President David Granger has given the Justice Donald Trotman headed Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (CoI) several more weeks to complete its work. The inquiry was established to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the murder of eight miners and to report its findings and recommendations to President David Granger.
In public documents seen by Guyana Times International, the retired Judge has now been granted until July 31, 2018, to complete his work. Before that, in April, the Judge was given no later than Tuesday, May 15, 2018, to complete his report. Afterward, Justice Trotman was given no later than June 30 to get his work complete.
This is now the third extension Justice Trotman has been granted to complete the CoI.
Following much public criticism of the CoI, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had said it felt the CoI was being geared to clear notorious mass killer Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins’ name from involvement in the incident. However, the Government maintained that the Lindo Creek CoI is just the first of what they say would be a series of inquiries into the hundreds of killings which occurred during a crime wave in Guyana.
Concerns were also raised since the lone Commissioner was the father of Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and the Commission’s Counsel was Patrice Henry, the brother of Education Minister Nicolette Henry.
The PPP had also expressed scepticism about participating and supporting the work of the Commission, as the Party believes commentary from senior Government officials signalled that the CoI was designed to achieve a political outcome and to continue what it says is “witch-hunting” of Opposition personalities.
Sometime between June 12, 2008, and June 24, 2008, miners Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres were shot and killed, and their bodies burnt at the Upper Berbice River mining camp, which was being operated by Leonard Arokium. In June, relatives of the murdered miners held a memorial walk in honour of their loved ones.
Most of the relatives said they have completed application forms for assistance which was offered by President David Granger. While some called for finances, others said they needed new homes and jobs for their children.
