Georgetown : The Ministry of the Presidency has noted the contents of the press release disseminated by Chairman of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (WRCOI), Sir Richard L. Cheltenham and Commissioner Seenath Jairam and uses this opportunity to express the President’s disappointment in the Commissioners’ inability to arrange their work so as to enable them to present the Report at the agreed time and date after several requests for extensions were granted.
President Granger was informed that the Commissioners were prepared to hand over the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney to him in person. The President immediately agreed to receive the Report and actually altered his schedule to meet with the Commissioners at 12:00 hours on Monday, February 8, 2016. The President was informed, at that time, however, that the Commissioners would not meet him because the report had not yet been printed.
The Ministry of the Presidency would like to refer to the following facts:
· February 8, 2014. President Donald Ramotar appointed the Commission (two years ago).
· September 30, 2014. President Donald Ramotar extended the life of the Commission for the first time.
· January 31, 2015. President Donald Ramotar extended the life of the Commission for the second time.
· 31st March 31, 2015. President Donald Ramotar extended the life of the Commission for the third time.
· July 27, 2015. President David Granger extended the life of the Commission for the fourth time.
· December 15, 2015. President David Granger extended the life of the Commission for the fifth time.
· 6th February 6, 2016. President David Granger extended the life of the Commission for the sixth time.
· February 8, 2016. President David Granger waited at the Ministry of the Presidency for the Commissioners who did not appear to keep their agreed appointment.
The Ministry of the Presidency would like to point out that President David Granger acceded to every request by the Commissioners for extensions to the time set in the original 'terms of reference.' The Ministry of the Presidency would like to point out, further, that, after two years, the Commissioners still found it impossible to keep an agreed appointment to present the Report of the Commission of Inquiry.
The President was extremely disappointed to learn that the Commissioners were unable to present the Report at the agreed time and date. The President, after waiting a while, thereafter resorted to keeping the appointments, which he had previously scheduled.
