, called for Sen. Supt Hicken and ASP Todd to “come out and face us!”, the words they chanted as the commissioners were about to have the surveyors measure the area to verify the statements given by ASP Todd and others.
The angry crowd’s refusal to allow the bus to continue on its journey delayed the process. Women began sitting in the pathway of the bus to prevent it from moving.
The bridge blocking continued for over 35 minutes, resulting in heavy build-up of traffic on both sides, and the police had to take control and diffuse a potentially ugly situation. They cleared a path, enabling the commissioners to proceed to the Watooka Guest House for lunch, to conclude the visit.
Sitting of the commission will continue today at the Supreme High Court Library promptly at 09:30 hrs; and will see Police Sergeant English continue giving his testimony.