Ex-GDF head McLean called to testify at Walter Rodney inquiry

Former head of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major General (Ret’d) Norman McLean is scheduled to appear before the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Friday, according to the commission’s lead counsel Glen Hanoman.

Hanoman yesterday at the commencement of the second set of hearings gave a list of persons who are expected to testify in the coming days. This session will last for nine days.

Hanoman said that the commission is expecting to hear from Joseph Hamilton, who will speak about his involvement with the House of Israel; Roman Catholic priest Father Malcolm Rodrigues; and WPA activist Tacuma Ogunseye. He said that the commission has also subpoenaed McLean to appear on Friday.

In addition to the completion of Eddie Rodney’s testimony, yesterday saw the beginning of Eusi Kwayana’s testimony.

Meanwhile, attorney Christopher Ram yesterday requested that he be recognised as the legal counsel to watch the interest of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) at the hearings. Ram had sent a letter to this effect to the Secretariat last Friday.

The COI has been set up to inquire into the circumstances surrounding Rodney’s death on June 13, 1980.

Before yesterday’s proceedings, a minute of silence was observed for Trinidadian Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal. Seetahal, who was recently slain in Trinidad and Tobago. She had previously served as a commissioner on the Commission of Inquiry into the July 18, 2012 Linden protestor shootings.