The 15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom) on Monday announced that three distinguished legal luminaries have been nominated to serve on a Commission of Inquiry into the July 18 disturbances in Linden that left three people dead. 

Those recommended include Former National Security Minister, Senior Counsel K.D. Knight; former Chief Justice of Jamaica, Lensley Wolfe and former independent senator in Trinidad and Tobago, Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal. 

The Caricom Secretariat said the three jurists were recommended by Caricom Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin La Rocque after consultations.

The smaller opposition Alliance For Change (AFC) had been pressing for a full-fledged international commission of inquiry while the larger A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) agreed with government that there should be foreign input, preferably from the Caribbean. 

The three Lindeners were killed during clashes between police and protesters who had been demanding that government withdraw plans to increase the cost of electricity to consumers there by reducing the state subsidy. 

The opposition and government are yet to agree to all of the terms of reference to the Commission of Inquiry.

Following is the full text of the statement:

STATEMENT BY THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY SECRETARIAT  ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF COMMISSIONERS RE LINDEN INQUIRY

Following the unfortunate incidents surrounding the protests at Linden on 18 July 2012 which led to the deaths of three (3) citizens of Guyana, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been engaged with the Government of Guyana on a continuous basis. 

At the request of the Government of Guyana, the Community has recommended three distinguished CARICOM Nationals to serve on a Commission of Inquiry which is expected to enquire into and report on matters related to the events of that day. The three CARICOM nationals are: Mr Justice Lensley Wolfe O.J., Mr KD Knight S.C and Ms. Dana Seetahal S.C.

Mr Justice Wolfe is a distinguished jurist and former Chief Justice of Jamaica.  He is currently Chairman of the Public Service Commission of Jamaica and also served as chairman of the Police Public Complaints Authority of Jamaica.  Mr Knight, a practising attorney, has been a Senior Counsel since 1995 and has had a distinguished career in politics and law in Jamaica. He held positions in the cabinet of Jamaica including the portfolios of National Security and Foreign Affairs.  Ms Seetahal, also a practising attorney, has been a Senior Counsel since 2006 and is a former Independent Senator in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament and a former lecturer at the Hugh Wooding Law School in that country.