PM commends Lusignan for strides made since 2008 bloodbath

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds says Lusignan has moved forward since the horrific killings in 2008, in his address at a memorial service organized by the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the bloodbath that claimed 11 lives.

The prime minister said that January 26, 2008, is a date that relatives of the deceased, residents and the entire nation would never forget. He said that the incident had awakened the need for a stronger security force and government responded by investing huge sums to put measures in place to ensure that such a gruesome event could never recur, a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release said.

Hinds then urged the gathering to continue striving for a peaceful and harmonious Guyana. “This is a challenge that we will be have to rise above and continuing treading on a path of faith and hope as we are members of one human race,” he told the gathering which included Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, PPP/C General Secretary Donald Ramotar.

Ramotar also shared similar sentiments when he addressed the gathering. He also noted that to date the motive for the attack remains unknown and while the village has returned to a level of normalcy, he acknowledged that the memories of that fateful day will always remain. At the same time, he encouraged the community to move forward, build a better community and country in honour of their lost loved ones. “I am proud that although people were terribly hurt and upset of what had taken place they did not allow themselves to be lured into making the situation even worse,” Ramotar said.  He also comforted the surviving relatives and community by saying that persons who lost their lives will be remembered long after whose who had a hand in their death. “This tells me that in our multi-cultural society, we must be our brother’s keeper, building step by step from that tragedy,” he added.

Bishop Juan Edghill, Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), recalled going to Lusignan the morning after the massacre, to find a community calling on their leaders to offer solutions and assistance during the tragedy.

Religious leaders from the community joined the prime minister in lauding the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) for its initiative to commemorate the anniversary of the killings at Lusignan and Bartica. IAC executive member Neaz Subhan said the organization will be working with other groups in the area to erect a monument in memory of those slain. Prayers were recited by leaders of three main religions in the community, the release said.

On January 26, 2008 at about 1.30 am gunmen kicked down the doors of five houses, shooting and killing the occupants they encountered. Armed with rifles, and shotguns, they shot and killed Clarence Thomas and his two children Ron and Vanessa; Mohandai Gourdat and her two sons, Seegobin, Rooplall Seecharran, his wife Dhanrajie and her granddaughter Raywattie Ramsingh, Shazam Mohamed and Shalem Baksh in a 15-minute rampage.

Less than a month later on February 17, gunmen invaded Bartica and shot and killed several persons.