Chairman of the Linden Commission of Inquiry, Justice Lensley Woolfe, yesterday at the Victoria Law Ccourt library announced that Attorney –at – law Mr Ronald Burchsmith who had resigned as Secretary for reasons not made clear, is now replaced by Mr Hugh Denbow, former administrator of the commission.

He was at the time making his welcoming remarks before commencing the first session for the New Year, with  persons injured on the July 18, 2012 protest at the McKenzie Wismar bridge being cross-examined.
Six persons, including Executive Director of NICIL Mr. Winston Brassington, were cross-examined as to claims for compensation for injuries or damage to properties  during or after July 18th, 2012.
The others were Shella Austin, Alleshaw Barker, Ruben Bowen aka ‘Pastry Man’, Jahmeke Brumell, Janice Burgan and Ulric Cameron.
Shella Austin, who was the first to take the stand yesterday morning, indicated that she lived with her 10- year-old son and had a small grocery shop.
She was on the day in question at the bridge and received injuries to her abdomen and left leg and could not work for the period of a month since she was in constant pain from the injuries received.
Regarding financial losses, Austin told the Commission of  losing perishable items in her grocery valued at $60,000, and she incurred laundry expenses of $17,000. Then there was the loss of her monthly income of $20,000 to $30,000
Alieshaw Barker was next and told the Commission that she was shot in both legs while in search of her 15-year-old  old son on the day in question.
She said that she was unemployed and had been hospitalised, and received medical treatment at the Linden hospital complex, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the Ananamayah Memorial Hospital in Berbice.
She said that she received laser treatment at St.Joseph,  surgery at the Ananamayah Memorial Hospital and tendered bills totalling over $280,000.
Asked if she had considered the Georgetown Public Hospital  for treatment, she said yes and explained what had happened.
Barker stated that she sought a referral from the doctor at the Linden Hospital Complex and did not get the requested document as she was in pain and restricted in movement and had to be assisted by her children with all the household activities.
She said that during the period, she sought assistance from her aunt who lived in Berbice and took her family there, since she was advised of the Ananamayah Memorial Hospital where she received medical attention.
Then Ruben Bowen, who appeared with a pair of crutches, and had to be assisted since he could not stand on his feet, testified to the Commission.
He stated that he was on the day in question at the bridge where the protest meeting was taking place when he was hit by gunfire just above the knees.
He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital and then transferred to the Linden Hospital Complex.
He explained to the commissioners  his income lost since he was selling pastry products in the interior mining location.
He told the Commission that he would invest about $35,000 in supplies, and would have at the end of the week $75,000 to $80,000 from his sales, and he would make four trips per week.
He indicated that since the day he was injured he was unable to work because of the pain in his legs.
The Commission then made a recommendation that he be examined by a surgeon and return with the results of the examination on Wednesday.
Jahmeke Brumell, who worked at a car wash service was next on the stand and laid his claims for compensation for time lost after sustaining a gunshot wound to his right leg.
Janice Burgan, a seamstress and self-employed, was called to lay claim for compensation after receiving a gunshot wound to her back. Today she cannot sit for long and so she had to give up her job.
She indicated that she was at the time earning some $15,000 per month, and  she was unable to earn some cash until last December.
She noted that in December she had earned $10,000 from the sewing of some curtains for a customer.
Ulric Cameron, a tyre repair man in Linden, was in the vicinity of the Linden Secretariat on his way home from work when he was shot.
He was admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex, then to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was hospitalised for over 20 days.
He received treatment and surgery to the chest where he was shot and today still has some pellets in his body which will have to be removed surgically.
A total of $105,000 in compensation was submitted for the period he was hospitalised and could not support his wife and family of four children.
Finally, Mr. Winston Brassington, Executive Director of NICIL testified, seeking compensation for damage to the  company’s premises damaged by fire.
Brassington presented estimates for the block complex which housed nine businesses and the Linmine Secretariat, all damaged by fire.
The estimates totalled some $205M, which raised a number of questions from the attorney for APNU, Mr. Basil Williams.
Williams indicated that NICIL was government-owned and sought to find out who was going to pay compensation to them when they are a part of the government.
He explained that NICIL was a holding company and had a lot of money and that the buildings concerned were there since colonial times, and was old, with tonnes of bauxite on them.
Brassington denied the description made by Williams of the complex and indicated that he was tendering the estimates since, in the wake of no compensation being granted his company, he would seek government’s assistance to rebuild.
The commissioners sought clarity on this, and thanked Brassington for his time.
The commission continues today, and will see another eight persons taking the stand.