The National Assembly set up the commission to enquire into the operations of the army, police and the fire and prisons services but it has to give priority to the enquiry into the Police Force. It has to present an interim report on the Police Force within three months from the time the public hearings commence.

Meanwhile the officers of the secretariat to support the commission have been appointed. They are, Gino Persaud of the Attorney General Chambers as secretary to the commission, Bertlyn Reynolds as legal counsel and Trevor King as registrar.

It has also made available the services of its legal counsel to provide help in drafting the statements of those persons who need assistance. The commission plan to begin its hearings on August 11, so statements must reach them before that date.

Reynolds told Stabroek News that apart from the statements already received there have been indications from other individuals that they were in the process of preparing statements in a representative capacity. She anticipated that by early next week these statements should begin to come in.

She added that the commission was liaising with the disciplined services about their presentations since one of the aspects of the inquiry related to the pay and conditions of ranks.

Reynolds explained that the commission was still in the process of acquiring equipment such as photocopiers and telephones and as such members who attended the office outside the hours of 1-4 pm might not be afforded the privacy they required in preparing their statements.

With regards to reaching the outlying areas, Reynolds said that the commission had solicited the assistance of other sections of the media to inform the residents they could prepare their statements for submission.

She said that based on the submissions from the outlying areas, the commission would then determine the areas to which they would have to travel to hold hearings. So far she said that submissions had been received from Georgetown, the East Coast Demerara, Linden and Essequibo. No statement had been received from Berbice.

Meanwhile, in a separate exercise, the PNCR, to encourage persons to appear before the commission, will be holding sessions at the Public Service Union headquarters at Regent and New Garden Streets to assist them in drafting their statements and providing advice. The first session, according to PNCR executive member, Raphael Trotman, is on Saturday, beginning at 10 am and, based on demand, a second session would be held on Sunday.

Justice of Appeal, Ian Chang SC is the chairman of the commission and its other members are former Attorney General, Charles Ramsom SC, former National Security Adviser, Brig (retd) David Granger, attorney, Anil Nandalall and Irish human rights activist, Maggie Beirne.

The National Assembly set up the commission as a result of a decision of the May 6, communiqué signed by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin.