This morning, the Commissioners took their oath of office in the presence of the Vice President, Mr Sebastien Pillay, and the Chief of Staff, Ms Jennifer Vel.
As announced by the President earlier this year in his Presidential Address, the Commission of Inquiry has been established to independently investigate the causes and sequence of events that led to the explosion. The Commission will examine the adequacy and legality of the response by the relevant authorities, provide clarity and accountability for affected residents, businesses and the broader public, and offer recommendations to prevent similar incidents while strengthening nationalemergency preparedness.
The Commission is chaired by Justice Nicola Sharpe-Phiri, with Mr Guy Roucou and Ms Dora Zatte appointed as members. Justice Sharpe-Phiri, who is from Zambia, currently serves at the Court of Appeal.
In an interview with the media following the ceremony, the Chairperson stated that once the Commission receives its Terms of Reference, it will develop a set of operational rules to be gazetted. This will be followed by investigations and public hearings. The Commission has been given six months to produce its report and submit it to the Head of State.
The Civil Construction Company Limited (CCCL) incident occurred in the early hours of 7 December 2023, when a massive explosion erupted at an explosives storage facility in the Providence Industrial Area. The incident prompted the declaration of a state of emergency and caused extensive damage to surrounding homes, businesses, and infrastructure.