“To the question of if you should return to work on Monday remember I will be signing the agreement on Monday and the struggle continues, but victory is in sight,” Regional Chairman Kuice Sharma Solomon told Lindeners yesterday who had gathered to mark the one month anniversary since the killing of three men and the wounding of many others by the police.
“The government 1000% per cent increase of electricity is no more my brothers and sisters of Linden,” he said; “I continue to applaud your historic act of courage in your fight for equal rights and justice in Guyana.”
The cry, “The struggle is not over but victory is in sight,” continued to reverberate throughout the day.
Earlier, hundreds of residents marched from various points in the town on both shores of the Demerara River and converged at the Wismar end of the Mackenzie-Wismar bridge where an all-day rally was held to reflect on the day which claimed the lives of Shemroy Bouyea, Ivan Lewis and Allan Somerset. Along the march route from the Wisroc junction, Danjou Hill and Amelia’s Ward a large number of residents sang religious songs until they reached the bridge, where a service which ran for several hours was led by Pastor Selwyn Sills, who emphasized that the day was one of reflection and not of hate.
“We will trust this regime to address the needs of the people of Region 10 based on agreement, because you the people will see to it, the people of Linden/Region 10 will hold this regime and your national leaders accountable for its delivery. You will hold civic society accountable for ensuring that government delivers on its promises. The power rest with you. We will not rest until justice, human rights and dignity are restored and enshrined in Linden/Region 10.” Solomon told residents as he delivered the key message of the day.
Solomon said that after presenting the proposed terms to the residents of Linden he would be signing the agreement tomorrow. He informed them that life had not returned to normal and residents would be advised further on this. In the meantime they were insisting that Linden would not be normal until the more than fifteen military camps set up around the town were removed and the armed forces which have been maintaining patrols had been removed.
“Our community is under siege, but our minds are not under siege,” said the chairman. He said that the recent burning of the buildings was orchestrated to derail the protest and the talks, so that brute force could have taken over. Strategic buildings were burnt, he said, and the booth that was burnt at the bridge housed the evidence of police shootings on July 18.
According to Solomon Lindeners and Region 10 are prepared to commit their energies to Guyana and undertook to work in peace and harmony, but would not do so unless their right to freedom of expression and association as enshrined in the constitution of the land was respected. “We will never rest when we see our economic and social fabric destroyed,” he told the large crowd, “and when violence is unleashed against us. Tear-smoking and teargassing our homes, shooting and beating unarmed men, women and our youth – Lindeners will never, never accept this and our calls for justice for our people will remain until justice is served.”
Solomon told residents that several persons had been asking about their exit strategy from the struggle, but that Linden would exit when every Lindener, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, political persuasion or any another other form of diversity, is guaranteed that their rights would be protected, and that the menu of measures to make Linden ‘normal’ was realized: “The barriers may go but our struggles will continue. The sacrifice of Shemroy, Ron and Allan who died, all those who have been injured, locked up, and brutalized must not be in vain.“
Residents were addressed by several others leaders and supporters of the protest. Among them were Leader of the Opposition David Granger, who was very brief in his address but spent a considerable time mingling with the audience supporting the rally. Granger said in addition to showing solidarity with residents of the town he came with a gift of some cement, which is to go toward reconstructing the burnt-out One Mile Primary School. “….and I think that you should push to have that school renamed as a monument in memory of this historic time of Linden.” This suggestion was supported by several others who followed him onto the platform.
Others who spoke included Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Lincoln Lewis, Aubrey Norton, David Hinds, Manerva Munroe, Leslie Gonsalves, Charles Sampson, Regional Vice Chairman Byron Lewis and Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, who said, “remember a promise is a comfort to a fool; do not slacken your riding, normalcy means being able to walk our streets free of police and soldiers.”
In a message read in his absence AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes expressed his condolences to all of Linden while committing to providing free legal services to those who were affected by the actions of the Joint Services during the period of the protest.
A representative of each family was given the opportunity to reflect on the life of their lost loved one; however, the parents of Ron Somerset were too overwhelmed to do so, and Pastor Lachlan Andy Mckinnon spoke on the family’s behalf at their request. He recalled the young man who was a member of the Kayo Academy: “He was such a pleasant young man, he had a heart that was destined for great things in this life, but it was cut off suddenly and unjustly so.” He noted that as an aspiring football player, Somerset had always dreamt of being the Ronaldinho of Guyana.
An emotional uncle of Bouyea said that though he had his challenges the 18-year-old was showing significant signs of changes for the better. He said that he had taken to the streets helping whoever welcomed his assistance, a statement which was applauded by the crowd in agreement. He recalled that before his death the young man took a photograph of himself for which he was complimented for “looking good.”
A brother of Allan Lewis remembered him as a very simple person who did all he possibly could to finance the academic advancement of his two sons. At the time of his death one of his sons was pursuing studies at the University of Guyana while the other had just completed his CAPE examinations. “He was a man who never take things lightly if you mash he corn though,” he recalled. The relative said that they will be doing all in their power to ensure that Lewis’s sons completed their education.
The day’s activity ended with singing, dancing and drumming from a cross section of residents in the community.
School rebuilding
Plans are afoot for commencing the clearing of the rubble today at the compound of the One Mile Wismar school, which was burnt down following an act of arson. It will be done through self help, although Bosai has committed to making available a grader to assist in the process while several businesses and private individuals have donated cash and material towards the rebuilding process.
Among those who donated were two overseas based Guyanese who were back home specifically for yesterday’s rally. Juliana Jacobs of the USA and a member of the Linden Fund USA and the Women of Mission International contributed US$200 on the spot, in addition to money raised at other events. The other was Hermione Humphrey, a Lindener based in Canada; she handed over a quantity of cash which she solicited from other Lindeners in Canada. She also presented three portraits of the fallen men of the town.
It was announced that today in addition to the clearing of the school compound, there would be a parallel service of praying and fasting at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground and transportation would be made available for persons 55 years and older to get to the venue. This was deemed necessary as the owners of the ferry services have been resolute about not breaking the protest by operating their boats. Regional Chairman Solomon and his team head to Kwakwani today to deal with issues relating to the imposition of an IMC which had sparked protest actions there.
Cell meetings in the Linden community will continue on Thursday next.
