Hamilton tells Rodney COI…
PNC terrorized political opponents
… Rodney assassinated during darkest days of Guyana’s history

JOSEPH Hamilton painted a grim picture yesterday of the “dark period of Guyana’s history” that resulted in the brutal bomb-blast assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney on June 13, 1980, with Army guns handed over to the People’s National Congress (PNC).Hamilton’s detailed testimony to the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry now unfolding at the High Court building in Georgetown shows Guyana was in the vice-grip of a sinister and shadowy link between the House of Israel religious sect and the then ruling Government of the People’s National Congress (PNC).

Attorney representing the PNC, Basil Williams, in cross examining Hamilton after two days of grotesque details into the inner workings of political conspiracies to “oppress and terrorize political opponents,” objected to Hamilton naming him, Williams, in a list of people meeting with powerful leader of the sect, Rabbi Washington.
Hamilton’s testimony graphically illustrated the atmosphere of fear, intimidation, corruption of the Judiciary and police force, and sinister relationships between Washington and Government members of “this dark period of our history.”

“I recall being at a meeting between the House of Israel and Robert Corbin at the said building in Barima Avenue, when Robert Corbin handed over a quantity of 9MM pistols with matching ammunition to the House of Israel. … I had possession of one of those pistols for a period. At the time I was not legally permitted to possess firearm or ammunition but it was understood we enjoyed an unofficial immunity. Also I can confirm that on the day Father Darke was killed some .38 police service revolvers were handed over to the House of Israel by Mr. Robert Williams at the PNC’s building in Smyth Street. Myself and another brother received those weapons on behalf of the House of Israel.” – Joseph Hamilton’s Statement to the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, May 9th, 2014

In his cross examination, Williams said he wanted to establish that Hamilton’s credibility was in question, and sought to show that the witness had lied about everything he said during his testimony.
Assistant Counsel for the Commission, Ms. Latchmie Rahamat, referred Hamilton to a document bearing the signature of a McPherson, an officer of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), who signed a form allocating GDF Army guns and ammunition to the PNC.
The form, under the typed name of Guyana Defence Force, labelled Account Form, listed a date that says “return for the account period 24th June, 1979 to OPEN.” Then it listed the Army Unit Stores General Number and Voucher number.

This form, bearing a signature that discernibly says McPherson, listed a number of weapons “total chargeable to PNC” (the word soldier is crossed out and the acronym PNC inserted). The form also bears an indecipherable signature for “House of Israel.”
McPherson signed as Commanding Officer, and the issuing station is written in as Thomas Land.
The form listed the following guns that the GDF Army issued on that date to the PNC, according to the form: “19 G3 rifle (serviceable); 19 G3 bayonet (sniper); 1,500 rd 7.62 ammo; 10 Browning pistols; 500 rd 9mm (long)”. The signatures of the Store Account Officer and the Accounting Officer are indecipherable.
Hamilton testified during his two days on the witness stand that he served among the senior leadership of the House of Israel, and on the Executive of the PNC, including being a Parliamentarian for that party.
Williams, who the Commissioners frequently interrupted for clarification and to ensure that his line of questioning stayed relevant to the Terms of Reference of the Commission, aggressively questioned Hamilton, and suggested that Hamilton “lied” about the role of top PNC leaders, Hamilton Green and Robert Corbin. Hamilton denied this with a firm “no” after Commission Chairman, Sir Richard Cheltenham, asked Hamilton to answer Williams’ suggestion.

When Williams loudly told Hamilton he “lied about Hamilton Green and Robert Corbin” because he became disgruntled with those leaders, Hamilton vehemently denied it, and became visibly emotional, with Sir Cheltenham cautioning him to be calm. Hamilton said he never had a “falling out” with either Corbin or Green.
He had served under party leader Corbin in the PNC as Chief Elections Scrutineer for the party in three national elections, and on the executive of Green’s political party, the Good and Green Guyana, Hamilton testified.
He said he also now serves as a Member of Parliament for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), and told Williams that he is not a member of the Party; only a member of its Parliamentary team.

“There was a period when some of the security personnel and maids who worked at Mr. Hamilton Green’s residence were members of the House of Israel. It is also recalled that brother Billal Atu who was convicted for the murder of Father Darke once served as Hamilton Green’s gardener at the Ministry of Agriculture compound when he was Minister of that said Ministry. At the time Billal Atu was serving a sentence at Camp Street Prison. It would be recalled that that was discontinued due to the fact that the WPA at that time made it a public matter.
Hamilton Green and Rabbi Washington would meet frequently during the period 1978 -1980 at Green’s residence.” – Joseph Hamilton’s statement to the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, May 9th, 2014

Hamilton said he is speaking out now about the “oppressive and terrorizing” acts of the House of Israel and the PNC “because I feel a moral obligation to do so. I am saying to this Commission and the people of Guyana that I was personally a part of that period of oppressing and terrorizing of political opponents who opposed the PNC Government.”
He told Williams: “This is the opportune time for me to speak out. I never had this opportunity before.”
Hamilton’s testimony lasted two days so far, and continues tomorrow. Spectators in the courtroom include top members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), who were personal friends and close associates of Walter Rodney before his brutal assassination.
Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, Mr. Eusi Kwayana, and several other senior WPA leaders sat through, listening in rapt attention as Hamilton painted a graphic picture of the period in Guyana’s history, from 1978 to 1980, that led to their leader’s assassination.
The WPA leaders were plunged into emotional trauma and deep fear after Rodney’s assassination, as Hamilton noted that there were only two “sacred cows,” those leaders who were not to be harmed in the Opposition camps. So apart from leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and Mr. Eusi Kwayana, whom the Government feared would flare up public resentment if they were harmed, Hamilton said, every other leader was a potential target for “violence from the Police and members of the House of Israel.” This violence, Hamilton said in answer to a question from Council, included baton beatings of attendees of opposition political meetings.
Hamilton’s testimony before the Commission covers the period 1978 – 1980, and established for the Commission that the political atmosphere in Guyana then was one where the PNC linked up with the House of Israel to carry out clandestine and brutal “oppressive and terrorizing” acts against members of the political Opposition.
This resulted in the mysterious assassination of Guyana’s intellectual, an internationally recognized political leader, Dr. Walter Rodney, Hamilton’s testimony said.
The Commission is seeking to find out why Rodney was assassinated, what atmosphere in the country then prevailed that caused such a brutal outcome to an outstanding Guyanese political leader, and who orchestrated the assassination.
Hamilton testified that he was an integral leadership figure during the period under question, and feels a moral obligation for Guyanese to know about “the darkest period of Guyana’s history.”