‘Malicious gossip’ on Richardson, WPC James

The report states, “The Commission finds that the allegations of Jamaal Shabazz that WPC Bernadette James saw Ministers Selwyn Richardson and Herbert Atwell examining cocaine in a room at Piarco Airport were and are baseless. Furthermore, there is no credible evidence that WPC James was killed in order to silence her from disclosing what she allegedly saw.”

The Report states that the issue came down to malicious gossip.

“The Commission finds that the manner in which Bernadette James died was the subject of malicious gossip which, in a small society, can easily be elevated to rumour and given the currency of fact,” the Report states.

“We accept that the allegations have caused Mr Richardson’s widow and Mr Atwell great hurt and distress.”

The report also states it was a DC8 carrying seven vehicles and not a C130 with 15 landed bringing US aid to tackle the events of July 1990, the Sir David Simmons Report discloses.

“The Commission finds that the aircraft bringing the hostage management personnel and eavesdropping equipment sent by the US government was not a C130 but a DC8,” the Report, tabled in Parliament on Friday, states. “It landed from the east and taxied to the area of the BWIA hangar. There was a convoy of approximately seven vehicles which met the aircraft.”

During the Commission of Enquiry retired air traffic controller Francis Bruzual testified that a C10 landed with a large convoy disembarking. This was disputed by intelligence officials.