Interviews and photos by Shabna Ullah
This week we asked persons to share their views on the Lindo Creek murders and got the following responses:
Pravinchandra Deodat, chairman of Number 66 Fisheries
`I do not think that the Joint Services would be involved in such brutal killings. Even if they shoot it would only be at one or two persons and then after they realize it is the wrong persons they would stop. But they would not beat them with hammer, kill them and burn their bodies. To me they torture the people to give information about gold and diamond. It could also be that the men saw Fineman and his gang so they wanted to get rid of them. We support the Joint Services and hope that they continue the good work. I also hope that the investigations are completed as early as possible so that the families would get justice.’
Juliet Dukhi, community advocate
`I would not like to speculate at this time so let us wait on the forensic experts. However I think this would remain another unsolved mystery in Guyana as most of the evidence would have been destroyed either by fire or are subjected to the elements, especially the rain. There has been a time lapse from the time of the crime to the time of when the evidence would have been gathered by the experts. I am sure there have been a lot of people not connected to the crime at the scene. There could be DNA left behind by these persons such as cigarette butts which can make solving of this case difficult.’
David Subnauth, President of Upper Corentyne Chamber
`I feel that Fineman would not cover up evidence. Burning those people is a direct result of covering up evidence. This is cruelty to the highest extent and my chamber is in sympathy with the relatives of those people. We just hope that justice would prevail so that these people would get some sort of satisfaction. They would not get their loved ones back but I hope the heinous act would not be covered up. I hope that the investigations would be done immediately and would be transparent. The Joint Services would not investigate themselves so we need to get investigators from overseas.’
Michael Xiu-Quan-Balgobin-Hackett, lecturer of the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus
`To me the evidences are so vague that we cannot say who is responsible for the crime. It could be the Joint Services or it could be the criminals but the incident happened so far from civilization where there were no witnesses. To me the burning of the bodies could have been a cover up. And the thing is that they just discovered skeletons so you cannot recognize anyone. But they need to bring in the overseas forensic experts because the police would have no interest in investigating themselves. The main thing is that the investigators need to establish what date and time the murders happened and find out from the army and the police what they were doing at that time. I’m sure they would not tell the truth but one way to find out is to do the polygraph test. I extend my condolences to the families.’
Jagmattie Sahadeo, widow
`It is very hard for me to say who murdered those men and we would not be able to find out the truth until the investigations are completed. I am glad that the government is bringing the overseas forensic experts to help solve this crime because we would have a definite answer. At least they [government] cannot see all over the country and know what is taking place but they have to have competent people who can supply them with factual information. I am sorry that these innocent men had to be killed like that and I hope that whoever did it would pay the consequences. We are all scared in this country at this time and we need answers to all that is happening.’
Elizabeth Semple, housewife
`I do not believe that Fineman’s gang did all of that killings in the camp. They are just using his name because he was in the area. If the police know who Fineman is then why don’t they catch him? I am not saying that he was not involved in killings but to me he does not know about this one. I think the Joint Services should stay quiet and do their work. If they announce or put it in the press that they know where Fineman is, he would move on. As far as I am concerned the Joint Services are afraid of him. The authorities have to bring out the truth and stop covering up. Bringing the experts from overseas is like trying the devil’s case in hell because the experts would want to lean on the government’s side.’
Nathaniel Peters, pensioner
`My opinion is that the Joint Services kill the people and when they get conscious that is the wrong people they kill they try to cover up all the traces. Even farmers and fishermen who get their daily bread from the backdam are not safe there anymore. The way the country is going now you cannot even have confidence in the security services. I just hope that the relatives of the dead men pick up the matter because they have to get justice. I feel for those people and as Guyanese we must come forward and talk for our rights and don’t be afraid of anybody.’
Sandra White, housewife
`Right now it is hard to tell who committed those brutal murders. You cannot blame people and I just wish they complete the investigations urgently so at least the families who lost their loved ones can be satisfied. It is very sad the way they killed those innocent people who went so many miles away from home for one more dollar. I believe that most of them were the breadwinners of their families. I think it is a good idea to bring the forensic experts from overseas to handle the matter.’
Dorwyn Richmond, unemployed
`I was not in the country when the murder took place but I was very sad when I came back and learnt about it. It is very hard for me to say who did the killings because I have not been following the matter too much. But I just hope they catch the persons who did it and that the necessary actions are taken against them. These men left home in search of better lives and their lives were snuffed out.’
Anita Griffith, hairdresser
`To me it is the Joint Services that did the work and it is not Fineman. They just want to cover up their actions and are blaming Fineman for everything. To me they do not even know who and where Fineman is. I am very sorry for the families of those people who were killed. Some of them have small children and would now have to go out and find jobs. The sad part is that the persons who are committing the acts are not caught. I feel it [murders] a lot because my fiancé is working in the interior. I fear for his life. It is a fact that when people do their mischief out there they go in the bush and hide so people working there are not safe. You do not know who would be next.’