Social workers for Lusignan today

A small team of social workers from the Ministry of Human Services will today visit Lusignan to assess the counselling services that would be needed for the village deeply wounded by the massacre of 11 persons two Saturdays ago.

Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand said that the main target will be all the children in Tract A and its environs.

She said that the social workers will be going into the community to determine the scope of the needs and the amount of persons who will require and benefit from this service.

Manickchand added that the aim of the visit is also to build relationships that would ensure fruitful sessions.

Following the massacre, there had been several calls by various organizations and residents of Lusignan for counsellors to help those who have been affected tremendously as a result of the tragedy.

Deafening silence

Yesterday, beyond the Railway Embankment Road heading south, the atmosphere was one of deafening silence. The main road told a different picture as stores were open for business and persons were going about their usual daily activities. The only evidence of mourning here were the pieces of purple and black cloth lining the lantern posts.

Few persons were seen walking in the streets leading to the Tract A pasture where the massacre occurred and as vehicles passed residents who were sitting under their homes watched suspiciously. The residents told this newspaper that they feel a little secure during the day but at night they are haunted and cannot sleep.

In the street where the massacre took place, the silence was stark. While the residents there expressed their satisfaction with the installation of a few street lights they issued a call for lights to be placed at the back of the houses (near the grass lands) and a heavier police presence.

“We glad fuh de lil street lights man but we need more guards in this place”, Mohan Pooran, who lost his brother-in-law Clarence Thomas, niece Vanessa and nephew Ron during the slaughter, told this newspaper yesterday.

With anger in his voice the man said that several ranks just drove through the area on Sunday night and he stressed that that is not enough.

He said that because of the lack of security in the area, persons are sending their children to stay with relatives and he expressed concern for the safety of his sister Gomattie and her son Mark who will have to be alone in the home when he leaves.

The Thomas’ home was the first to be attacked by the large band of heavily armed men who invaded the village during the wee hours of the morning, two Saturdays ago.

Pooran and others who were sitting in the Thomas’ yard yesterday told this newspaper that the street light near the home poses another security risk.

He explained that the light shines directly into the house and in the event of anything those in the house cannot conceal themselves. He repeatedly stressed that he is thankful for the lights but at the same time expressed disappointment that those in authority would see that as enough.

Meanwhile other residents informed this newspaper that more street lights will be placed behind the houses.

No protest

Meanwhile, Lusignan residents have decided that they no longer want to have a march to the city in protest at the brutal killings in their village.

A large band of protestors had attempted to do this last Wednesday but were tear-gassed by police at Triumph. Attorney-at-law Vic Puran who was on the scene pleading with the residents and advising them that they needed permission to have a march, later made an application on behalf of the residents to the police.

Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Puran said that the residents told him on Saturday that they are no longer interested in having the march since the government has made some commitments to them.