THE second nine-day session of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the death of historian/politician Dr. Walter Rodney, who was assassinated some 33 years ago, will commence today in the Supreme Court Law Library. 

The first four-day session, which came to an end earlier this month, revealed the horrific and frightening political climate which pervaded Guyana during the People’s National Congress’s (PNC) rule, when citizens were not only denied the basic human and constitutional rights, but were inflicted with severe violence when they sought to enjoy and exercise those rights.
The hearings were opened by Chairman of the COI Richard Cheltenham and the first witness, Senior Superintendent of Police Leslie James, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was called to give evidence.
Three other witnesses were called: Lawrence Edward Rodney, eldest sibling of the deceased Rodney; Reverend Reuben Gilbert, friend and supporter of Dr. Rodney; and Karen De Souza, Red Thread Coordinator.
The Commission’s Lead Counsel, Glen Hanoman, and his team of lawyers, Latchmie Rahamat and Nicola Pierre, have only managed to complete the testimony of one witness, Reverend Gilbert, and the other three witnesses will be returning during the second session, either to continue giving their evidence or to be cross-examined.
Evidence will also be taken from more witnesses as many persons are still coming forward to indicate their willingness to testify in the COI.
According to Rahamat, in an invited comment, all of the witnesses could not be completed during the first session because of the nature of the evidence that is coming forth. “There is so much to say of what happened during that time. People who are coming to testify are people who were physically there or was affected some way or another.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar has since lauded the work of the COI, and observed that it is being done in a thorough fashion. “The committee is doing its work and I am happy that people are coming forward. I will reserve further comments for later,” he said.