Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission – Hearing Number 141 |17 April 2021

Mrs Denis (Photo source: SBC)

Only one complainant in open session

Out of the three cases heard by the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) yesterday, only one was done in open session.

Marguerite Denis was the only witness to complain publicly in case 0469 filed by her in relation to the wrongful arrest of her husband in 1978.

The TRNUC also listened to two other cases in closed sessions, hearing from two complainants and two witnesses.

Complainants Franco Adrienne (Case 0378) and Antonio Morin (Case 0461) set their complaints before the TRNUC, while witnesses Joachim Bastienne and Barry Gappy gave evidence in case 0451 filed by Etienne Labiche.

Case 0469 – Marguerite Denis

The only witness to appear in open session yesterday was complainant Marguerite Denis in case number 0469, regarding the wrongful arrest of her husband in 1978 for his affiliation with the Democratic Party.

Mrs Denis’ husband, who was the treasurer of the Democratic Party, worked as a foreman with the Public Works Division (PWD) and as a part-time Special Guard before the 1977 Coup.

She explained that on one particular day, she was informed by a relative – the husband of her godmother – that her husband had been arrested.

Mrs Denis said upon receiving the news, she instantly knew the reason for her husband’s arrest.

The following morning while working at the National House, she was informed by Evaris Pierre that two policemen wanted to see her.

They instantly advised her to bring clothes to the prison for her husband.

According to her, since her husband was a Special Guard at that time, he had the responsibility to safeguard dynamite which were used to blast boulders.

She explained that due to that, the authority accused him of making and planting bombs.

Mrs Denis further added that during a search at her residence, the police found some connectors used in blasting, but which were harmless.

This, she said, gave the authority more ground to wrongfully associate her husband with bomb making.

After his release, the father of seven children had difficulties in finding a job and according to his wife, the incident affected him mentally to the point he suffered a stroke.

Roland Duval