AT the penultimate session of the Linden Commission of Inquiry (COI) yesterday, relatives of the three men killed during the protest in Linden on July 18, 2012, gave testimony. The final hearing will be held today and the Commissioners have until February 28 to hand in their report.

The COI was set up by President Donald Ramotar to “inquire into and report on the circumstances surrounding the shooting to death of Allan Lewis, Ron Somerset and Shemroy Bouyea, and the injury of several other persons on the 18th July, 2012, at the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge.”
Lewis, Bouyea and Somerset were killed during the July 18 protest and several other persons injured. The protest had stemmed from government’s move to gradually increase electricity rates in Linden to bring them on par with those being paid by the rest of the country.
Relatives of two of the deceased, Lewis and Bouyea, gave information about the income of the deceased and detailed who were dependent on them. However, it was revealed during the testimony that both of the deceased did not have regular jobs and did odd jobs around the town.
With respect to the last deceased, Somerset, his mother will be travelling from Suriname to testify before the commission this morning.
The five Commissioners who listened to and questioned witnesses summoned before them are Justice Lensley Wolfe, Chairman; Justice Cecil Kennard; Dana Seetahal S.C.; Justice Claudette Singh and Keith D. Knight S.C.
The COI began its work on September 24, 2012, in the Family Court building and adjourned on November 2, 2012. During this time, members of the Guyana Police Force, Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brumell and Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee gave testimony to the Commission, along with other persons who claimed to have been present when the events took place.
The hearings resumed on January 28, when the Commission received testimony regarding claims for compensation for injuries and financial losses suffered as a direct result of the events which took place on July 18.