Dear Editor,
Permit a brief response to the letter written by Mr Basil Williams in the August 12, 2014 edition of the Stabroek News, captioned ‘The GTUC has not been targeted by the Rodney commission’s terms of reference.’
Mr Basil Williams’s concept of a commission of inquiry is totally misplaced. Mr Williams forgot this commission is for all Guyanese and the terms of reference allow for civil participation. When the Guyana Trades Union Congress applied for standing its purpose was clear in the orders being sought:
“1) an order granting standing as an interested party to the Guyana Trades Union Congress with full participatory rights including the following:
“i. the right to have counsel present at the Inquiry;
“ii. the right to receive all correspondence provided to the Commission or sent by the Commission with respect to this proceeding;
“iii. the right to apply for preliminary, interim or summary orders and to respond to requests for preliminary, interim or summary orders brought by Commission Counsel or any of the interested parties with standing;
“iv. the right to participate in the hearing of this matter, including the right to all evidence, request summons, cross-examine witnesses and provide submissions to the Commissioners; and, “v. any other participatory rights generally provided to an interested party.
“vi. Such further and other order as may be appropriate.”
Nothing in his letter warrants a response from me. His misplaced objection was summarily dismissed by the three members of the commission, in light of the above.
Yours faithfully,
Selwyn A. Pieters
Lawyer & Notary Public
