Chairman of the recently concluded Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Barbados Queens Counsel Sir Richard Cheltenham has refused to address the response of President David Granger on the finding of the investigation into the death of Dr Walter Rodney, but said that it is a known fact that political parties would usually want to protect their heroes.
According to a report in the Guyana Times, during an interview yesterday, Sir Cheltenham said that he would not respond to Guyana’s Head of State or anyone else on the final report of the three-member international panel, but noted that from his experience of previous such CoIs, it is expected that the People’s National Congress (PNC) would want to protect its hero.
“It is a political party and you understand what is happening. The hero of that party was Burnham, so you understand where it comes from…They had an idol”, Cheltenham was quoted in Guyana Times as saying.
The final report of the Commission fingered former Prime Minister Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham; then leader of the People’s National Congress, along with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) as being responsible for the death of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) founding leader on June 13, 1980.
The report only made this information official, as this was part of evidence emanating throughout the 17-month long investigation.
But President David Granger on Wednesday told journalists that the report submitted by the Commission is highly “flawed” since it was based on hearsay evidence.
Cheltenham said he wished not to cause a tit for tat with the President or any other person as it “will not end”.
“We have done our report and it is for the people to comment, including the Government and say whatever they like. And even take it to court. Many commissions have been taken to court. None of this is anything new, you all don’t have a rich history of commissions, it’s only now you all are having a view. Countries have commissions all the time and many of them are taken to court. Sometime on small issues, they would challenge the establishment of the Commission, but none of these is new. I am not disposed to comment on these things,” the Chairman was quoted as saying. .
According to Cheltenham, he is professional in this regard. “This is the ninth Commission for me. Nobody in the region has done more commissions than I have and some of them have gone to court. So all of that are consequences of a commission,” he explained.
The Chairman said it is now up to the public to comment and say “whatever they want”. “We have already said what we had to say, we hope that they would find it as evidence base. It is nothing that I have to get back into. We have done our part. Having heard the evidence, we have made our comments. They can say what they like. It is proper that the people comment”, he said.
He said he was however grateful for the honour to have been part of it (The CoI) which he reminded was followed in the Diaspora and throughout Guyana through broadcast. He said the report should now be the “subject of robust comment and debates”.
Cheltenham and his colleagues have produced a most biased report that they`ve been paid to do,even without signing a contract.This indicates how corrupt this transaction was.Was the former Crime Chief `Skip`Roberts and others given an opportunity,or called upon to make their contributions in this COI? NO,because the result may have been different.It seems to me,he had a dislike for the then government,the PNC at that time in question,some jealousy might have influenced his behaviour too.It is alleged,that Gregory Smith`s sister said that her brother had told her that the PNC was not involved,when she testified before the commission.
Sad to see Mr Granger trying to rebuke such distinguished personalities.Rodney will be the hero in Guyanese history..
Well let us not act as though we did not know who was responsible, at least admit it to yourself. Every Guyanese knew that he was murdered, because he was becoming the virtual leader of a united Guyana.
a lot of what was taken as evidence cannot stand as evidence in a court of law
You moderators are pathetic for removing comments that doesn’t fit in with your/Granger’s bias agenda…
Mr. Chairman, nicely put, now release the report Mr. President…
I am not surprised that the president would make such a comment. It is right that it’s up to the people to comment on the evidence found.
guyanese, wake up!
I respect his professionalism and quite agree that’s it up to the people to comment on the report.
They can’t protect him. The country knows Burnham was responsible for the murder of Rodney. The people know Burnham unleashed a reign of racist dictatorial terror on the Guyanese population.
Granger got schooled!
Justice,at last- Mother Nature will now take her course,since nothing is exempted from her clutches.True justice will surely follow .Amen
COME ON NOW, did you honestly think that Granger was going to let this slide when the public (Who already knew this) that BURHNAM assassinated walter roodney? Three months ago this Granger was on the news praising Burhnam inducting him into the national HALL of SHAME (not fame any more)….From Burhnam come right down to Granger, the PNC has always elected BULLY and RACIST leaders….it is funny that RUPERT Narine sold out Walter Roodney work when he was on the list to be killed as well….MONEY and GREED for power sucked him in….Be a man Granger, accept the facts and stop fooling yourself….they Guyanese people know the truth behind Walter Roodney Killing….the evidence then and up to today is still way too glaring to deny the facts…..