DECLARING that there is “no shortage of witnesses” for the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday disclosed that in-camera hearings are being conducted.

Public hearings into the June 2008, Lindo Creek Massacre had gotten off to a rough start when Chairman of the Commission, Justice (Retired) Donald Trotman was left with no other choice but to postpone the first series of public hearings due to the absence of internal prerequisite arrangements, including transportation for witnesses or persons of interest.
While responding to questions during his post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday at the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister Harmon shot down any suspicion that there may be a lack of witnesses to testify before the Commission.

“There is no shortage of witnesses,” he told reporters. While the public hearings have not commenced, the State Minister said in-camera hearings are being conducted.
“I can say to you that they have already started hearings which are in-camera hearings, so there is already a body of evidence there before the Commission,” he said.

Acknowledging that the issues relating to transportation were among the factors that prevented the commencement of public hearings last Thursday, Minister Harmon assured that all systems will be put in place to transport witnesses and persons of interest to the CoI Secretariat where the hearings are being held.

“Certainly we will assist those persons with their transportation expenses to get to the Commission, that is something that is contemplated and, in fact it is part of the laws in Guyana where witnesses have to be brought from various parts of the country to appear before a court, so we will in fact embrace that practice and ensure we get the persons to give the evidence before the Commission of Inquiry,” he said.

Public hearings were scheduled for Thursday February 15, Monday February 19 and Thursday February 22, but were postponed until further notice.
On Tuesday, the Commission’s Public Relations Officer, Melanie Morris told the Guyana Chronicle that the prerequisite issues critical to the work of the CoI, which were referred to by Commissioner Trotman, are being addressed and public hearings are expected to reconvene shortly.

“All other matters relevant and critical to the resumption of public hearings are also being addressed [including] logistical matters relating to witnesses etc,” Morris told this newspaper.
She noted that a number of interviews have been conducted with ‘Persons of Interest,’ adding that the Commission has been working closely with family members of the deceased, who have come forward.

“In keeping with its Terms of Reference (ToR), the Commission has also been examining available documents, interviewing persons and holding in- camera sessions,” Morris added.
The CoI is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Horace Drakes, Bonny Harry, Lancelot Lee, Compton Speirs, Nigel Torres and Clifton Berry Wong, on or about June 21, 2008 at Lindo Creek in the Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice Region.

Leonard Arokium, the owner of the mining camp in which the eight miners were found dead, had long alleged that the killings were committed by members of the Joint Services, but the police on the other hand had said that the men were murdered by the-then Rondell Rawlins, alias ‘Fine Man’ gang. Arokium’s son, Dax, 29, and his brother, Cecil called “Brother” were among those killed. Arokium was not among those who were scheduled to speak last Thursday, the Guyana Chronicle has confirmed.

One of the key witnesses, Courtney Wong, in an interview with this newspaper earlier this month, had said that the “truth is out there.”
Courtney Wong – the brother of Clifton Wong, who was among the eight miners brutally killed– said news surrounding the massacre had been smeared with lies by political leaders and the security forces, but the CoI will give the world a chance to know the truth – “the full truth” about the incident.

Close to 10 years later, Wong, who had worked along with Arokium at the mining camp as a mechanic, expressed the belief that the men had been killed by the Joint Services. He had said that when the time comes, he will testify at the CoI to ensure that justice is served. Wong was among those who had journeyed with the police to Lindo Creek after the discovery was made by Arokium on June 21, 2008.

Upon the completion of its work, the Commission will submit a report of its findings and recommendations to President David Granger.