“Several dozens” of statements have been gathered from people in Linden for handing over to the Commission of Inquiry into the July 18, 2012 Linden protestors’ shooting, Regional Chairman of Region Ten, Sharma Solomon said yesterday.
Solomon told Stabroek News that various persons have been collecting statements from the injured and the relatives of the three dead men and it is expected that persons from the “independent groups” would be submitting the statements to the COI.
Meanwhile, asked if he or anyone from his administration has had any meetings with the appointed commissioners for the COI, Solomon responded in the negative.
The commission is made up of former Chief Justice of Jamaica Lensley Wolfe, Senior Counsel K.D Knight of Jamaica, Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal of Trinidad and Tobago and former Justice of Appeal Claudette Singh and former Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard of Guyana. Justice Kennard, who is out of the country on annual vacation, is expected to be sworn-in soon after his return to the country next week, while the others were sworn-in on Wednesday by President Donald Ramotar.
The commissioners held a press conference last Thursday during which Justice Wolfe, who is the Chairman of the COI, said that the outcome of the inquiry will be based solely on the evidence provided.
“We, as commissioners, we are not going to prejudge any situation. We will make our decision based upon the evidence and the evidence alone,” Wolfe told a press conference that was held to give an update on the work of the commission, which will report on the circumstances surrounding the shooting to death of Allan Lewis, Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and the injury of several others at the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge.
The commission’s mandate includes inquiring into the nature of the violence and destruction that immediately followed the July 18 shooting and its perpetrators. Further, it is to make recommendations to assist the Guyana Police Force in “effectively and professionally discharging their responsibilities for the maintenance of law and order” in Linden and other communities without endangering their own safety and that of innocent persons. The mandate also includes making recommendations for compensation where necessary for injury, loss or damage as a consequence of the events of July 18.
The police force was criticised for the use of force after ranks opened fire on residents protesting near the bridge, despite its claims that they were provoked.
