Seetahal may join probe into Linden protests

Dana Seetahal SC has been recommended by Caricom Secretary-General ambassador, Irwin LaRocque, to serve on a Guyana commission of enquiry into the protests at Linden on July 18, which involved the deaths of three Guyanese. Seetahal is one of three Caricom nationals who were recommended to serve on the commission. The recommendation was made following  a request from the Government of Guyana. Seetahal has been a Senior Counsel since 2006 and is a former Independent Senator and lecturer at the Hugh Wooding Law School. Contacted for a comment, she said: “So far, only a recommendation has been made. When I get the appointment, I will comment. I am not sure about it as yet.” A statement by the Caricom Community Secretariat yesterday said following the incident at Linden, Caricom has been engaged in discussions with the Government of Guyana on the matter on a continuous basis.  At the request of the Government of Guyana, the Community recommended three distinguished Caricom nationals to serve on a commission, which is expected to enquire into and report on matters related to the events of that day.

 

According to Guyana newspaper reports, a shroud of mystery appears to surround the police investigation into the shooting deaths of Linden protesters­ — Shemroy Bouyea, Ron Somerset and Allan Lewis — allegedly by police armed with shotguns. The three were killed during a massive protest against a Government plan to hike electricity rates which caused massive public outcry because Linden had been accustomed to subsidised electricity.

More than 70 per cent of Linden’s residents are unemployed and those who work, earn less than US$100 a month. Recently, there was another protest in which joint law enforcement services fired tear gas into a crowd of about 30 protestors, including children. The other two Caricom national recommended to serve in the inquiry are Justice Lensley Wolfe OJ  and KD Knight SC. Wolfe is a distinguished jurist and former Chief Justice of Jamaica. He is  chairman of the Public Service Commission of Jamaica and also served as chairman of the Police Public Complaints Authority of Jamaica.  Mr Knight, a practising attorney, has been a Senior Counsel since 1995 and has had a distinguished career in politics and law in Jamaica. He held positions in the Cabinet of Jamaica including the portfolios of National Security and Foreign Affairs.