A total of $8 million has been recommended as compensation for the relatives of the three men who were fatally shot last July during clashes between police and protesters in Linden.
Calling the compensation a favour rather than a legal obligation, the commissioners also recommended varying sums for several persons who were injured as well as others who suffered losses. “In making our recommendations we considered all the circumstances in which persons suffered losses,” the report by the Linden Commission of Inquiry which was handed over to President Donald Ramotar on Thursday, said. The report has not been officially released to the media. Part of its mandate included making recommendations for compensation where necessary for injury, loss or damage as a consequence of the events of July 18, 2012.
The commission found the police responsible for the deaths of Ron Somerset, 18, Shemroy Bouyea, 24, and Allan Lewis, 46 who were fatally shot when police opened fire and discharged tear smoke in the vicinity of Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge on July 18, 2012, during the first day of what was intended to be a five-day protest over the planned hike in electricity tariffs for the town. Several other persons were injured and vehicles, machinery and buildings set afire by the protesters.
The commissioners analysed the contributions in terms of earnings made to their families by the three deceased men and recommended compensation of $3 million to Bouyea’s estate, $3 million to Lewis’ estate and $2 million to Somerset’s estate. The monies must be held in escrow and are to be paid only on the presentation of Probate or Letters of Administration.
Somerset’s award was changed on the day of the presentation of the report to the President from $1 million to $2 million after consultations among the commissioners. A source told Stabroek News that the change of Somerset’s award was made in Guyana when the team met for the last time on Thursday, and some commissioners felt that it was not enough.
In the report, the commissioners stated that they were unimpressed with Somerset’s mother as a witness saying that they did not believe that the young man was employed at the time of his death. Somerset was attending the Linden Technical Institute at the time of his demise. “His mother, Margaret, who was a vendor in the interior but now unemployed and lives in Suriname, testified that Ron worked at an Electronic Shop at Linden which is owned by her son-in-law and assisted in supporting her and her two grandchildren. She was a most unimpressive witness and it is left to wonder whether Ron in fact assisted to support the family, bearing in mind that she received a monthly support of US$250 from two of her children who live overseas,” the commission said. It awarded the $2 million for “loss of life”.
In relation to Bouyea, the report said that at the time of his death, he was employed as a handyman at a snackette. “He assisted in supporting his two brothers who were unable to work because of their mental condition and they would therefore lose that support. He himself appears not to have been in particularly good health. According to Gordon Callender, he did odd jobs. His mother is a security guard who also assisted in supporting the family. She earns $30,000 per month. It follows, therefore, that Shemroy was not the only person providing financial support of his family,” the report said. The commissioners did not believe that Bouyea earned as much as $10 000 per week and because of “the peculiar family circumstances” recommended that $3 million be awarded to his estate.
As it relates to Lewis, the commission noted that at the time of his death he was self employed doing various jobs, including carpentry, masonry and painting but was not employed at all times. “Allan supported both of his children who are now left without any substantial support.
His mother is a pensioner. We do not believe that the son, Rodwell, who attends the University of Guyana, received a monthly support of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) from his father who only worked periodically,” the commission said adding that taking all these circumstances into consideration, they feel that his estate should be awarded $3 million.
