Dear Editor,
The International Committee in Continuing Defence of Linden has noted with relief but concern the announcement of a Commission of Inquiry into the July 18th protest killings in Linden.
A main concern is the lingering presence of the Minister of Home Affairs in his Ministry after a vote of no confidence in his handling of affairs by the elected House. It is an official vote of no confidence in spite of the fact that it was opposed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), the Minister’s party. The fact that the Minister has stayed in office and has not been relieved by the President means that the public and the freedom loving world cannot rely on the PPP/C to follow democratic conventions. Importantly, as Minister of Home Affairs during the Commission of Inquiry into the July 18th shootings, Mr Rohee will be entangled in a conflict of interest affecting the right to life of the people killed and the safety of those injured.
Another concern is that the process of selection of the independent counsel for the Commission who will presumably lead the evidence to be placed before the Commission, has not been made public. This is a key prerequisite for ensuring that there is public confidence in the official Inquiry. The Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs (irrespective of which party nominee holds the portfolio) are central actors whose conduct and policy in this matter are going to be a focus of the inquiry. Their role should merely be to provide all the facilities for the full functioning of the Commission. They are in a sense ‘suspects’ who cannot be fitted in any role of assembling of evidence to be laid before the Commission. The independent counsel for the Commission must therefore not only be acceptable to all sides, but must have total access to all personnel and records in all the relevant departments and thereby bypass prejudicial and obstructionist activity.
Yours faithfully,
Nigel Westmaas (Co-ordinator)
International Committee in
Continuing Defence of Linden
(Dr. Sara Abraham, India/Canada, lawyer; Dr. Peggy Antrobus, Grenada/ Barbados, feminist educator; Syadazem Azeem, Pakistan/Canada, lawyer; Moses Bhagwan, Guyana/US, lawyer; Dr. Horace Campbell, Jamaica/US, educator; Dr. Dennis Canterbury, Guyana/US, educator; Prof. Jan Carew, US, author/educator; George Daniels, Guyana/US, former President of the TUC & Leader of the Public Services Union; Luke Daniels, President, Caribbean Labour Solidarity; Lord Anthony Gifford, QC, UK; Vic Hall, Guyana/US, retired journalist; Dr. Adeola James, Guyana/US/Nigeria, educator; Selma James, US/ London, Co-ordinator, Global Women’s Strike; Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Guyana/US, banker; Kamal Matthews, Guyana/UK, cultural worker; Marc Matthews, Guyana/ London, cultural worker; Kimani Nehusi, Guyana/UK, Pan-African educator; Eusi Kwayana, Guyana/US, activist; Tchaiko Kwayana, US, liberation educator; Michael Parris, Guyana/Canada, educator; Dr. Patricia Rodney, Guyana/US, educator; Sylvia Salley, Tlinget Nation; Dr. Terrence Roopnaraine, Guyana/ Zambia, anthropologist)
