A minute of silence was observed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court yesterday in honour of the 12 people who were slaughtered in the township on February 17.
Magistrate Fazil Azeez, presiding over the court, commenced the day’s proceedings by first offering his comments about the slaughter, which he called a significant and definitive moment in the lives of Barticians.
Magistrate Azeez put on record his strong condemnation of the savagery of the slayings.
He also conveyed condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the deceased and the community of Bartica on his own behalf and on behalf of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Office of the Judiciary.
The magistrate noted that Bartica was a small community and urged that its residents live in harmony. He called on Barticians to use the event as a wake-up call to stop all the fighting of little wars, patch up differences and place more value on life.
He said the slayings demonstrated how easily life could be snuffed out. He made a special appeal for the breaking down of fences and the building of bridges of friendship.
