Former President Donald Ramotar today criticised the decision of the APNU+AFC government to shorten the life of the inquiry into the killing of Dr Walter Rodney and said that history will record that the PPP/C government had established a credible probe commission.
A statement by Ramotar follows:
As the President of the Republic of Guyana who issued the Commission to inquire into the death of renowned Guyanese historian and leader of the Working People Alliance, Dr. Walter Rodney, I feel compelled to comment on the recent actions of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government in relation to this Commission of Inquiry.
From the outset, I wish to reiterate that the decision to establish this Commission of Inquiry was not inspired by any political motive but purely by my desire to shed light on one of the darkest and most controversial event in Guyana’s post independent history and political landscape and to assist the family and relatives of Dr. Walter Rodney to bring closure on what clearly was one of the most traumatic incidents in their lives. Indeed, it is no secret that Guyanese both in Guyana and those living in all parts of the world have for years called for a credible Commission of Inquiry into the death of one of Guyana’s most brilliant sons. This death has been a scar against the international reputation of our country.
It is public knowledge that the Commission of Inquiry and the evidence adduced have attracted national and international attention and there is a great expectation that the Commissioners final report will answer many of the questions which have hung like a dark cloud over the death of Dr. Rodney. Indeed, it is for these reasons that my Government has commissioned a book to be written and a television documentary to be done in relation to this inquiry.
I will be the first to admit that the Commission of Inquiry was an expensive undertaking but I maintain, a justifiable one. More importantly, all monies spent can be accounted for and were approved by the National Assembly except for a brief period when Parliament was prorogued and then dissolved.
I wish to take strong umbrage to the decision of the APNU+AFC Government to truncate the life of the Commission. I have no doubt that the Commissioners needed just a few weeks more to complete their tasks in a professional way. It simply makes no sense to bring the Commission to such an abrupt end to save a few dollars when hundreds of millions have been spent already and the Commission’s report will most likely be affected by the failure of the Commission to receive evidence from important witnesses who are yet to testify and from those who have testified already and who are to complete their testimony.
Significantly, I am aware that persons whose names have been called by witnesses in significant ways were to be invited by the Commission to make a contribution. These persons would have included former leader of the PNC, Mr. Robert Corbin. Evidence from the Guyana Defence Force has been tendered before the Commission to the effect that Mr. Corbin obtained from the Force over one hundred and fifty machine guns. At that time, he was at the Ministry of National Mobilization. Those guns have reached the hands of bandits. The PNC itself may have been invited and offered an opportunity to defend itself against some very damaging allegations. With the Commission now to be abruptly aborted, none of this will take place. I am therefore forced to wonder whether the decision to bring the life of the Commission to an abrupt end is one that is intended to avoid these witnesses from giving evidence and face cross-examination.
I am satisfied that history will record that a PPP Government established a credible Commission of Inquiry into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney and that it was a PNC + AFC + WPA that killed that inquiry. At the time when this took place, they together formed a Government. I am also satisfied that enough evidence has been made public in this Commission for the people to draw their own conclusion regarding who were responsible for the death of Dr. Walter Rodney. Nothing can change that.
