PNC/R welcomes Police inquiry commission
By Shirwin Campbell and Valerie Johnson
Guyana Chronicle
July 5, 2003
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) has announced that it welcomes the newly appointed Commission of Inquiry to investigate and make recommendations on the disciplined forces in Guyana.
PNCR stated at its weekly press conference at Congress Place Sophia Thursday that this Commission, formally sworn in on Monday June 30, 2003, “has come after several years of agitation and struggle against forces of resistance”
The late PNCR leader, Mr. Huge Desmond Hoyte, passes away without able to witness the coming into the being of this august body, the party added and took the opportunity to honour his resolve and dedicated work to have such a Commission established.
The PNCR expects that the Commission will discharge its mandate in a just and competent manner and encourages all citizens to diligently follow the work of the Commission and to participate in every way possible by giving evidence, submitting memoranda, and by encouraging others to do so.
“We believe that a golden opportunity presents itself for our nation to mature and to develop disciplined forces of which we can all be proud” the party added.
Noted that the Commission is not expected to be a witch-hunt, PNCR noted that its terms of reference encompasses matters such as the conditions of services of our policemen and women, extra-judicial killings, the perennial issue of the ethnic balance within the forces, operational efficiency and effectiveness, to name a few.
“The PNCR expects that no stone will be left unturned in the pursuit of the truth and no person or entity exempted from scrutiny” the party declared.
The PNCR also said that it expects within the shortest possible time, the Commission will announce when its public work will commence and the manner and process of its public hearings and deliberations.
On the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Jamaica, the PNC/R said it hopes the summit will be fruitful and productive.