Commission of Inquiry into the Trinidad and Tobago 1990 Coup

The Commission of Inquiry in the Trinidad and Tobago 1990 Coup was sworn in on 7^th Sep, 2010. The Coup was attempted by the Jamaat al Muslimeen, lead by Yasin Abu Bakr.

The commission will be chaired by Barbadian Sir David Simmons QC, who is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by LSE in 2003.

Sir David lectured in law in London until his return to Barbados in 1970. Between 1970 and 1974, he was a part-time lecturer in law at the Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies.

Twice he served as Attorney-General of Barbados; first, from 1985 to 1986, and, more recently, from September 1994 to August 2001. On many occasions during the latter period, Sir David acted as Prime Minister of Barbados.

Sir David Simmons QC, is a former Chief Justice of Barbados from January 1, 2002 until April 28, 2010.

Members of the Commission of Inquiry

Other members of the Commission of Inquiry include, former Independent Senator Diana Mahabir-Wyatt; former Independent Senator Dr Eastlyn Mc Kenzie; Barbadian jurist Sir Richard Cheltenham QC; and international security expert Dr HA Mohammed.

Reasoning behind Inquiry

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Persad-Bissessar had said there is a general feeling that "this investigation is necessary for several reasons" including the need "to bring finality to this matter" and to deal with the fact "that there were varying degrees and categories of trauma experienced by citizens in different institutions directly and indirectly".

"We also know and we feel that it is important for us to have this inquiry to find out what went wrong and why it happened so that we can take steps to avoid such a thing ever happening in this country again," she added.