SEVERAL members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), including Mr. Joseph Harmon and Dr. Rupert Roopnarine met, on Wednesday, with the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the assassination of politician/historian Dr. Walter Rodney.But, after the meeting with Chairman Sir Richard Cheltenham and Commissioners, Senior Counsel Seenauth Jairam and Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, APNU is still unsure of its participation in the public hearings which could commence as early as Tuesday, April 22.
According to Harmon, APNU, which is made up of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), among other parties, formally addressed concerns it had raised in the media about several of the Terms of Reference (TOR), in relation to which the WPA had written to President Donald Ramotar.
Harmon said the fear that Commissioner Jairam may present a case of conflict of interest since he had previously worked with the Government was also raised in his presence.
When asked about these concerns at a press conference earlier the same day, the Commission Chairman said:“I believe the Attorney General has dealt with that and I would not want to add. Besides I do not see how working for the Government in the past could affect the work of the Commission. The issue has no length, it simply has no walking capacity. I don’t understand how one can draw the inference of bias.”
APNU was informed at the meeting, which sought to garner support for the COI, that it should raise those concerns with the sponsor, which is the Government, since there was little the Commission could do in that regard.
Ensure closure
The Chairman has given the Commission’s commitment to go to all lengths to ensure closure is brought to the relatives of Rodney.
Harmon said APNU was asked to recognise and respect the experience and sound judgement of the Commissioners and, as such, has accepted those assurances in good faith.
The Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) added that it was the Administration which is responsible for the now apparent mistrust and distrust in the motive of the COI, because of the manner in which it was established.
He said the Opposition was not privy to or consulted on the TOR and he thought the Administration would have shown better judgement, having recently concluded the Linden COI.
Sir Richard pointed out that, in relation to concerns regarding the TOR, those should be raised with the relevant authorities.
There were meetings, too, between the COI members and the Commissioner of Police, Army Chief, other political parties, Speaker of Parliament, the Private Sector Commission and trade unions, among other stakeholders.
President Donald Ramotar had agreed, in June 2013, to establish the Commission, following a request from the Rodney family after an inquiry, ordered by former President Desmond Hoyte in 1988, that found Rodney’s death was caused by ‘accident or misadventure’ had been met with grave disbelief.
