THE ruling People’s Progressive Party has reiterated its call for progress to be made on setting up a commission of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate the circumstances attending the death of eminent Guyanese historian Dr Walter Rodney.

It has been 34 years since Dr Rodney met his demise, and nine years since Parliament had unanimously approved a motion to establish a commission to enquire into the circumstances surrounding his death.
At a press conference held yesterday at Freedom House, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Mr Clement Rohee said: “The mystery, suspicion and controversy which surround the death of Dr. Rodney have left an indelible stain on our political landscape, and indeed on the image of the nation state of Guyana.”
Mr Rohee said the party is of the view that a Commission of Inquiry would put to rest many important questions surrounding the death of Dr Rodney which have been left unanswered for too long.
“We believe that these answers will heal many historical wounds, will close many doors of political suspicion, and will be part of a healing process which is so necessary if we are to find political consensus as we work towards building a Guyana which is peaceful, prosperous and progressive, and one in which every Guyanese feels that he or she has an equal opportunity to realise his or her potential,” Rohee said.
He referred to the fact that calls for such an inquiry have emanated from throughout the Caribbean, the United States, the continent of Africa; and indeed, from intellectuals, Pan-Africanists, and “defenders of freedom and democracy everywhere.”
Mr Rohee said: “An inquiry into [Dr Rodney’s] death is indeed long overdue… We urge the Government to move expeditiously to establish this commission. We urge every Guyanese to support this commission. We urge all persons, NGOs [and] political parties who may have information or evidence which may be relevant or likely to be of assistance to the commission to please bring same forth.”
Rohee said Dr Rodney’s intellectual prowess and political discourses and activism have captured the imagination, admiration and aspirations of people all over the globe.
“His philosophical and physical groundings with the working class and working people, along with his natural inclination to resist and reject oppression, authoritarianism and political dictatorship, made him a natural ally of Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the PPP when he returned to Guyana in the mid-seventies; and indeed, until he died,” Rohee said. “Together, we waged many wars and launched great struggles against the dictatorship of Forbes Burnham; the repression of freedom; the physical violence unleashed on political leaders, political activists, trade unionists, and journalists and religious leaders; and many other issues of the day.”
He said the PPP hopes that 2014 would see establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Rodney, which occurred on June 13, 1980 within the precincts of the Georgetown Prisons.
The parliamentary motion that spawned the idea of establishment of the Commission of Inquiry stated thus: “On the 13th June, 1980, Dr. Walter Rodney, a distinguished Guyanese scholar, was assassinated by an explosion which occurred in his car at John and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown… Dr. Rodney was, at the time of his death, an eminent political leader engaged in a struggle against authoritarian rule for democracy and social justice… There have been calls for a full investigation into the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney, which have received broad support.
“…the National Assembly, in paying tribute to the memory of this illustrious son of Guyana, and on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his untimely and tragic death, supports an enquiry being conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Rodney.”

(By Vanessa Narine)