COI flawed by accepting advice of Rodney widow
A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) has said that Mrs. Patricia Rodney, widow of the late Dr. Walter Rodney had advised the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into his death to exclude the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) from being consulted on its establishment.APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Mr. Basil Williams, who made the claim, said the advice was accepted and had been included in the terms of reference (TOR) number four.
Williams’ allegation, during his presentation in the National Assembly Monday night, said APNU was protesting the fact that the COI had accepted it.
He said APNU recognises the right of Mrs. Rodney to have closure with respect to her husband’s death but does not accept that she has a role in determining the formation and operation of the COI.
Williams said the COI Act Chapter 19:03 gives the Commission Chairman the power to act in his/her own deliberate judgement, not be counseled and/or procured.
He said:”APNU sees the acceptance of the advice from Mrs. Rodney to exclude the WPA and the PNC from being consulted on the setting up of the Inquiry as an abdication of the responsibility given by the COI Act.”
Williams added that APNU feels the COI is, therefore, flawed from the beginning.
He said APNU is calling on the officials to consult with the WPA and the PNC and remove the offending TOR number four which excludes the two parties from the consultations.