KINGSTON, Jamaica — Professor Anthony Harriott has been appointed by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen as the third commissioner for the impending enquiry into the May 2010 police-military operation in West Kingston.

Harriott, a University of the West Indies (UWI) professor replaces Queen’s Counsel Velma Hylton who was forced to recluse herself under pressure from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

They opposed her inclusion owing to comments she reportedly made while serving as a lawyer for a 2002 enquiry involving West Kingston.

Information Minister Senator Sandrea Falconer, who announced Harriott’s appointment at today’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in St Andrew, said preparations for the commissioners to begin their work are now underway. She was however, unable to give any further details on when the enquiry will begin.

Harriott, who is director of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security and head of Department of Government at UWI will join the other named commissioners — chairman, Barbadian, Sir David Simmons and former Appeals Court judge, Hazel Harris to judicially investigate the operation which left more than 70 people dead.

Cabinet announced, last August, that it had signed off on the terms of reference for the Tivoli Commission of Enquiry to look into the conduct of operations by the security forces in Tivoli Gardens during the State of Emergency.          

It also spoke to what arrangements were made and precautions taken to protect residents and other affected areas from unnecessary injury or property damage.