Tower Hill inquiry begins in O.W.
This morning, proceedings investigating that unforgettable incident at the Tower Hill Bridge officially began in Orange Walk. While the atmosphere was in direct contrast to the scene that unfolded almost a month ago, a few of the faces were the same. After Fidencio Barela, of the Ministry of Transport testified, Amelio Tillett Jr., co-owner of Tillett Bus Line took the stand. Not surprisingly, their testimonies contradicted each other. Ann-Marie Williams has the details.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
The Commission of Inquiry charged to investigate the circumstances of the demonstration and the subsequent exchange between the protestors and security forces at the Tower Hill Bridge in Orange Walk District, on July thirtieth, opened this morning.
Appointed by Prime Minister Said Musa, the three-man Commission of Inquiry is comprised of chairman, Christopher Blackman Supreme Court Justice, former Police Commissioner Sherman Zuniga and Rev. Lazarus Augustine.
Ann-Marie Williams
“The Commission of Inquiry called it’s first witness this morning after a brief opening ceremony. The first person called to the stand was Fidencio Barela, the officer in charge at the Orange Walk branch of the Belize Transport Department. Barela for his part, told the commission that Glen Arthurs, the Commissioner of Transport, told him that Mr. Tillett’s permit will not be renewed. He didn’t ask any questions, he was simply following an order.”
However, when Amelio Tillett Jr., one of the owners of Tillett’s Bus Line testified this afternoon, his testimony conflicted with Barela when he said Arthurs sent him a letter reminding him to apply for his permit renewal. Tillett said quote “I was never told by Mr. Barela that my two permits will not be renewed.”
Christopher Blackman, Chairman, Commission of Inquiry
“Mr. Barela, who is the transport officer in the Orange Walk area, has give some background as to the revocation of the permit. He’s unable to help as to why the permits were revoked, but he has indicated that there was no complaint as to the service offered by the bus line, whose permit has been revoked. At the end of the day, we want to know a little more about why, if there was no complaint, why the permit would have been revoked.”
Barela also recounted for the commission the road blocks, which were set up by the Department of transport to stop the buses from running around 5:00 a.m. on July thirtieth.
Ann-Marie Williams
“Are you hopeful that at the end of this commission something substantial will come out of it?”
Christopher Blackman
“We will do our best to make appropriate recommendations. At the end of the day, it falls to the powers that be to determine whether they act on the report or put it on a shelf to collect dust.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“The three-man Commission of Inquiry will continue with it’s proceedings right here in Orange Walk Town tomorrow. On Thursday, it moves to the Supreme Court in Belize City. Reporting from Orange Walk Town, Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
It is expected that as many as fifteen witnesses will be called during these proceedings. The commission is meeting at La Immaculada Credit Union building in Orange Walk.
