The PNCR yesterday called on the government to formally memorialise those who died in the 1976 Cubana Air Disaster by erecting a permanent monument to them.
The call came in a message marking the 36th anniversary of the October 6, 1976 disaster, in which 78 persons, including 11 Guyanese students, were killed when a bomb planted by terrorists destroyed Cubana Flight 455, which had left Guyana for the Republic of Cuba via Barbados.
“The PNCR will never forget this cowardly and dastardly act perpetrated on the Cuban, North Korean and Guyanese passengers of Cubana Flight 455,” the party said, while calling for those who were responsible to be brought to justice. “The PNCR on this sombre occasion, affirm our solidarity with the people of Cuba with whom we have shared a great friendship and fraternal bond,” it added.
The party called for Guyanese to remember countrymen Ann Nelson, Rawle Thomas, Raymond Persaud, Jacqueline Williams, Eric Norton, Gordon Sobha, Sabrina Harrypaul, Rita Thomas, Seshnarine Kumar, Margaret Bradshaw and Violet Thomas.
It reiterated the call for a permanent monument, which government had committed to erect years ago. Although work had started on a site at Camp and Lamaha Streets, it was later halted by the government.