THE Linden Commission of Inquiry (COI) has so far unveiled much clarity and truth and has unearthed enormous conflict among those who have taken premature and often times violent positions, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon observed Thursday.

Speaking at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, at his usual post-Cabinet media briefing, he said the process has also confounded many who, by their utterances, actions and positions, have shown their disregard for process.
“A well-ordered process into clarifying matters of concern has many important benefits. At least such benefits would encourage us to continue to adhere to well-ordered processes into clarifying areas of concerns, doubts. This COI is about process. We will be exclusively considering evidence,” Luncheon remarked.
So far, he said, the hearings have removed exaggerations and doubts. “Positions and reputations have been discredited and the way things are going, many more will fall, and this process is only 13 days old.”
“Cabinet continues to insist that the disclosures of the COI should definitively resolve many issues that have otherwise been hijacked by the utterances, behaviour of anarchists and opportunists, in our midst,” he said.
The long-awaited COI into the last July 18 shooting at the Mackenzie bridge in Linden, where three persons lost their lives in protest over proposed electricity tariff hikes, commenced last month.
The proceedings began in the Law Library building of the High Court, before Commission Chairman, Lensley Wolfe and Commissioners Dana Seetahal, K.D. Knight, Cecil Kennard and Claudette Singh.
Also present at the proceedings were Secretary of the Commission Ronald Burch-Smith; Attorneys-at-law Ganesh Hira and Euclin Gomes; and Administrator to the Commission, Hugh Denbow.
Attorney–at-law Nigel Hughes appeared for the three deceased persons; Attorneys –at–law Hukumchand and Peter Hugh represented the Guyana Police Force; Attorneys–at–law Mohammed Khan and Dawn Holder-Alert represented the Guyana Bar Association; Attorney–at–law Vic Puran represented Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee; and Attorneys–at–law Basil Williams, Joseph Harmon and James Bond represented A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
The proceedings commenced with the Chairman clearly outlining the ‘terms of reference’ to all, and the procedure the inquiry would adopt. Commissioner of Police (Ag) (COP) Leroy Brumell, DSM, was the first to take the stand.