…Harmon says CoI separate from police investigations

Minister of State Joseph Harmon has revealed that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the recent disturbances at the Camp Street Georgetown Prison that claimed the lives of 17 inmates is separate from ongoing police investigations.Harmon made the distinction following criticisms from President of the Guyana Bar Association, Christopher Ram, who had told the Guyana Chronicle that the Commission should not begin its work until the police have concluded their investigations into the matter.

The three-member Commission, who will conduct the CoI were sworn in yesterday at the Ministry of the Presidency and according to a release, Harmon said that the incident which took place at the Georgetown Prison has affected every Guyanese regardless of status.
The Commission of Inquiry will inquire into the circumstances, causes and conditions that led to the disturbances on March 03 which resulted in the death of 17 prisoners; the nature of all injuries sustained by the prisoners and determine whether the conduct of the staff of the Guyana Prison Service who were on duty on March 03 conformed with the Standard Operating Procedures of the Prison Service.

“This Commission of Inquiry should be done in a very speedy fashion,” Harmon said, noting that even though it is not government’s intention to “put pressure” on the commissioners, the society at large is looking for answers very quickly.

Following the ceremony and a brief meeting with the Commissioners, Minister Harmon said that the initial time frame of March 15 given to the Commissioners may not have been adequate. He said the date has been moved so as to ensure that a full and proper investigation is conducted and the findings are well documented.
“We have pushed that back because we have recognised that that timeline is not enough for them to actually do a proper investigation so we have pushed that back for at least two more weeks. We expect that they should finish their work in about a month. They expect to take evidence from inmates from Georgetown and even from the other prisons. They will take from the relatives, prison officers and any other person, who in their view, can give evidence.”
He added that Guyanese must be assured and can be assured that the Commission will not be “hoodwinked” but will ensure that its mandate is properly fulfilled.
“The Commission has been given wide scope and the instrument they received, gives them as much power as High court Judge to summon witnesses and take evidence as you would in the High court and I want to give the assurance to the relatives of the deceased that they can come forward and give evidence to the Commission and the Commission has full authority to take their evidence into their recommendations to the administration,” Harmon said.
Minister Harmon expressed government’s congratulations to the commission members on accepting the office and urged them to do their best and act in accordance with their oath so that there can be a proper report.

The Commissioners are to meet today to finalise the procedures and Terms of Reference (TORs). Following that meeting, the decision will then be made by the Commission as to when evidence will be gathered.
“…After [the meeting], they will, in their own determination, decide at what point in time they will take witnesses… they have been given guidance so from tomorrow, the work will start. They will be at Department of Public Service. They will have to sit and work on their procedures, decide who are going to come, what they are going to do,” Minister Harmon said.
Those sworn in as Commissioners are Dale Erskine and Merle Mendonza. The Chairperson is James Patterson. On Thursday last, 17 inmates at the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown were burnt to death in a fire that 22 of them were allegedly responsible for starting. The remaining five have allegedly suffered serious injuries.