Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said he would freely participate in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI), should he be approached by the Secretariat.
However, the party leader has revealed that he has not yet received an invitation from any member of the Secretariat in this regard.
Dr Roopnaraine, speaking with this publication on Monday, said his position remains the same, noting that party members are afforded free will to participate in the inquiry.
When contacted, head of the Walter Rodney Secretariat Hugh Denbow said that witnesses are still approaching with their statements. Asked if any witnesses from the WPA have approached the secretariat, Denbow related that he could not say, since he is not fully aware of the party members.
Recently, WPA Executive Member Tacuma Ogunseye when asked if he felt a sense of moral obligation to testify at the inquiry, had said that he would follow his party’s line. However, if he was forced by law, he may very well have to.
The WPA had early last month, raised concerns over a number of issues regarding the inquiry and had written President Donald Ramotar on the matter. The President in his reply assured the party that there was no ulterior motive behind the inquiry. Ramotar had maintained that the decisions to establish the Commission and the drafting of the Terms of Reference (ToR) were made primarily by Rodney’s family members, particularly by his wife Patricia.
