Georgetown: Files on the surveillance activities carried out on the Working People’ Alliance (WPA) and a former Special Branch will be released as part of the international inquiry into the death of Dr Walter Rodney which opened on Monday.
Attorney for the Commission, Glen Hanoman said the Special Branch has in its possession original files with detailed accounts of surveillance activities leading up to the death of Dr Rodney. This will be handed over by recently appointed Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Leslie James.
Hanoman said, that the files from the Special branch entail accounts of the surveillance activities of the branch between 1978 to 1980. The files, Hanoman said was compiled with the aim of prosecuting accused the Smith. They also contained copies of two post-mortem reports.
Hanoman said too that a former officer is also expected to testify about surveillance activities of WPA meetings at the time and his involvement in activities.
“That ex-policeman is expected to speak about his personal involvement to engage in assassination. He will speak of his personal assignment to infiltrate the WPA and to carry out acts of subterfuge and assassination,” Hanoman said. “He will also speak of him having to report to Former Police Commissioner Laurie Lewis, Cecil “Skip” Roberts and Norman McLean and taking directions from them as the intellectual authors.”
Another officer of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is expected to tender records about the movement of arms and ammunition out of the Army as well as the movement of aircraft.
According to the lawyer, the Commission is dealing with an event which occurred over 30 years ago, as such many of the persons who could have given valuable information are probably dead. He noted that the Commission has in its possession very old documents, and if the strict procedures were admitted as in the Court of Law, many of the documents would have been admissible.
It will also inquire into who may have facilitated the departure of Gregory Smith from Guyana after Dr Rodney’s death, and report on the actions and activities of the State, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana National Service, the Guyana People’s Militia and those in command of these agencies, and actions against the political Opposition, for the period January 1, 1978 to December 31, 1980.
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