Tears flowed again in Lusig-nan yesterday during the third Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) community dialogue in the area, as Minister of Human Services Priya Manickchand empathised with residents and Chairman of the ERC Juan Edghill urged them to forgive those who had harmed them.
This community was the scene of a vicious assault by a large gang of gunmen more than two weeks ago, whose sole intention was to kill. When they left, 11 people lay dead in five houses that were riddled with bullets.
As a result of the tragedy and the effects it has had on those living in that village and surrounding areas, the ERC decided to hold several community dialogues so that good relations and harmony could prevail.
More than 200 residents turned up at the Lusignan Primary School yesterday afternoon, but during the three-hour-long meeting, they failed to really open up to the commissioners. In the end, some of the residents while admitting that they are still living in fear issued yet another call for improved security and for measures to be put in place to catch those behind the attack.
Manickchand assured the residents that her ministry has been trying hard to see what can be done for the community. She said that there are efforts being made to see “you getting whole again. This is what members of the government have been doing consistently since January 26.”
Tears filled some residents’ eyes as the minister repeatedly stressed that she has their interest at heart and can understand how the tragedy is affecting them especially the children.
“I am very hopeful that we can heal from this and that Guyana can rise,” Manickchand said.
The minister later told the gathering, after listening to their concerns over the need for infrastructural development and the improved security that things have to happen in stages.
Manickchand said that the need for water, roads, lights and house lots are issues in all communities. She pointed out that there has been a lot of development in parts of Lusignan, which were once squatting areas.
She stressed that right now everyone has a role in the community adding that the Ministry of Education is currently working on a plan to address counselling for school children and teachers in Lusignan and eventually across the country.
A need to forgive
Meanwhile, Edghill told the residents that forgiveness is a powerful weapon and to forgive is not a sign of weakness but rather strength.
He told them that they have the power to move on with their lives but they have to be able to forgive. He added that it is alright to voice frustration at the government, police, and the officials who might have let them down as they needed to get that frustration out of their system.
As the residents listened to him, tears welled up again and they were repeatedly told that they should cry and not try to keep the tears back.
Edghill stressed the need for religious heads in the community to take up leadership roles since this would bring togetherness. He also urged the residents not to let their respect for each other change.
The chairman repeatedly asked the gathering how they should respond to the tragedy but the question was never answered. The residents instead placed their attention on the security and infrastructural issues.
Several residents living in the new scheme near the grass field told the commissioners that they are scared because the area where they are has no light.
One resident said she heard every single gunshot on the night of the massacre and stressed that the area is isolated since many people do not live there. She said that after the tragedy she had to stay at her mother’s residence for a while and issued a call for empty land in the area to be occupied.
Another resident said that the grass field at the back of the village is an eyesore and bemoaned the fact that there is no longer a police presence in the area. She said they were promised lights near the grass fields and so far that has not been done. A few of the lights that were erected in the area, she said, have already stopped working.
Yet another resident told the commissioners that she believes that the entire police force needs to be upgraded. The woman said that ranks are using the police vehicles, which are being maintained by the taxpayers’ money, for their own benefit. She said that not only do the police need upgrading but they need counselling as well.
The resident opined that the $50 million reward for the capture of Rondell `Fineman’ Rawlins should be used to buy better weapons for the police or should even be given to community security groups. “We are fighting for ourselves now. We need protection at the back there,” she said.
One resident said she has two children and they are very scared. The woman said that children are living in fear and would ask their parents if gunmen were coming to kill them.
A resident opined that the children in the area need counselling and that something needs to be done about race-related topics. She said that those at the school and parents need to work on the racial issues.
One resident asked about the investigation into the telephone calls that were placed to the police on the night of the massacre. Manickchand responded that the investigation was completed and disciplinary action was taken against an officer.
Towards the end of the meeting several calls were made for togetherness and for peace to continue to prevail over the community.
The members of the ERC will hold their final community dialogue at the Friendship Primary School tomorrow afternoon.
