Dear Editor,
Mr Christopher Ram’s castigation of the Minister of Governance Mr Raphael Trotman ‒ ‘Minister Trotman’s statements on the Rodney Commission of Inquiry were outrageous,’ SN, August 3 ‒ was pointed; the attorney wasn’t pulling punches. He writes: “Guyanese of all political persuasions were appalled at the revelation of certain financial extravagance and excesses arising out of the Commission of Inquiry into the death of Dr Walter Rodney. That did not however detract from the importance of finding answers to questions concerning the circumstances surrounding his death…”
Definitely I’m counted among the many. As a citizen I would like to see a detailed breakdown of how we arrive at this staggeringly exorbitant amount that was spent. Says the Minister of Governance in his defence: “There is no smoking gun… three days or three years are not going to deliver anything that is earth shattering.” And this said, he further remarked that “nothing of substance [had] been disclosed”. And I was shocked to learn that the Minister never ever once sat through any of the commission’s 70 sessions. I never thought that he would have dismissed the Walter Rodney COI with such flippancy, as travelling back in time, wasn’t this the same man who had called for the PNC to apologise for the wrongs it did? I’m trying to remember.
Mr Ram asserts correctly that the Minister is “callously insensitive to the anguish of Walter Rodney’s wife and children and shows disregard for his new political colleagues, the WPA and its members.” He then asks him two relevant questions: “Whether in his opinion, the family of Dr Walter Rodney have a right to an independent commission of inquiry” and whether he considers the commission important for the healing and reconciliation of the nation? We know by now that there is no answer to come, because the PNC was never interested in any inquiry in the first place. And now since they have claimed that the COI was part of a plot orchestrated by the PPP/C to promote resentment against the PNC rather than pursue the truth, why do we need one? Added to that, they have denied having anything to do with Rodney’s killing, and have said there is no need to prove anything since the brother was the author of his own demise.
There definitely had to be a good reason why only one high profile individual within the PNC took the stand while the others remained mere observers. But the PPP cannot escape blame or the flak which the PNC has deservedly levelled against them as a defence, figleaf though it is. In hindsight it does seem that the random haste with which the PPP went about putting together the COI was for their own political mileage as the PNC charged. But even if that is so, it still is not solid ground for its termination, after having gone so far in an effort to bring closure. Therein lies the real waste of that astronomical sum expended already.
Editor, I think, however, that the real embarrassment is not in what the Minister of Governance noted, but rather in the hypocrisy and bold faced, shameless denials, all put forward for the sake of political expediency and saving face, and because they want nothing to do with the truth.
And that’s where it’s at. In any event, as I hinted above, this inquiry, from the instant it was considered was like a ghost standing in the face of the PNC which indulged in all sorts of ridiculous shenanigans in an attempt to shake it off. And just what could be more contemptuous than the man of Governance remarking about a “few people sitting with a microphone in front of them to look good”. And how could we not be in agreement with Mr Ram’s conclusion which makes one question and ponder what to expect: “It is extremely troubling that one seen as a leader appears to be rather dismissive of a process intended to remove a dark stain on our political history!”
Also there are many of us who are troubled, puzzled and wondering whether in fact his outrageous statements were made on behalf of the WPA as well.
Editor, I’ve been around long enough to know that when people get into power it’s always a horse of a different colour. But you know we can jump about and dillydally, live in denial to our hearts desire; it will not do us any good except that we keep tripping over ourselves. The ghost of Rodney like that of the plantation owner in Mittleholzer’s My bones and my flute will forever remain to torment us until such time as the truth settles all. And as Marcus Garvey declared: “What I am I shall be for my people worse in death; look for me in the raging storm and the roaring thunder.” Believe it or not, there too will Rodney be.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
