Family members of two of the three men who were shot dead at the start of last year’s Linden protest yesterday testified about their contributions to their families before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) looking at their deaths and compensation.
Jaclyn Bouyea, the mother of Shemroy Bouyea, and Clyde Lewis, the brother of Allan Lewis, testified before members of the COI. Margaret Somerset, the mother of the other slain man, Ron Somerset, was out of the jurisdiction and will be available to give her evidence today.
Bouyea, who is employed as a security guard, is seeking compensation for her son’s death since he was the person who assisted her in providing for his two brothers, who are mentally-challenged. She said that when Shemroy was alive, he was employed with a businessman in the market to do daily errands. She said his job entailed buying ice and other items for his employer, who sells snacks.
From his job, he earned a weekly income of $10,000, his mother said. Bouyea used to contribute half of his salary towards her until he died. Since her son’s death, Bouyea said that she has not received any assistance from anyone.
Lewis said that his brother Allan, who did masonry and carpentry, had his two children and his mother, who is a pensioner, as the persons who depended on him for their livelihoods. His children are 21 and 19. The elder, Rodwell Lewis, attends the University of Guyana (UG), where he is reading for a degree in mechanical engineering.
In speaking about how his father contributed to his welfare while he was alive, Rodwell told the commissioners that he used to pay his rent, which is $10,000 and buy his UG handouts and food for him while he was there.
The second year student also said that his father would not send money for him every week but when he did it was between $10,000 and $8,000. Senior Counsel K.D. Knight, one of the commissioners, asked Rodwell whether his father would send more than $10,000 for him. He stated no and explained that he never asked for more.
The three men were shot dead while almost two dozen others were wounded at the start of the protest on July 18. Their deaths escalated the protest action, which stretched beyond a planned five days into almost two months.
Meanwhile, two others, videographer Vladimir Glasgow and Leslie Adams were also seeking compensation yesterday. Glasgow made a claim for his lost earnings after he was shot in his leg and arm while taking videos of the protest. Adams made a claim for his music set speakers, which he said were thrown overboard by the police.
The COI has been tasked with inquiring and reporting on the circumstances surrounding the shooting to death of the three men and the injury of several others at the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge. The members of the commission were identified to also serve as the assessors of compensation. A report containing the findings of the COI along with the commission’s recommendations is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
