With his criminal records tendered as evidence, former policeman and current prisoner Robert Allan Gates yesterday faced questions about the inconsistencies in his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of historian Dr Walter Rodney.
At Monday’s hearing, Gates had claimed that the then government had plotted to kill six persons, including Rodney, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and other members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).
The Commission was set up to investigate the circumstances of the June 13, 1980 bomb blast death of Rodney.
When attorney Christopher Ram, who represents the WPA, questioned Gates about the inconsistencies between his first and second statements to the Commission, the witness said information was either deliberately omitted for security reasons, he forgot it or he did not think that the omitted information was important at the time he first testified.
Ram enquired whether Gates’ conditions had changed since his first statement to the CoI. Gates acknowledged that he was judging the environment but also pointed out that it has been over 30 years. “I had to jog my memory and replace my memory chip,” he said.
He also said he has put “covert” measures in place to prevent any form of attack.
On Monday, Gates had also testified that he conducted his own investigation into Rodney’s death in 2000 and had concluded that it had been state-sponsored.
Ram questioned the timing of Gates’ investigation and the witness explained that it was prompted by his curiosity as well as his ability at the time. “I was fully equipped with resources necessary as a private investigator to pursue such an investigation,” he said.
In an effort to validate his credentials, Gates told the commission that he is the holder of an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and a Diploma in Professional Investigations, among other qualifications.
Ram took issue with Gates’ witness statements with regards to collecting ammunition for Dr Roopnaraine. He pointed out that in his first statement, Gates had said there was only one instance of him collecting ammunition. However, at Monday’s hearing he had mentioned three specific incidents. The attorney asked him how he was able to come up with such detail, when in substance it was different from the first statement. Gates responded by saying that he had relied on “reasons” he gave in his first statement, while adding that it had been 34 years and he could therefore not remember most of the things that had happened. “I am sure that as I continue to jog my memory, further information will come up. It is 34 years, Mr. Ram, not 34 days and I am 59-years-old,” Gates added.
Also cross-examining Gates was attorney for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Basil Williams, who grilled him about inconsistencies in his statements. However, Gates said he had to make a security assessment before uttering what he had previously omitted even as he expressed confidence that he would have appeared before the Commission again.
However, Gates was told that he should have stated all that he knew during his first appearance before the Commission and that he was fortunate to have had the opportunity to reappear.
In relation to Gates’ evidence that then President Forbes Burnham was pleased with his work, Williams suggested that the evidence was fabricated to implicate the late president. The witness said he remembered things afterward and maintained that his evidence was true.
Gates became noticeably upset when Williams suggested that he only returned to the commission to implicate Burnham.
Williams also suggested that Gates’ contention that he had met with a then senior government official and had several meetings with the official was untrue. Gates again denied the assertion as well as the suggestion that he lied about receiving money to fund moles in the WPA. He further denied that everything he told the commission about Burnham and Dr. Roopnaraine was untrue.
Before the end of yesterday’s hearing, Gates’ conviction records was admitted into evidence.
According to a document that was accepted as evidence, Gates is currently imprisoned after being convicted on 12 fraudulent conversion charges after he was accused of collecting money from persons to purchase vehicles on their behalf. Gates was sentenced to 48 months on each count. Additionally, it was noted that Gates had convictions going as far back as 1993.
During his testimony on Monday, Gates said Burnham was aware of the plot to kill Rodney and had even been briefed by high ranking security personnel, such as late former police commissioner Laurie Lewis.
He also detailed his activities as a double agent, with his first loyalty lying with the state and the second to the WPA. He had said his work for the state gained him the commendation of Burnham, and he was “handsomely paid” for his assignments. He further noted that he had been responsible for placing moles within the WPA and paying these moles for information.
Mark Britton is expected to appear before the commission today, while Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul will both appear on Thursday. Walter’s brother Donald Rodney will also appear on Friday.
