Execution of former Linden CoI member rocks her native Trinidad
–President Ramotar, former Justice Kennard send their condolences

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, former Commissioner on the 2012 Linden Commission of Inquiry, was shot dead, execution-style, early yesterday morning in her homeland.

According to reports reaching Guyana, when Seetahal’s vehicle had reached a location that required her to slow down, two vehicles pulled up alongside hers, with one driving up further, blocking her from going forward. And before she could have reacted in her defence, shots were fired from the second vehicle, which was still positioned next to hers.

Police in Trinidad and Tobago are looking to link this incident with the prosecution of twelve persons charged with the kidnapping and murder of the late Mrs Vindra Naipaul-Coolman, the former Xtra Foods Chief

Executive Officer who was abducted from her Lange Park, Chaguanas home on December 19 and murdered at a house in La Puerta, Diego Martin on December 28. Her body was dismembered with an electric saw, and disposed of in four garbage bags.

The late senior counsel had been playing an active and influential role in that prosecution, along with senior counsels Israel Khan and Gilbert Peterson, and attorneys Joy Balkaran and Kelly Thompson.

Police are also examining the theory of robbery, since Seetahal had earlier been seen leaving a casino on the island.

By late yesterday, hours after the shooting, the Crime Stoppers in Trinidad and Tobago had announced the offer of TT$1M for any information leading to the capture and conviction of anyone involved in the execution of this erudite legal mind.

Trinidad media also reported yesterday that protection was immediately offered to the defence team and the judge working on the case that the late senior counsel had been working on at the time of her demise.

The case will recommence today in Trinidad. The trial began two months ago in the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain, and is being heard by Justice Malcolm Holdip.

SHOCKED
When contacted, President Donald Ramotar expressed total shock at the incident, calling it a very unfortunate situation. Opting not to say much on the issue at this time, the President would only say that when the news was relayed to him, he found it very difficult to believe what he was hearing.

He also sent his condolences to the relatives and friends of the late Dana Seetahal, as well as to the Government, people and Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago.

Contacted yesterday afternoon, retired Justice Cecil Kennard, who also served on the Linden Commission of Inquiry with Seetahal, said he was shaken up on learning of her passing from another judge.

He told the Chronicle that during his interaction with her, he had found her to be very intelligent, knowledgeable, and courteous, adding that they got along quite well while working together.

The retired judge registered his concern with what seems to be the new trend in the Caribbean, with persons going after prosecutors and defence attorneys, who are not the persons actually giving evidence in court, but are merely repeating what would have been tendered as evidence and questioning those who claim to know the facts.

Justice Kennard told the Chronicle that it is indeed unfortunate that persons would want to murder the counsel for the job she was being paid to do. He, like the Guyanese President, expressed condolences to the persons close to the late Dana Seetahal.

Seetahal had served with two other senior regional legal minds and two of Guyana’s senior legal professionals on a Commission of Inquiry set up by the Government of Guyana to look into the circumstances surrounding the unrest, shooting deaths of three protestors, and damage to private and public properties in the mining town of Linden following the 2011 national elections.

Seetahal had also served as a magistrate among other services in Trinidad and Tobago.

(By Leroy Smith)