THE hearings of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) are slated to begin today at the Supreme Court Law Library, where testimony and evidence will be received from interested parties to enable the commissioners to investigate the death of the late founder of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) party, which occurred on June 13, 1980.

Rodney was killed when a bomb exploded in the car in which he was travelling. He was 38 years old at the time. Nine years ago, Parliament unanimously approved a Motion to establish a commission to enquire into the circumstances surrounding his death.

According to the Walter Rodney Secretariat, the Commission,
headed by Sir Richard Cheltenham, K.A, Q.C, Ph.D, and comprising Mrs. Jaqueline Samuels-Brown, Q.C., and Mr. Seenath Jairam, S.C.,will examine the facts and circumstances immediately prior, at the time of, and subsequent to the death of Dr. Rodney, in order to determine, as far as possible, who or what was responsible for the explosion resulting in the late historian’s death.

It will also inquire into the cause of the fatal explosion, and seek to determine whether it was an act of terrorism, and if so, would enquire who had been the perpetrators of the deed.

Further, the Commission will examine the role, if any, which the late GDF Sergeant Gregory Smith played in the death of Dr Rodney, as well as inquire into who may have counselled, procured, aided and/or abetted Smith to carry out the act, including facilitating his departure from Guyana after Dr. Rodney’s death.

The CoI is also tasked with examining and reporting on the actions and activities of the State, such as the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana National Service, the Guyana People’s Militia, and those who were in command and superintendence of these agencies, in order to determine whether they were tasked with the surveillance of, and authority to carry out those actions; and whether they did execute those tasks and carry out those actions against the political opposition for the period January 1, 1978 to December 31, 1980.

The Commissioners will, in addition, examine, review and report on earlier investigations and inquiries done on and into the death of Dr. Rodney.