Georgetown: The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the July 18, 2012 incident in Linden culminated Thursday with a report handed over to President Donald Ramotar that jurists have assured will impact relations among residents of the mining town, the Government and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) once implemented.
The report containing 267 paragraphs and records of the 71 witnesses examined was presented by COI Chairman Justice Lensley Wolfe, in the presence of Justices Mr. Keith. D. Knight, Claudette Singh and Cecil Kennard. Absent was Ms. Dana Seetahal S.C.
The commissioners were appointed in September last year to lead investigations into the death of three protestors in Linden following a standoff with security forces over the announcement of a new electricity tariff for Region Ten.
An independent inquiry into the incident was agreed when the government, opposition and leadership of Region Ten met to find a resolution to satisfy the needs of the residents and all parties involved.
The Chairman, a Jamaican retired Chief Justice described the inquiry as a most gruelling experience, but was satisfied that the expectations were met.
“The focus of all the Commissioners was on ensuring that justice was done and we, all of us are satisfied that justice was done,” Justice Wolfe said.
The document will be instructive as much as it will be an interesting guide to what follows, according to President Ramotar who used the occasion to thank the witnesses who came forward with their testimonies.
The President described the event as a fulfillment of the administration’s position “to get to the bottom of these events and to have an open and fair inquiry on this matter.”
The entire experience he believes should serve as a learning experience and a resolve “to develop our society”.
The commissioners’ Terms of Reference apart from inquiring into and reporting on the circumstances surrounding the shooting to death of Allan Lewis, Ron Somerset and Shemroy Bouyea and the injury of several other persons on July 18, also included identifying which police unit was deployed at the scene at the bridge, its composition and training in crowd control, whether or who gave the order to fire and whether the police had justification for the use of lethal force at the scene.
The Commission was mandated as well to inquire what, if any, specific instructions were issued by the Minister of Home Affairs to the Guyana Police Force to maintain law and order in Linden on that day.
The COI was required to make recommendations for compensation where necessary for injuries, losses or damages suffered as a consequence of the events of July 18, 2012.
The commission began its work on September 24, 2012, in the Family Court Building and adjourned on November 2, 2012, during which period, members of the Guyana Police Force, Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brummel and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee gave testimony to the Commission along with other persons who claimed to have been present when the events took place.
Ballistics expert Dr. Mark Robinson of the United Kingdom in his evidence to the commission had said, “There is no evidence to allow me to conclude that the shots which caused the deaths (of the three Linden protesters) came from the police guns.” He premised his statement on the fact that the pellets found in the dead persons were of the size 0-0, and were copper coated, while those of the police were 0-0 buck shots and were made of lead.
The hearings resumed on January 28 when the Commission received testimony regarding claims for compensation for injuries and financial losses suffered as a direct result of the July 18 events.
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