Former Chancellor Justice Cecil Kennard yesterday took the oath of office as a member of the Commission of Inquiry into the July 18 Linden protestor shootings and he hoped for it to proceed smoothly so that its work can be completed within a reasonable time.
Kennard, who took the oath of office before President Donald Ramotar at Office of the President (OP), was out of the country when the other four members of the commission took their oath on September 5. They are: Former Justice of Appeal Claudette Singh; Justice Lensley Wolfe and Senior Counsel K.D. Knight of Jamaica; and Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Commission of Inquiry will begin public hearings into the shootings next Monday.
In a brief comment after being sworn-in, Kennard told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that all the statements given by residents will be carefully examined, after which the Commission will decide on the witnesses to be called. He explained that even though many persons will provide statements, it does not necessarily mean all of them will be called in, as he said many would repeat what was already said by a previous witness.
“We are hoping that the inquiry proceeds smoothly and that witnesses attend when required, so that the work of the Commission can be finished within a reasonable time,” Kennard was quoted as saying.
Only GINA was present at the swearing-in as reporters and photographers from media houses were refused entry.
Reporters were told by security personnel that only GINA would be allowed to witness the ceremony.
Later, when questioned about the reason the media was locked-out of the swearing-in, Ramotar said that he was unaware of the situation and very surprised to learn of it.
OP Press liaison officer Kwame McCoy then interjected, saying that it was a security glitch as he too was surprised that only GINA was present, since he had invited, through GINA, all media houses to be present. He promised to check on the “mix up,” for which he apologised.
On July 18, Ron Sommerset, Ivan Wilson and Shemroy Bouyea, were killed and at least 20 other persons were injured near the Mackenzie- Wismar Bridge, after police opened fire on residents protesting against increased electricity tariffs, which took effect at the start of that month. The failure by police, who said that ranks were provoked, to use non-lethal measures has been condemned and there have been calls for murder charges to be laid against the officers who gave the orders to fire. As a result of the shootings, the planned five-day protest was sustained for more than a month.
Although main opposition APNU collaborated with the government to formulate the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, on Thursday it raised objections to them. It said they fell short of the expectations of the people of Linden and Guyana in achieving justice as the inquiry did not extend to the events of August 2 and August 10, when many Lindeners were shot and maimed and communities subjected to tear smoke and gunfire.
APNU MP Basil Williams has defended the coalition’s position by saying that it “only had one person”—in the form of Joseph Harmon—participating in the process to draft the terms. He added that the people of Linden wanted the inquiry to include the August events and it was not too late to do so.
Ramotar yesterday expressed shock at APNU’s position. “Actually, that took me completely by surprise to hear that the opposition has taken such a position because the [terms of Reference] is not a product of the government. [It] was a product of joint work with the government and opposition. It is not that the government just wrote these Terms of Reference and pushed it down anyone’s throat,” he said during a press conference held after the swearing-in.
Ramotar added that there have been no further discussions on APNU’s concerns, pointing out that in the drafting process there were extensive discussions and some changes. “It was joint work. So, I was very surprised to hear them making that statement. I am really surprised at that,” he said.
The president also stated that it was because of government’s concern that “we agreed to have an immediate inquiry.” He was hopeful that that the inquiry will help to “get to the bottom of those things and put them behind us.”
According to the Terms of Reference, the inquiry will examine, among other things, whether the fatal shootings were committed by the police deployed on the bridge and, if so, who gave the order to fire and whether the police had justification for the use of lethal force at the scene. The instructions given to the detachment as well any instructions that may have been given by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee to the police force to maintain law and order in Linden immediately before, during and immediately after the events on July 18, form part of the terms of the inquiry as well.
