APNU+AFC presidential candidate David Granger says he has no links to the June 13, 1980 death of political activist Dr Walter Rodney as at that time he was on military duty in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Granger made this comment in response to the repeated calls by PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee for him to be brought before the Rodney Commission of Inquiry (COI) to testify.
Asked about the issue during APNU’s weekly press conference last Friday, he told reporters that he has never been asked to appear. The former army officer stated that on the day of the killing he was in Yugoslavia and he has a photograph, which shows him speaking to Yugoslavian generals, as proof.
“I don’t have a clue. I don’t know anything about Dr Rodney’s death other that what was published in the newspaper so there is nothing for me to explain, quite frankly,” he said.
Rodney, who was also a renowned academic, died in a car near John and Bent streets, after a walkie-talkie given to him by now deceased GDF member Gregory Smith, exploded. His brother Donald Rodney who was with him at the time, escaped serious injury. The PNC administration then headed by the late president Forbes Burnham, whose reign had been opposed by Rodney, has long been blamed for the murder. The party, however, has continuously denied any responsibility. The current leadership of the PNCR has publicly said that it will not be cooperating with the COI.
The government had indicated that it wished to open a COI to clear up all outstanding questions surrounding the death. In early 2014, Barbadian Sir Richard Cheltenham, Jamaican Queen’s Counsel (QC) Jacqueline Samuels-Brown and Trinidad and Tobago Senior Counsel (SC) Seenath Jairam were sworn in as commissioners by President Donald Ramotar.
Earlier this month Rohee, during a press conference, accused Granger of having skeletons in his closet and withholding important information. As such, Rohee said, Granger should take the stand.
Rohee had urged the presidential hopeful to justify his reluctance to appear before the COI and explain his role as an officer of the GDF.
