An arch in memory of the 11 Lusignan residents murdered in January 2008 was last night commissioned in the East Coast village.
GINA said that residents of Lusignan turned out in their numbers to join in an inter-faith service at Tract “A” in remembrance of the 11 persons who were killed during an attack in the village on January 26, 2008. They also remembered the victims of the Bartica massacre on February 17 of that year.
The event was held by the Indian Arrival Committee, in collaboration with the relatives of the slain victims, residents of Lusignan, and members of the religious community, GINA said.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told the gathering that the massacres were the most horrible events he ever experienced in Guyana’s history. “These were two horrible events in our nation really tested us and I think that we should be commended that we have survived it,” he said, according to GINA.
“As we live day by day, we should give some of our time and efforts in reducing animosity, typically between people and extend our hand in creating an understanding among people”, he added.
Minister within the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill emphasised that a miscarriage of justice is done when the police do not conduct their investigations adequately. “One way of bringing closure to a horrible event like the massacre is to bring justice to the relatives”, GINA reported. Two accused were recently acquitted in court.
The 11 victims were: Clarence Thomas, 48; Vanessa Thomas, 12; Ron Thomas, 11; Mohandan Goordat, 32; Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Seegobin Harilall, 4; Dhanwajie Ramsingh, 52; Seecharran Rooplall, 56; Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; Shazam Mohammed, 22; and Shaleem Baksh, 52.
