Dear Editor,
The Linden Commission of Inquiry, judging from the direction it is headed will mostly certainly disappoint many – more so Lindeners. From a shaky, contradictory and recriminatory start with members of the police force tripping over themselves, not representing a straight line account of events of the July 18th protest. Now with each passing day and into the home stretch, this investigation has completely changed course, and seems destined for a disappointing, heartbreaking low-key ending.
As one writer Mark Archer has already concluded: “As it stands judging from the tone and posture of many of the commissioners I would advise the people of Linden to start looking elsewhere for solutions and justice…” Listening to comments and views of Lindeners as I move about and interact among them I can safely say that they are not in any way expecting any form of judgement in their favour except, maybe a token compensation for some injury. The high spirits and enthusiasm in which the commission was welcomed have all dissipated; and while I’m positive that there are also many non-Lindeners following this inquiry who feel the same, I’ve to date noted two gentlemen who have publicly through the media expressed their disgust and ire at commissioners; who obviously from the tenor of their missives have dismissed it as a charade.
Mark Archer: “I will not waste my time following this Commission of Inquiry any longer” SN October 19th, and Nigel Westmaas: “Commissioner Wolfe’s preoccupation with ‘Order’ shows disdain for the historical struggles of working people” are two voices in condemnation of this inquiry. But who can disagree with them; says Archer: “…. What I witnessed was not a fact finding exercise but a gaggle of lawyers all fighting aggressively to protect their clients and witnesses who were grilled not so much to find the truth about what happened that day, but to establish grounds for unreliability and lack of credibility; and the chairman of the Commission allowing Attorneys to question witnesses outside of their brief. Westmaas in reminding commissioner Wolfe of our Caribbean history and the historical struggle of the working people further posed a very pertinent question which he said ought to have been of interest/benefit for Mr. Wolfe and his commission. This question, he said, “would have been to enquire as to the sources of the grievances and unrest that caused the demonstrations in the first place – the angst that made the men and women of Linden take to the streets to demand their rights“.
My take is, I cannot say if the blocking of the bridge came about by happenstance; whether the protestors were initially heading for some other place and for whatever reason got a change of heart, but no one can deny the effectiveness of seizing the bridge, its profound impact. And no one, absolutely no one in Linden should be apologising for the bridge being blocked, Lindeners capitalised on the most telling option to make their point. So Mark Archer is on the mark when he states: “…. What they (protestors) were participating in was no ordinary stroll but a struggle by the people of Linden for human rights and justice; that sitting on the bridge was an act of civil disobedience….”
There ought to be no guilt or apology for the blocking of the bridge, in any event the protest was peaceful. Let the commission be off with their badgering of witnesses with their specious frame of questioning about legality/illegality and wrong/right. Whatever works as an hindrance to the service, advancement of a people’s cause ought not to be adhered to; conversely whatever legitimately serves their interest should not be labelled as illegal. Law must be made to serve people not the reverse, lord know, there are too many laws that are just not just. Was it right those living in opulence to sit, plot and impose an unconscionable and murderous increase of electricity on community/people fully conscious that 90% lack the ability to pay? These are the guilty ones who the commission should be grilling.
When deacon Paul Bogle and Rosa Parks led a protest and took a stand by sitting respectively, they were both indulging in actions that were deemed illegal, today they are both hero and heroine and are just two among the many vivid and shining examples of people daring laws not in accordance with a healthy society that have brought changes and which people the world over will continue to do as human society grapples to improve and distinguish itself from the lower creatures.
Unfortunately there remains with us an ugly state of affairs; we seem to have more than our fair share of don’t give a damn, roller coasters who once they are doing fine care not a toss about anyone/anything, thus they tighten their blinders until the wind begins to blow contrary. I hope that Commission Chairman Justice Wolfe and team get it into their heads that Lindeners are not seeking their friendship, only for them to be impartial and let justice be seen to be done- that seems to be a tall order, like reaching for the end of the rainbow.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe