Nominees announced for panel to probe police force
-includes Irish human rights activist
Stabroek News
June 29, 2003
The President and the Leader of the Opposition have reached agreement on the persons to be appointed as members of the Disciplined Services Commission which is scheduled to begin its work on July 1.
Justice of Appeal, Ian Chang will chair the commission and the other members are attorneys-at-law Charles Ramson SC and Anil Nandalall, nominated by the President, and retired Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force, David Granger and Irish Human Rights activist, Margaret Bierney, nominated by Corbin. Stabroek News understands that Corbin has approached the Commonwealth Secretariat to sponsor Bierney’s airfare and hotel accommodation so that she could serve on the commission as the government has refused to meet these expenses.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds will administer the oath of office to the five members tomorrow. They will begin their work on Tuesday as indicated in the follow-up agreement to the May 6 communique.
An Office of the President official told Stabroek News that in accordance with the “follow up” agreement arrangements have been made for the commission’s secretariat to be set up at the Supreme Court Library.
A release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday said that Leader of the Opposition Robert, Corbin had confirmed his agreement with the appointment of Justice of Appeal, Ian Chang as the chairman on Thursday. However, this newspaper understands that Corbin expressed disappointment that the President did not follow the guidelines in the May 6 communique in naming his representatives.
The May 6 communique required the President and Corbin, in making their nominations, to take “account of the need to consult broadly with human rights and other organisations.”
Also the communique required the members of the Commission to be “drawn from qualified and competent persons with senior level Police Force, other Disciplined Forces, Human Rights organisations, management or any other relevant discipline or area of expertise.”
