If anyone had not known of a place called Lusignan, they certainly do now. The events of January 26, 2008 certainly made the village a household name, for all the wrong reasons. On that day, a gang of gunmen unleashed almost 15 minutes of such savagery that even the atrocities of the early 1950s appear to pale in comparison. Eleven persons, including children, were slaughtered in their beds by gunmen carrying shotguns and the deadly AK-47 assault rifles. So graphic were the scenes that day that the entire country was plunged into a state of shock.
Below are the shocking stories of that night as recounted by the survivors

Reposted from Kaieteur News - January 26th. 2009

Lusignan massacre is like a sore that will never heal

“Sometimes, when I go to bed, I get scared. Anytime I hear the zinc make a sound in the night,
I would panic. I still don’t feel safe.” Shazeda Khan.

By Dale Andrews

To date, no one knows for sure the real motive for the attack, although it was reported that the now dead notorious killer Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins had claimed responsibility for the attack, declaring it an act of vengeance for the disappearance of his girlfriend and unborn baby.

The gunmen struck at around 01:30 hours early on that Saturday, simultaneously kicking down the doors of five houses and slaughtering almost everyone they encountered.

Three persons were also injured, while at least three persons escaped certain death by hiding, as the gunmen carried out their rampage.

In 15 minutes of terror, the gunmen, who numbered approximately 20, all armed with rifles and shotguns, massacred their victims, in one case an entire family comprising a mother and her two sleeping children.

Among the dead were Shazam Mohamed; Clarence Thomas, his son, Ron 11, and daughter, Vanessa 12; Mohandai Gourdat, 32, and her two children, Seegobin, four years old, and Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Shalem Baksh, 52; Rooplall Seecharan, 56, his daughter Raywattie Ramsingh, 11, and his wife, Dhanrajie, called ‘Sister’, 52.

The injured were Howard Thomas 19; Nadir Mohamed, 48, and Roberto Thomas, five years old.

Survivors Howard and Ron Thomas have to endure the scars they sustained every time they look in the mirror.

Most of the dead victims were shot in their stomachs, and were left lying in pools of blood which covered most of the floors of their modest homes.

Some of the survivors still have the scars that are stark reminders of the brutality and terror they endured.

One year later, while the village has returned to some level of normalcy, the memories of that fateful day in 2008 will never go away.

Families of the victims have already done their “memorial work”, and in the midst of it all is a feeling of oneness, as every villager feels the loss in some way or the other.

Fourteen-year-old Shazeda Baksh is thankful that her father, Shalim, gave his life to save those of the rest of his family.

Shalem Baksh was pulled from under a bed where he, his wife Bibi and daughter were hiding, and was shot dead.

Rajkumar Harrylall has only photographs to remind him of his family.

Shazeda recalls that she was in her bed when she heard the gunshots.

She had called out to her mother, who was with her father downstairs, and her parents, who had also heard the shots, joined her on the upper flat of their house.

The men ordered the family to open their door, but the family was too terrified to make another move.

Within seconds, their front louvre windows were shattered and some of the men entered.

“I went into the last room and we hid under the bed. My mother first, me, and then my father. He was so big that he did not fit comfortably under the bed. When they (gunmen) came in, they saw his foot and told him to come out. They asked for the rest of us and he told them that we were downstairs,” Shazeda said.

The gunmen went downstairs and sprayed the apartment with bullets before returning upstairs.

When the killers put the first bullet into her father’s body, which was lying inches away from her, Shazeda could see his body twitching as the slugs penetrated his flesh.

Her father had begged the killers to spare his life, but after pumping him with bullets, they fired several shots under the bed, none of which found the intended target.

“While I was under the bed, I knew they would kill my father. After they left, my father was trying to say something but no words came out of his mouth. He came out (from under the bed) and saved us all. If he didn’t, they would have checked under the bed and found us and kill us,” Shazeda said.

No one would doubt her theory, since another survivor recalled hearing the men being instructed to ‘kill everybody’.

Vishnu Seecharran is a thankful survivor.

Shazeda is a fourth form student preparing to write her CXC examinations next year. She admitted that it would be a stressful period for her.

“Mommy still cries a lot, and sometimes I cry, too. My friends at school try not to mention it,” she said.

“Sometimes, when I go to bed, I get scared. Anytime I hear the zinc make a sound in the night, I would panic. I still don’t feel safe,” Shazeda Khan told this newspaper.

Throughout the year, Gowmattie Thomas has been trying to put her life back together.

Her house was the first in the Lusignan Pasture to be attacked.

She lost her husband, Clarence; son, Ron, 11, and daughter, Vanessa, 12.

Thomas’s two sons, 20-year-old Howard and six-year-old Roberto, were wounded during the attack, and the scars are clearly visible.

There are reports that one of her sons, who had gone into the yard to urinate, had seen when the gunmen arrived in a minibus.

After hearing the orders to ‘spread out and kill everybody,’ he had hurried back upstairs to warn the rest of the household, but the gunmen were already swarming the place.

Gaumattie Thomas did not see what was taking place on that dreadful night, but was listening keenly from her hiding place in the house.

Her husband, Clarence, tried to push in the door even as the killers were trying to enter the house.

However, the gunmen overpowered him and forced their way into the house, shooting the 52-year-old man dead in the process. His body was left lying on the landing atop the stairs.

“I was just hiding in the corner. Ow, ah couldn’t talk, ah couldn’t do nothing! They did not see me. Then they say, ‘Watch two more deh on de bed. Kill dem! Kill dem!’” Mrs. Thomas had told this newspaper.

She said that the men shot her sleeping son, Ron, and they then snatched her daughter Vanessa from her bed; and although she screamed and begged for her life, she, too, was cold bloodedly gunned down.

Another son, Howard, received a bullet and fell off his bed, a move that certainly saved his life.

She said that maybe if the men had discovered where the switch for the light in the house was, the entire family would have been slaughtered.

“We went to bed, and nothing in our wildest dream prepared us for what was to happen. Just how they sleep, that is how I saw them killed,” she recalled.

So far, the year has been a very emotional one.

Howard Thomas, who survived several bullet wounds and spent about six weeks in hospital, will live with those scars for the rest of his life.

But although he was badly wounded, he was not thinking about death while lying on his hospital bed.

“I was just wondering if we had done anything wrong to anyone for this to happen to us. The men just come and say, ‘Kill everybody’. It would appear like if they run out of ammo and the driver of the vehicle was telling them it was time to go. I feel they would have killed more people if that did not happen,” he opined.

For him, the trauma will remain for a long time.

“Every time I look at my injuries, it takes me right back to that night,” he added.

Sometimes he would be thinking that it was still not over, and although those reportedly responsible have been neutralized, he still gets the feeling that the killers would return to the community some day.

He noted that the promised heightened security that followed the massacre has been relaxed now.

“I get nightmares. Two nights ago, my brother told me that I was screaming in my sleep. Although they (killers) are dead, I still feel scared,” the 20-year-old survivor told Kaieteur News.

He recalled that, on the night of the massacre, he had called the police 911 number. “That was a waste of time!” he lamented.

His six-year-old brother, Roberto, has his body covered with the scars of several pellets and slug wounds.

Although he was observed playing in the yard when this newspaper visited last Friday, he was not too young to have grasped what transpired.

“While in hospital, I was not thinking about myself. I was thinking about Roberto, because he was more serious (wounded),” Howard Thomas stated.

The family now has a small poultry operation, but nothing could really take away the memories of January 26, 2008.

Nadir Mohamed, a farmer, has regained limited use of his feet, which were badly damaged by bullets.

He cannot do the things that previously engaged him, but he is thanking God that he could still walk.

The gunmen did not manage to get into his house, so they sprayed the wooden building with bullets.

His son, Shazam, a budding accountant, was killed during the attack.

“Sometimes we still think that it was a dream. It was something we did not expect. This is a sore that will never heal. I have to keep talking to my wife to help her get over it,” Nadir Mohamed said.

His wife, Bibi Khan, recalled that five of them were in the house when the bandits attacked.

She said that the men kicked and shot out their front door to gain entry into the house.

“Dem shoot, shoot. Awe nah open fuh dead. Me tell dem (family) fuh hide, sit down easy and hide, nah come out,” she recalled.

She said that she later heard her husband, Nadir Mohamed, groaning, and came out from her hiding place only to see her son, Shazam, lying badly wounded in a pool of blood.

“He call out, ‘Ow, mammy, give me some water fuh drink and throw some pon me skin’,” Khan recalled.

For Mohamed the only positive thing that has evolved from the massacre is the closeness that has developed within the community.

“I believe that God spared my life for a purpose,” he said.

Vishnu Seecharran, whose father, Rooplall; mother, Dhanrajie; and sister, Raywattie, were all killed, was lucky to be at his girlfriend’s home when the first bullets were fired.

He had received a telephone call from friends, but had not been prepared for what he was to see later.

It was only when he and another sister arrived at their parents’ home that they realised the extent of the carnage.

“When I sit on the chair and look at the pictures of them that are all over the house, the memories come flooding back. I miss my parents because, as a tradesman, I am sometimes out of work and I had depended on them many times,” Seecharran said.

He now occupies the house with his family, but they do not use the room his parents had occupied.

Rajkumar Harrylall, called Bobby, had left Guyana for Trinidad just a few days before he received the shocking news that his wife, Mohandai Gourdat, and two sons, Seegopaul and Seegobin, had been killed in the carnage.

“I wake up to cook and prepare for work and they called me and told me that I had to travel to Guyana right away, that my wife and children were wounded and were being taken to the hospital. At the time, I was thinking that nothing really serious had happened to them,” he recalled.

Nevertheless, he immediately secured a flight. While there, he got the news that his entire family was killed in the slaughter.

“They were showing it on the television over there, and right away I collapsed. The officials at the airport assisted me and asked me if I could travel, and I told them that I would manage,” Harrylall said.

“The life just went out of me. I had just left less than a week ago. It was them I was living for,” he added.

When he arrived in Guyana, he very badly wanted to see his wife and children, whose bodies were lying at the mortuary, and after much persuasion, he was allowed to.

There, again, he collapsed at the sight of their lifeless bodies.

For him, it is too hard now to look for another spouse to start another family.

“That is out of the question for now. I really had a nice family. I don’t know what really come in these men head. The rest of people got somebody left back, but is my whole family gone,” Harrylall stated.

Harrylall sometimes chides himself for not being there when the tragedy occurred.

“If I was at home, they would have had to break the door to come in. My wife opened the door. She thought that they had only come to rob,” Harrylall explained.

Many residents express horror that the children were not spared.

“Dem nah come fuh rob! Look how dem kill dem pickney while dem sleeping!” was one of the frequent comments.

Residents were upset by the slow response by the police, whom they said refused to answer several telephone calls even as the massacre was in progress.

This was brought to the attention of Police Commissioner Henry Greene, who visited the area hours after the massacre and promised a full investigation into the conduct of his ranks.

Several of the ranks were subsequently disciplined.

Following the slaughter, there was an outpouring of sympathy from every quarter of the Guyanese community.

The event even shocked citizens of other Caricom countries, who sent reporters to cover the tragedy.

Most of the survivors are putting their lives back together, but nothing would erase the sense of fear and loss that they are experiencing.

“They kill ‘Fine Man’ and the others, but we lose our family, and their lives cannot be replaced.”

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Reposted from Kaieteur News - February 3rd. 2008

Matriarch heading for a nervous breakdown The Baksh family

One week after the shooting death of 11 persons at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara things are nowhere close to returning to normalcy. In fact, a bleak atmosphere still envelops the village in general, and quite understandably the Lot 24 Lusignan Pasture home of the Baksh family in particular. The Baksh family, which is now headed by 42-year-old Bibi Zulika Baksh, is a far cry from what it used to be since the family is now left to mourn the loss of its single breadwinner, Shalem Baksh. He was the father of two girls, 24-year-old Bibi Sherezad, 14-year-old Shazeeda, and a son, 23-year-old Shakeer, who resides in Trinidad. On the fateful night, marauding gunmen were able to invade the family home where they riddled Shalem Baksh’s body with bullets. But what the gunmen did not know is that in dying the man was able to save his wife and 14-year-old daughter who were both hidden under a bed right where he was killed. And although Bibi Zulika has been bestowed with the role of heading her home, there is noguarantee that she will be able to do so after witnessing the death of her husband of 25 years.

According to the woman’s eldest child, Bibi Sherezad, who resides with her husband at Lot 88 East Lusignan, she is now tasked with taking caring of her mother, who appears to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

According to Bibi Sherezad, her mother still has not been able to fully accept that her husband is dead and she would awake in the morning to recount things that he supposedly told her to do.

Reports are that the woman had suffered a nervous breakdown a few years ago.

Several medical officials from both private and public hospitals have attended to the woman, and according to the daughter, her mother has to be medicated every day so that she could regain some level of sanity.

The woman said that as much as she would like to move her mother away from the house, Muslim religious works which have to be conducted are hindering such a move.

Pic: From left standing are: Shiroon Khan, Shazeeda and her
sister Sharezad. In hammock is the medicated widow Bibi Zulika Baksh

But she also doubts that her mother would be really willing to leave her home of more than 20 years.

According to the mother of the medicated Bibi Zulika, 59-year-old Shiroon Khan, she, too, cannot come to grips with the fact that her son-in-law has died. The tearful woman related that she would have willingly taken all the bullets just to have her daughter’s life continue normally.

She distressed over the fact that diligent efforts were made by the family to convince the dead man to leave his work as a security officer, thinking that that kind of work was becoming too dangerous these days.

According to Khan, the man decided to comply, only to be gunned down right in his own home two weeks later.

The family is also now concerned about the source of finance for the schooling of Shazeeda, who attends the Institute of Business Education, a matter which, according to Khan, President Bharrat Jagdeo has promised to address.

And like the Baksh family, it has been almost impossible for residents of the area to sleep at nights, although street lights have been mounted and an official of the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary Drainage and Irrigation Authority -- Davanand Doodnauth -- is tasked with refuelling a generated lighting system nightly.

Police officers are tasked with patrolling the area at nights, a feature that the residents are hoping will not come to an end soon.

Nonetheless, several persons have moved away from the village, while others prefer not to sleep in the village at nights, fearful that the gunmen may return.

Nightfall is torture for Lusignan residents
(By Mondale Smith and Tusika Martin)

One week after the East Coast Demerara community of Lusignan was plunged into deep sorrow and intense emotion, thoughts and plans for moving forward are mixed. Yesterday, the roadway leading to the village and the actual houses in which people were killed were all lined with black and purple flags, but the mood of the village was tranquil. There was no sign of the protests, road blocks and burning of tyres that had become a feature during the past week.

Some villagers gathered in pockets to express their hopes and fears, while others visited with the bereaved, offering words of encouragement. However, many were reluctant to talk to the media for fear that they would become the next target of the gunmen.

One resident who lived close by said that he wants to move from the location as he and his wife are having sleepless nights. He said that on the night terror was reigned on his neighbours, he and his wife were watching cricket when the first shot was fired.

Pic: Gowmatti Thomas and members of the church at the home.

“Me and me wife run to the back of the house and me pull out four jalousie, climb down the back, and run and lay down in the grass.” Lying flat on his back and looking to the heavens, he said, he prayed at the sound of every gunshot. Now, days after the ordeal, he says he still hears the cries of his neighbours whose lives were snuffed out. As he relayed the harrowing story, the hairs on his skin stood on end and the goose bumps emerged.

A little way off, one woman and her daughter were seen heading out with a bag of clothing, which has now become the routine for several residents at nightfall.

The mother, choosing anonymity, and occasionally glancing over her shoulder said, “We don’t sleep her no more. We does go to my mother every night because we frighten.” Word from those gathered was that the children are fearful and as they venture outside they, too, can be heard talking about what they would do should bandits visit their house. “Me ah tell dem that dem say dem wouldn’t kill children, and me ah live wid me granny, suh dem nah go kill me an me granny,” one lad said.

Pic: SURVIVORS: Nadir Mohammed , Bibi Rakiun Khan and daughter, Shazila

But some members of the five affected families, as they put lives back together, are adamant that things will never be the same.

Gone but not forgotten - memories will live on

Yesterday, while most of the village was quiet, Bibi Rakiun Khan, of Lot 26 Annandale, in the presence of friends, reminisced the most on her son, who was the lone fatality of the five at home on January 26.

Today there were no tears and she is the strong one with a smile. She says “I’m still thinking about my son but de Creator is in charge.” She stood strong while her husband, Nadir Mohammed, with bandaged feet, sat on the veranda. Her ten-year-old son drifted in and out of long trances.

The lad says he’s not fearful any longer and can’t wait to get back to school, while the father, a ground provision farmer, is optimistic that he will eventually get back to his farm on the Linden Highway to continue earning for his family, who are trying to overcome their loss.

“We will not forget that Shazad is gone, but his many pleasant, caring and ambitious memories will keep us going…He was quiet, simple and educated.” Expressing gratitude for all the assistance given and promised, she said that she has got some medication to help her to relax and rest. She noted, “Me does use it and it does make me sleep, but when me wake up is same stress.”

Her family agrees that the incident, though a nightmare, has brought them closer together, as ìt has done the community.

She said that she has got some assistance from almost every corner, but noted that her family will accept any further assistance. “All our families and friends are more united -- no more separation. People talking, and we believe that God doing He work, and we are certain that this tragedy has made Lusignan very popular and close to every one at home and abroad. We will not be moving; we will continue with our lives.”

The woman, as well as her daughter Shazila Khan and her son Shazad are unharmed but she lost her 22-year-old son, Shazam Mohamed, an accountant at the Nauth Construction Firm.

Gowmatti wants to rebuild

Life is forever changed for Gowmatti Thomas of Lot 30 Lusignan Pasture. Her residence was also one of reflection and contemplation of life after the night of terror. Gowmatti has lost her husband, daughter and son, but surrounded by brethren from the Lusignan Assemblies of God church and relatives, she looked full of hope for the days ahead.

Sorrow was still in her voice as she sat on a bench outside her home. Her son, Mark, who resided in Bartica, has come home permanently and was all smiles as he interacted with relatives, some of whom were engaged in securing the upper flat of the house. “Money can’t bring back the love and good times we used to have, but we have to move forward eventually,” the mother said, as her gaze occasionally focused on the floor. “Vanessa used to full up water and clean house while my husband (the main bread winner) used to cook. Now I will have to find people to pay to help around the yard.” The people are beginning to sleep again.

Over the past few days that was impossible. Today, she sleeps in the downstairs of her home with the assurance that she is with her family and friends.

Cognisant of the fact that they will eventually leave, she often wonders what will happen next for herself and her remaining children, two of whom are hospitalised with bullet wounds.

Her church has been a great source of comfort, she says, and added that the memories of the day of terror are still fresh in her mind. But all is not lost, as she says, “Things are working out…we trying to cope.”

She no longer desires to vacate her home but said that she hopes, if she gets the necessary assistance, to demolish the structure and rebuild, as the upper flat holds nothing but memories of death to her loved ones.

The woman who works at her church two days per week said, “Me want to break down the house and me want to build the fence properly.” She added that fear remains in the hearts of all her family members, but she noted that the results of the night of terror have made the community more closely knitted.

Yesterday, too, groups of villagers gathered at the home of Rooplall, Dhanrajie Seecharan and Raywattie reading passages of Scripture and praying for the souls of those killed.

In that home, three people were killed -- a mother, a husband and one daughter.

Relatives, neighbours and friends continue to gather to rely on each other for strength to get over what had occurred.

Noreen Seecharan, the eldest of the dead couple’s children, said that she and her three siblings are struggling to get over the fear of how their parents and little sister met their end.

“Everybody is still scared. We can’t sleep when the night come. Since this thing happen we just stay up whole night and pray for morning to come. We does go to bed soon as day start to clean,” the woman said.

Every day, she said, is a constant struggle to get through. “We just can’t lose anymore. One of my brothers who used to live with my parents don’t even sleep here when the night come.”

That brother had slept over at his girlfriend’s home on the night of the killings.

The sister said that the police patrols are in the area night and day but yet they do not feel safe.

“I don’t think that any of us will ever forget what happen. We know we have to move on, but we just don’t know how to do that.”

She added that even her six-year-old son refuses to go to the house where her parents were killed.

“He was telling his dad just yesterday (Friday) that he wants to learn karate so that he can fight back the bandits that kill his grandparents.”

While they are undecided, she is sure that none of them will live there ever again.

“They struggle to build this house and selling it would mean that we would lose their memory, so I doubt that we will do that.”

At the home of 32-year-old Mohandai Gourdat, who died along with her two children -- Seegobind, four year old, and Seegopaul Harilall, 10 -- her husband, Rajkumar Harilall, said that he has lost his ‘life’. His wife and children were his world, he said.

“I can’t sleep. The police in the area but I still don’t feel safe. Soon as night come is like a different mood in the village.”

The man added that Friday night was hard to get through since it was early into Saturday morning that the incident occurred.

“We just sit up and watch the clock till about 2 am. And is suh me start to think about what they pass through.

Since the incident, he added, neighbours have been visiting day and early in the evening.

“No one ever stay out late anymore.”

“Up to now like I don’t know if me deh on me head or foot. Life just blank for me right now. I don’t know if I going back to Trinidad to work. I just trying to mek a honest living. Just imagine, I leave me own country to go to another country to mek a living for me family, and watch what happen to them,” the man said as he fought back tears.

He said that even if one of his children had survived he would have had some hope. “But I feel like I gon run off. When I look at them bullet holes on the house I does just imagine what me wife and children pass through. If I went here I woulda been dead just like them. Is very painful to be alive and them dead.”

Before he left for Trinidad, his son always use to jump on him when he came home from work. “Me use to come home and tek out me food, and when you see me sit down in that hammock to eat, me son always use to come and jump on me.”

Speaking about the police presence in the area and the recent raids conducted by the Joint Services, the grieving man said, ‘They acting too slow. How much more innocent people gon die before they get these people?”

He said when he closes his eyes he sees his children and wife.

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Reposted from Kaieteur News - February 2nd. 2008

$50M for ‘Fineman’ .. Joint Services qualify for reward

The bounty placed on the head of Guyana’s most wanted man Rondell Rawlins, called “Fineman”, of Buxton, East Coast Demerara and Agricola, East Bank Demerara, has been upped to $50M.

This figure represents the largest reward ever that has been announced in Guyana’s history.

Rawlins is wanted by the Police for a series of murders including the recent massacre at Lusignan to which he has admitted, as well as a number of robberies under arms.

Previously the reward for the wanted was $5M. Last Wednesday the reward was raised to $30M.

According to a Police press release, as a result of the number of matters of a serious nature to which he is linked and the amount of damage caused, the police have reconsidered the amount of money being offered for information that may lead to the arrest of Rawlins and has upped the bounty to $50 million.

Joint Services qualify for reward

A senior government official has assured that members of the security forces who risk their lives to capture or kill wanted man Rawlins will earn the $50M reward.

The assurance was given amidst concerns by ranks on whether they qualify for the reward money.

The concerns stem from the previous delay and apparent reluctance by the administration to pay out reward money to ranks that had hunted down and subsequently killed wanted man Neil Bovell in 2006.

People who contributed to the capture of wanted men ‘Bullet’ and ‘Biscuit’ say that they have not yet benefited from the reward.

Bovell had a $3M reward on his head and was subsequently shot dead in Stanleytown West Bank Demerara by a party of policemen after he had eluded capture for more than four years.

The government official said that apart from the security forces, private citizens who provide information leading to Rawlins’ capture or killing would also be rewarded.

Over the years, Government has paid out reward money to persons who provided information leading to the capture of wanted criminal suspects.

Police have confirmed that a reward of $5M was paid out following the death of prison escapee Troy Dick.

This newspaper also understands that a hefty reward was also paid out following the death of Shawn Brown for whom the US government had also offered a reward.

Kaieteur News also understands that Police ranks had received a reward reportedly of $500,000 each for killing Agricola wanted man ‘John Kirby’ in 2006.

Anyone with information pertinent to the capture of Rawlins is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 226-6978, 225-8196, 225-2227, 225-3650, 225-7625, or 911 or the nearest police station.

According to the police, all information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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Reposted from Kaieteur News - February 1st. 2008

Buxton shootout...
‘Fineman’s deputy killed
- recovered AK-47 linked to multiple murders, robberies

Police have identified the two men who were killed during Wednesday’s shootout in Buxton, and said that one of them is believed to be the number two member of the gang headed by fugitive Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins.
Police gave the names of the men as Vibert Leroy Harris called ‘Bolo’, 29, of Friendship, East Cost Demerara and Troy St. John called ‘John Eye’.
“Troy St. John is reported to be the number two member of Rondel Rawlins called ‘Fineman’ gang,” a brief release said.

However, the release did not state whether Harris had any connections to this gang.
According to the release, the Joint Services were informed that the confrontation occurred while Opposition Leader Mr. Robert Corbin, Mayor of Georgetown Mr. Hamilton Green and others were attending a Commemoration Symposium at Friendship Primary School, to mark the Second Anniversary of the still unsolved murder of journalist Ronald Waddell.

It stated that Corbin and other participants were forced to leave the symposium.
“The Joint Services wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the release said.
It stated that during ‘Operation Restore Order’, yesterday, a number of houses were searched in the Buxton/Friendship Area, ECD, during which eleven (11) persons were arrested and are in police custody.
Police had stated that the gunmen had thrown grenades at the ranks during the approximately 45-minute confrontation.
Meanwhile, a subsequent release revealed that ballistics tests conducted on the AK47 rifle recovered during the armed confrontation between the Joint Services and armed gunmen in Buxton, ECD on Wednesday night matched the firearm with shells found at the scenes of the recent massacre at Lusignan; the robbery/murder at Triumph, ECD on December 16, 2007 where Fazal Hakim and Rajesh Singh were killed; the armed robbery/murder on the PGS Security van at Agricola, EBD; the armed robbery/murder on the MMC Security personnel at Sheribana and the Canal No. 1 robbery, 2006.

And the village of Buxton remained partially under siege yesterday as scores of Joint Services ranks conducted cordon and search activities as part of ‘Operation Restore Order’, with the view of flushing out the other gunmen who were said to be hiding out in the community.

When this newspaper arrived at around midday, the village had the appearance of an occupied territory, with heavily armed soldiers and police at strategic points in the area south of the Railway Embankment.
The roads were almost devoid of people despite no clear threat of confrontation between gunmen and the security forces.

So tight was the cordon initially that two reporters from this newspaper attempted to enter the village from the Buxton Sideline Dam on the Railway Embankment but were stopped by the security forces.
However, the reporters managed to slip the cordon and made their way to the back of the village where they were confronted by a contingent of soldiers who had secreted themselves in an unfinished building in battle-ready positions.

After checking the reporters’ cameras to verify that no photographs were taken of the ranks’ positions, the cameras were handed back to the reporters who were then escorted from the area.
The ranks, some of whom had been on the operation since the previous night appeared to be battle-weary but were manfully sticking to their task.

Some were seen taking shelter under sheds on the side of the Railway Embankment and under a few shops.
This time around, residents had no complaints about the way the operation was being conducted.
They said that the ranks were very professional and suggested that they continue in this vein if they hope to get the cooperation of the people.

Joint Services says ‘Operation Restore Order’ underway

Special unit pursuing gunmen

…Voice confirmed as Fineman’s in telephone threats, admission of guilt for Lusignan massacre - Greene

The Joint Services yesterday announced that a combat size (30-35) ‘Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG)’ has been put into operation to sanitise what they called the target area (Buxton) and has been assembled specifically to hunt down gunmen and eliminate the current threat they pose.

Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Commodore Gary Best said that apart from the standard patrols in concert with JSOG, all land, sea and air resources are being utilised.
The special team is effectively resourced (armed), the Chief of Staff said.

The announcement came during a Joint Services press briefing yesterday at the Police Headquarters where Commissioner of Police (ag) Henry Greene announced that ‘Operation Restore Order’ was responsible for the killing of the two men in Buxton on Wednesday following a shootout with about 10 armed men.
He said that the troops and ranks came under fire in the vicinity of Pond Dam, Buxton.

Greene also reported that the operation netted one AK-47 rifle, four magazines containing 110 AK-47 rounds, some 200 additional AK-47 rounds, nine .38 rounds; five 9mm rounds, two army pouches, a Bible and first aid kit among other items.
The operation was launched on Sunday last.
According to Commissioner Greene, the firefight started some time after 18:00 hrs on Wednesday.

He said that one of the men has been identified as Troy St John also known as ‘John-I.’ The other has been identified as Leroy Harris, who people said was no gunman.

St John, who hailed from Beterverwagting, was a farmer in Buxton. He came to notice when he reported to the media that the police had beat him in the wake of the 2001 elections.
Some months later he was arrested with the brother of the slain gunman, Andrew Douglas, and charged with marijuana possession. That charge was dismissed.

Commodore Gary Best who was present at the briefing told media operatives that the AK-47 recovered from the dead men has not been linked to the arsenal of weapons that went missing from Camp Ayanganna in 2006 that included more than 30 AK-47 assault rifles, 16 of which have been recovered.
He also confirmed that the weapon carried by Corporal Ivor Williams who was shot dead in Buxton last Wednesday has gone missing.

A second wave of ‘Operation Restore Order’ commenced early yesterday which saw the Joint Services conducting searches in Buxton.

He posited that he was hopeful that the large contingent of lawmen that entered Buxton yesterday would find the persons “(who are) wreaking havoc and terror in the society…and to restore order to the country.”
Operation Restore Order was launched because of the obvious breakdown in order in certain areas, according to Commodore Best.

Greene posited that the recent events such as the shots being fired at the police headquarters, 11 persons being gunned down at Lusignan and the ensuing protests “are a sign of chaos…we would not expect anybody to be out of their minds and shoot up a police headquarters.”
Greene said that the police were in receipt of the tapes recorded by the security cameras outside of the US Embassy that is in proximity.

However, it was too dark to be of any assistance.
During the question and answer phase of the press briefing that was held at Police Headquarters in Eve Leary, Commissioner Greene said that there was sufficient evidence to definitively state that the man who called the police and who purported to be wanted man Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins was in fact Rawlins.
He said that Rawlins issued threats via telephone to the Criminal Investigations Department as well as Brickdam Operations Room.

“The voice was confirmed by ranks as a male known to them as Guyana’s most wanted man Rondell Rawlins, also known as Fineman.”
He also added that there was sufficient evidence to support claims by Rawlins that he was in fact responsible for the Lusignan massacre.

According to Greene, the present profile photo of ‘Fineman’ that is in the public domain is outdated and sketch artists are working on an updated version.
He also lamented that to date no fingerprints have been lifted from the pair of binoculars or the cutlass that were left behind following the Lusignan massacre.

According to Greene, the recent breakdown in order commenced with the report of a missing girl, Tenisha Morgan. This was followed by a series of threats from Rawlins.
The Police Commissioner added that an investigation into the missing girl saga has been launched as well as into the threatening calls.

“Tracing the calls has proved fruitless and the enquiry into the missing girl continues.”
He said that Morgan, according to official records from the immigration department, has not departed the country.
Greene added that the force has issued a call for the minibus driver who allegedly assisted her into a car, and is currently looking for three men who could assist with the investigations.
On Wednesday, Cardwell Giddings, one of the men who was in contact with Morgan prior to her disappearance, told Kaieteur News that on the day the teen went missing, the minibus driver asked his help to acquire a taxi for a pregnant person.

He continued to say that he went to get a car after seeing the girl but when the taxi did arrive, the minibus driver told him that she could not wait any longer and she allegedly boarded another vehicle.
The teen is believed to have been kidnapped, after she vanished mysteriously on January 18. She has not been seen since.

Four days ago, Morgan’s mother, Waple Morgan, reported that someone purporting to be her daughter sent a text message claiming to be alright and informing her that the baby was fine.
The police subsequently traced the phone from which the text message was sent and conducted a search of a woman’s Camp Street home.

An SIM card was found with the matching number and the woman was taken into custody at the East La Penitence Police Station.

However, 24 hours later, the woman was released from custody after a thorough check revealed that the number was deactivated some time ago and is now registered to a new owner.

‘Fineman’ in his most recent wave of threats called Kaieteur News and during the call said that he is giving “them” a few days breathing space to see whether the teenager, Morgan, 19, is returned to her home.
Failing this, there would be another attack that would make the Lusignan massacre pale into insignificance.
He accused well-known individuals, whom he said were part of the “phantom”, of kidnapping his “woman” to get back at him for Minister Sawh’s murder which he vehemently denied committing.

Rawlins is currently listed as Guyana’s most wanted man for allegedly committing several murders, and police have issued a $30M reward for his capture.

11 laid to rest on national day of mourning
- Lusignan massacre victims, slain soldier duly honoured

Yesterday, on a national day of mourning in their honour, 10 of the 11 victims of the Lusignan massacre, and the Guyana Defence Force Corporal who was cut down in a hail of bullets in Buxton were laid to rest.

The outpouring of grief and unbridled emotions from relatives as well as thousands of strangers were displayed at the Lusignan Market Tarmac and Lyken Funeral Home and Dartmouth on the Essequibo Coast.

As the midday sun blazed in all its glory, followed by some intermittent showers, the large gathering at Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara did all they could to get a last glimpse of the villagers who lost their lives in a senseless carnage.

Despite being offered comforting words by the various religious leaders, many expressed that there would be no closure until the perpetrators of the heinous act are brought to justice.
Yesterday, Raywattie Ramsingh, 11, her father Rooplall Seecharran, 56, her mother Dhanrajie Ramsingh, called Sister, 52; Clarence Thomas, his son Ron, 11, daughter, Vanessa, 12; Mohandai Gourdat, 32, her two children: Seegobind Harilall, four-years-old and Seegopaul, 10; and Shalem Baksh, 52, were bid their final farewell. The eleventh victim, Shazam Mohammed, was laid to rest on Tuesday last.

It was a chaotic scene yesterday as the thousands who converged in the area pushed and tugged to secure appropriate vantage points to observe proceedings. As the bodies arrived at the site, loud wailing provided an eerie reminder of the horror, which unfolded in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Relatives who were overwhelmed were placed to sit in chairs beside their loved ones as the crowd filed past slowly. There were also several mourners who collapsed and were immediately removed from the crowded areas to be revived.

The viewing of the bodies continued for almost an hour-and-a-half with police ranks on duty being particularly hard pressed to control the large gathering of highly emotional mourners.
A call for unity among Guyanese was reiterated by all the religious leaders, who tried as best as they could to bring an element of calm to the understandably tense environment.
Prayers were offered for the relatives to gain the requisite strength to deal with their grief and to help the authorities to find a solution to the problem. The call was also made for Guyanese to not be separated by this incident, which they stressed is clearly what the persons responsible for the act would relish.

“By this incident we will not be defeated; let us use this opportunity to unite and make our society a more comfortable one for all,” one religious leader urged. There was also a plea for all members of society to not forget the families of those slain following the burial of their loved ones. “Now is when your support will be needed the most, so that healing could be done.”

Following the closing of the sermons, a final moment of silence was held for the victims as their remains were carried off, for burial or cremation. Several government officials and prominent Guyanese were in attendance to offer their support.

And on the Essequibo Coast, slain Army Corporal # 19759 Ivor Williams was duly afforded full military honours. Williams was shot dead last week after his patrol came under fire from gunmen while in Buxton.

He had only served five years in the Guyana Defence Force, but according to Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best, the life of Corporal Williams was an exemplary one, and he died as a hero.
The 23-year-old Williams was interred at the Eliza Cemetery on the Essequibo Coast.

Following a short viewing at Lyken’s Funeral Home, Williams’s body was flown to Hampton Court and then taken to his Dartmouth home where over 200 soldiers gave him a military send off.
Among those also present at the funeral were Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Regional Chairman Alli Baksh.

It was recalled during the funeral service that Williams last attended church on December 31. One month later on January 31, he was again in church.
Relatives echoed the Commodore’s sentiments that the soldier loved his country and died a hero.

Luncheon, in remarks, while saluting Williams for a great service to his country, promised that Government would work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible for his demise are caught and punished.

Commodore Best reminded those present that the fight was far from over and the Guyana Defence Force will effectively fulfill its duty.

Thousands lined the Essequibo roadway to bid farewell as the soldiers trailed their fallen comrade to his final resting place.

Reposted from Kaieteur News - January 31st. 2008

Missing teen saga… ‘It wasn’t me’, says Rastaman ‘By the time meh come round wid de taxi, she gone’ Seeing she condition, any body wid a heart woulda help she

After living in fear for several days, Cardwell Giddings, called ‘Heston’ and ‘Rasta man,’ who was accused of accompanying 19-year-old Tenisha Morgan into a taxi on the night of her disappearance, yesterday turned up at Kaieteur News just before turning himself over to the police.

He had been identified as the person who may have had some knowledge of Tenisha Morgan’s disappearance. He denies this. “I know nothing about this! It wasn’t me!”

The man, who pushes carts and parks them in the vicinity of the Berbice Bus Park, said that on the night of Morgan’s disappearance, he was working when a Number 63 bus driver asked him about hiring a car.

“Was about 8:30 going on to 9 pm when I did coming from America Street wid a cart. When I reach the Berbice Park, a bus man she, ‘Rasta man, wheh I could get a taxi from around hay?’ “

He said that he asked the bus driver the reason for wanting the taxi, “because I know he does drive bus, and he seh is fuh a big belly girl that deh in he bus.”

Giddings said that he asked the driver where the girl was heading, and he told him she was going to Kitty. He said that he then called a friend, whose name he gave as Leon, who usually operates a taxi.

“When I call he, he seh that he deh in Campbellville doing a drop-off and soon as he done he gon come down to the park. He ask me is where the person going and I tell he Kitty.”

The man noted that he left and went for another cart, and about 15 minutes later he returned and the bus driver told him that the car had not arrived.

“I call back me friend and ask he how far he deh and he tell me that he on Vlissengen Road and the traffic light got he hold up. Then the bus driver seh that the girl can’t wait…’You ain’t see she condition?’ ”

He said that he then noticed the girl standing outside the bus holding onto her belly.

According to Giddings, she had three bags with her, one on her shoulders, and two on the ground. Describing the bags, the man said that one of the bags was a ‘big travelling bag’ and the other two ‘look like leather bags.’

“When I see the size of she belly I seh ‘wow.’ I realized that this girl in pain and suh I run round the corner by Quality Fast Food to get another taxi fuh she. When I reach there, I see a man who does always wuk out there. Me and he is friend. I does call he ‘Double-Ugly Man’ I tell he that I got a wuk fuh he and I seh is a big belly girl going to Kitty.”

The Rasta man said that the taxi driver started teasing him, telling him that maybe it was his child mother.

“I tell he no, is not me child mother; is a girl a number 63 bus just bring down. I jump in de car, and when we reach round by the side where the girl was standing with the bus driver and a vendor name Tasha, I see the girl gone.”

He said that the taxi driver subsequently told him that he has to pay him because he made him waste his time.

“I reason wid he and he left and went away. I didn’t had to pay he. The bus driver said that the girl couldn’t wait and suh he stop a car and put she in. I tell you the honest truth: when I see the girl condition, anybody wid a heart woulda help she.”

He said that the following day, the vendor ‘Tasha’ told him that the girl they were helping the previous night went missing.

“So I tell she let them try right there because if them did wait fuh me taxi friend to come they woulda know is where she drop off.”

He said that he heard that the missing woman’s husband would turn up at the park and start shooting up so he stopped working at nights. He said that he would work during the day time and keep as far as possible away from the Berbice Park.

He said that he has been working at the Berbice Park since 2000 and has always seen ‘Tasha’ there. However, since the incident, she has not turned up to sell at the park.

“I hear Tasha went to the station and said something and the police looking for me, so I come with me mother and we going to the Brickdam Station.”

He, however, ended up at Eve Leary in the office of the Police Commissioner.

The man’s mother, Paula Giddings, said that she really wants the story to be cleared up because she fears for not only her son’s life, but also her own. “I am having sleepless nights and I am so afraid. I am not even sleeping at my house.”

In the wake of the disappearance, there was the Lusignan massacre which, according to a man purporting to be Rondell Rawlins, was a message to those who may have his “wife and his seed”.

The teen is believed to have been kidnapped, after she vanished mysteriously on January 18 and has not been seen since.

Kaieteur News had previously reported that Tenisha Morgan left her Friendship/Buxton, East Coast Demerara home on January 18 to go to a private city hospital after she experienced labour pains.

Morgan’s cousin, Althea Hills, who lives in Kitty, had said that she was to have accompanied the teen to the hospital.

According to Hills, Morgan caught a bus from Buxton, and later called from Georgetown to say that she would travel by taxi to her (the cousin’s) home in Kitty.

Hills said that she waited for her cousin but she never turned up. Subsequent to her disappearance, a man claiming to be Rawlins, also known as “Fineman”, made several calls to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) warning them to turn over his woman or face the consequences.

On Sunday, the Joint Services, in a statement, denied that it has Morgan in its custody.

The Joint Services said it wished “to categorically state that neither the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, nor the Guyana Fire Service has Tenisha Morgan of Friendship/Buxton, ECD, in their possession.”

Three days ago, Morgan’s mother, Waple Morgan, reported that someone purporting to be her daughter sent a text message claiming to be alright and informing that the baby was fine.

The police subsequently traced the phone from which the text message was sent and conducted a search of a woman’s Camp Street home.

An SIM card was found with the matching number and the woman was taken into custody at the East La Penitence Police Station.

However, 24 hours later, the woman was released from custody after a thorough check revealed that the number was deactivated some time ago and is now registered to a new owner.

And as investigations continue into the missing female Tenisha Morgan of Friendship, East Coast Demerara, the Guyana Police Force is looking for the minibus driver who may have assisted her in catching transportation at the Berbice Bus Park.

The police are appealing to this minibus driver to assist the force by providing what information he has.

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Reposted from Kaieteur News - January 30th. 2008

‘Fineman’ calls Kaieteur News... ‘Tell dem ah want meh wife back... ALIVE!!! *
admits to Lusignan massacre * denies killing ‘Sash’ Sawh * says he will create history

A man purporting to be Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins, Guyana’s most wanted, has admitted responsibility for Saturday’s massacre in which eleven persons from Lusignan, among them five children, were slaughtered in a pre-dawn raid.

The man has also threatened to create history if his “wife” is not returned alive.

In several telephone calls to publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, and Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris yesterday afternoon, the caller, whom this newspaper believes is indeed Rawlins, said that he is giving “them” a few days breathing space to see whether the teenager, Tenisha Morgan, 19, is returned to her home. Failing this, there would be another attack that would make the Lusignan massacre pale into insignificance.

“Rawlins”, on the pleadings of both Lall and Harris, gave his commitment not to hurt any children this time around, and claimed that since his “woman” and his child had been taken away, he had responded that way. Emphatically stating that the child is his “f…ing seed”, the man said that he is not going to let it go like that, and the Guyana Defence Force “is not going to able with it”.

“Rawlins” was particularly upset that he had been accused in the murder of former Minister of Agriculture Satyadeow Sawh, something he denied vehemently and pointed out that he is blamed for almost every crime that happens in Guyana.

“Jah Rastafari know I had nothing to do with the Minister (Sawh) killing, they just trying to put that on me. Imagine dey got four or five crime happening every day and dey blaming me fuh all. How the f… I could be everywhere at the same time?”

During the initial call, which came to Lall through the switchboard of the newspaper at around 15:00 hrs, a power outage terminated the call.

The publisher immediately called a meeting of senior reporters and editors, including Harris, to decide how to deal with the story.

“Rawlins” called back about 20 minutes later and, speaking with Lall and Harris, accused well-known individuals, whom he said were part of the “phantom,” of kidnapping his “woman” to get back at him for Minister Sawh’s murder.

Naming three persons whom he is adamant know about the whereabouts of his “woman”, the caller was convinced that his “wife” did not just decide to go off on her own, but was kidnapped.

“Rawlins” claimed that he had been with her for four years, and had his wife decided to leave, she would have called him. “She would have avoided this slaughter; she would not have allowed me to bring this heat on myself.”

“Rawlins” also claimed he had checked all the hospitals, airport and even in Suriname and Barbados, so he is convinced that his “wife” had been kidnapped. He said that she could not be in Suriname and Barbados, where he has “people,” and someone not call him. The man also slammed the police, who he said have not done anything substantial to find his “wife”.

He said that they failed to even take a statement from the vendor. This angered him more. But the police said that they have a statement from the woman.

He noted that there were reports that he had sent eight men to question a vendor who was said to be the last person to see her.

According to “Rawlins”, he had only sent one man, and had it been a case that he really wanted the vendor, she would have been placed in a car trunk and taken to him. “Dey seh I send eight men to that vendor. If I de send eight men to she, they woulda bring she back in a car trunk.” “Rawlins” said he knew the vendor lived in Plaisance.

Yesterday, in an effort to seek continued contact with the caller, both Lall and Harris provided him with their mobile numbers.

On Sunday, the Joint Services, in a statement, denied that it has Morgan in its custody.

The Joint Services said it wished “to categorically state that neither the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, nor the Guyana Fire Service has Tenisha Morgan of Friendship/Buxton, ECD, in their possession.”

The statement added that persons who suggested that the Joint Services were in possession of Morgan were “being extremely mischievous.”

The release also stated that the Police Force is continuing investigations into the missing person report made, with the view of locating Morgan.

The pregnant teen is believed to have been kidnapped after she vanished mysteriously on January 18, and has not been seen since.

“Rawlins” said that some men were drinking in the vicinity of the East Coast Demerara Car Park and they saw his “wife”. He accused them of sending a taxi after the car in which she travelled.

Rawlins is wanted for several murders, and police have issued a $30M reward for his capture.

Kaieteur News had previously reported that Tenisha Morgan left her Friendship/Buxton, East Coast Demerara home on Janaury 18 to go to a private city hospital after she experienced labour pains.

Morgan’s cousin, Althea Hills, who lives in Kitty, says that she was to have accompanied the teen to the hospital.

According to Hills, Morgan caught a bus from Buxton, and later called from Georgetown to say that she would travel by taxi to her (the cousin’s) home in Kitty.

Hills says that she waited for her cousin but she never turned up.

She added that she dialled the number from which Morgan had called, but an individual who identified herself as a vendor answered.

Hills says that the ‘vendor’ claimed that she saw Morgan enter a taxi after making the call. The woman says that she and other relatives visited several city hospitals but failed to locate Morgan.

Subsequent to her disappearance, a man claiming to be Rawlins, also known as Fine Man, made several calls to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) warning them to turn over his woman or face the consequences.

Two days ago, Morgan’s mother, Waple Morgan, reported that someone purporting to be her daughter sent a text message claiming to be alright and informing that the baby was fine.

A source close to the investigations said that the police have been able to trace the phone from which the text message was sent, and they have someone in custody.

Those dead from Saturday’s massacre are Shazam Mohamed; Clarence Thomas; his son, Ron, 11, and daughter, Vanessa 12; Mohandai Gourdat, 32, and her two children, Seegobind, four years old, and Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Shalem Baksh, 52; Rooplall Seecharan, 56, his daughter, Raywattie Ramsingh, 11, and his wife, Dhanrajie, called Sister, 52.

The injured are Howard Thomas, 19; Nadir Mohamed, 48; and Roberto Thomas, five.

Most of the dead were shot in their stomachs and were left lying in pools of blood that covered most of the floors of their modest homes.

The killings have prompted a number of protests in the normally quiet village of Lusignan. These protests have spread to Mon Repos and then to West Berbice. Several persons were arrested and infrastructure was damaged during the protests, which started on Saturday.

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Reposted from Kaieteur News - January 29th. 2008

Students discomfited by tear gas

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was a scene of confusion shortly after 11:00 hours yesterday when more than 30 disoriented students of Urmilla’s Institute, on the East Coast of Demerara, were rushed there for medical attention.
The children, ranging in ages from four to fifteen years, accompanied by their teachers, parents, and other relatives, crowded the hospital canopy near the emergency unit entrance as they desperately sought assistance.
The scene drew attention from scores of curious people in proximity to the hospital.
According to the Head Teacher of the private institution, Urmilla Persaud, several of the students started fainting soon after they became exposed to a noxious substance which was reportedly fired off by police officers.
Reports are that police, attempting to dissuade a group of protestors on the Mon Repos Public Road, dispersed tear gas which engulfed the atmosphere, severely affecting several of the children.
According to a senior police official, scores of persons congregated at the Mon Repos Public Road in the vicinity of Market Road, behaving in a raucous manner.
The police ranks noted that the evidently outraged residents started hurling dozens of glass bottles at vehicles passing on the road, and the police were forced to discharge two canisters of tear gas in an effort to protect public and private property as well as prevent injury to innocent passersby.
He added that they had to maintain a presence, given that there was an imminent threat that persons would have blockaded the roadway for a third day.

The residents, however, deny throwing the bottles at persons or vehicles; rather, they were throwing it onto the roadway.
One of the empty canisters that contained the noxious gas was seen in the school yard, but the official denied shooting it into the yard; rather, it was shot onto the thoroughfare.
Persaud told Kaieteur News that the children “just started blacking out” when they inhaled the substance.
Upon observing the reaction of the young children, the teacher said, ‘a mad dash’ was made to have the children transported to the public hospital.

According to one parent, when they arrived at the hospital they were informed by an official that nothing could be done for the children but they (teachers and parents) should apply warm water to the children’s skin. They were also advised to allow the children to ingest some water.
The process of providing the children with water was immediately engaged, and while appearing to gain some level of relief, others expelled the water as they tossed and turned in discomfort.
More people then started to converge at the scene to catch a glimpse of the children, some of whom were teary-eyed, trembling, or simply appeared to be sleeping, a disposition which caused the most fear that something dreadful would happen.
GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan, in an invited comment, gave assurances that everything possible was being done to ensure that each of the children was properly treated, even as he expressed optimism that the children would be alright.
Khan divulged that medical officials were providing the children with the standard treatment, adding that nothing else could be done.

But, according to the owner of the school, who identified himself as J. Persaud, called Teddy, the situation should have never reached to a stage where the children were affected.
He pointed out that he had earlier observed police officers threatening to employ tear gas in the area to deter protesters.
The man said that he had advised the officers that their intended course of action would not be wise since a school was just a few yards away.

Disregarding his advice, Teddy recounted, the officers fired off the tear gas in every direction, eventually affecting the children as well as scores of others in the Mon Repos Market at the time.
“I tell you, if something wrong to anyone of these children, the police gon pay…,” the visibly enraged Teddy warned.
The mother of one of the students said that she was in the market when she, too, inhaled the nauseating gas. The woman said that she also heard persons expressing concern that the children at the nearby school were terribly affected.
The woman said that she rushed back to the school, only to see the children “dropping down.”
Overwhelmed with concerns for her daughter who suffers from asthma, the woman said, she frantically commenced a search for her daughter, whom she found in a nervous state, as were several of the other children who were rushed to the hospital.
The children were treated a few at a time, and six who appeared to have been most exposed to the gas received oxygen.
When Kaieteur News visited the school yesterday following the incident, some of the children who had sought medical attention were still traumatised and were seen trying to comfort each other.
One girl was shaking while others tried their best to console her. The operators of the school noted that the school will remain closed until the situation on the East Coast of Demerara calms.
As news of the incident spread, a school in proximity, namely Apex Academy, immediately closed for the day, and parents were called in to retrieve their children.

Some of the parents that Kaieteur News spoke with have already indicated that they will not be sending their children to school until there is some semblance of calm on the East Coast of Demerara.

The situation also drew the attention of the Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Bishop Juan Edghill, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr Hydar Ally.
The latter official said that the Ministry is very concerned about the ordeal the children were made to endure, and revealed that the Ministry would be rendering assistance in the form of transportation to take the children home.
Meanwhile, several residents from the affected East Coast village said that the action of the police has only served to intensify the tension which mounted on the East Coast of Demerara following the Saturday morning shooting deaths of 11 persons at Lusignan.

Massacre takes heavy toll on city businesses
owners fear extended lull

On the first full day of business following last Saturday’s shocking massacre at Lusignan, businesses in the city have already begun to suffer from the fallout, in terms of support. Checks at establishments around the main commercial areas yesterday, showed that the city has indeed maintained its ‘ghost town’ atmosphere.
Several shoppers even noted that they were uneasy with the paucity of fellow consumers. Following a tour along the normally bustling Regent Street, many business owners opined that the signs were less than encouraging.
“Since Saturday, business has really slowed up. Just look at the streets and you could tell what is going,” one store owner lamented.
A sales clerk at Money’s Variety Store on Regent Street said that since the store opened its door, at around 08:30 hours yesterday, to 15:30 in the afternoon, approximately ten customers had trickled in.
“This thing (crime) really affecting the whole country, not only sales and businesses in the city. It is very difficult for persons living on the East Coast when it comes to transportation,” another businessman related.
Further down Regent Street, at Manu’s Variety Store, similar sentiments were expressed.
“Many of the customers we deal with are from villages along the East Coast and (from) as far as Berbice; and since the incident sales have dropped…persons are definitely afraid to venture onto the streets. People ain’t coming down from the East Coast because of the protests, but you can’t blame dem, is de government ain’t doing nothing about the situation.”
Business persons also voiced fears of a total shutdown of the country.

“What happened on Saturday last seems like a very big situation for the authorities to handle; and from all indications, these criminals seem to be heading further. If that happens, what will happen to business?”
Entrepreneurs also noted that, since the incident, there has been very little police protection in the prime commercial areas.
“It seems as if the criminals are getting the best out of this situation because, from all indications, they are causing the authorities to shift their attention to one area while leaving us (business people) in harm’s way,” one business owner reflected.

This was the case in Saturday morning’s incident. Hours prior to the shocking incident, gunmen had sprayed the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary with bullets, wounding two police ranks, thus causing a distraction for what was to come.
There were only two police ranks on foot patrol in the Regent Street area.
As the checks along one of the city’s main thoroughfares continued, several store clerks were seen either sitting reading newspapers or magzines, while others just stood around on the pavement discussing the slow day of business.
“Is since this morning I deh out hey on de pavement just looking around, me ain’t tend to not one customer,” one young assistant said.
This was also the case on Water Street and around the normally busy Vendors’ Arcade. Arcade stall owners told Kaieteur News that, unlike prior to the incident, business was dead.

“Even on Sundays you does find people coming out and looking fuh outfit fuh go to the creek, because most store does close on Sunday; but last Sunday business was totally dead, and even today (yesterday),” a vendor said emphatically.
“This country gone to de dogs. All these years I selling and even during the flood times business didn’t even slow up so much, because during the flood people de shopping fuh stock up dem house; but with de shooting people ain’t even coming out dem house,” another vendor lamented.

Around Bourda Market things were no different, with several stalls closed. The area was devoid of its customary traffic congestion and few people were traversing the area. This was also the case on Robb Street.
Business on Lombard Street and its immediate environs was also hit hard for the entire day.
The minibus parks, particularly that serving commuters from Berbice, at peak hours only saw anxious persons waiting for transportation, with a few minibuses showing up after lengthy intervals. Many minibus owners have opted not to ply their trade, since they are fearful of having the vehicles vandalized by angry protestors.
Meanwhile, the local commercial banks announced a reasonable day with not that many people staying away, since it is nearing the end of the month, when the majority of people collect salaries.
According to Juanita Persico, Manager of Operations at Demerara Bank Limited, there was obviously a sign that people were cautious, but their usual month-end crowd was obvious, too.
Employees of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Republic Bank and Citizens Bank have reported the same, with no significant decline in business.
Meanwhile, many business owners are hoping that the situation will return to normalcy, and not remain for an extended period as was the case for a number of periods during the crime wave between 2002 and 2005.

Lusignan/Good Hope canefields set ablaze

Late last evening, reports reaching this newspaper were that the canefields aback of the villages of Lusignan and Good Hope, on the East Coast of Demerara, were set alight by protestors.
Kaieteur News understands that up to late evening, several acres of ripe cane which were scheduled to be reaped soon were still ablaze, given that it was difficult to reach the fire.
When contacted last evening, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), Nick Jackson, confirmed that he was in receipt of a report that two fields were set ablaze and there were teams at the site attempting to get the blaze under control.
He did note, however, that the fire would not do too much damage unless the cane was not ready for harvesting.
He said that there will now have to be an early harvest, and it is quite possible that Guysuco would lose some 20 cent of the sugar in the cane.
Jackson added that with some luck they would have been able to control the fire, but he hoped that it would not have been too windy, which would have caused the blaze to spread faster.
Meanwhile, Lusignan remained in a chaotic state yesterday as villagers continued their protest action that resulted in a standoff with members of the Joint Services for a third day.
According to the residents, this action will continue until something tangible is done to provide security for them.
Dozens of police ranks, along with heavily armed soldiers, managed to maintain a flow of traffic given that the residents were unable to set up any sort of blockades, as was the case in the prior two days.
This did not deter villagers from remaining to the side of the roadways all day, despite the scorching sun.
Though the crowd remained fairly calm for the entire day, there were several outbursts which caused a few persons to be arrested.

One frustrated resident was visibly upset at the action of the police following the arrest of her son.
“Me nah know why dem nah go look fuh de criminal…we is not criminals, we just protesting fuh we rights and dem a beat we and lock we up!” Another man was immediately arrested when he allegedly jammed a police rank with his vehicle.
This incident forged another anxious standoff with the police ranks.
The previous night, it took a contingent of police ranks to disperse the crowd and clear the roadway after several fires were set, blocking traffic for hours.
Some four truckloads of debris were removed from the roadway yesterday, with the help of prisoners.
“We protesting fuh we safety and de police come up and beat we…wuh dem a do hey? Why dem nah guh look fuh de people dat kill dem people and dem children?” were among the passionate comments permeating the atmosphere in Lusignan yesterday.
The residents were particularly vociferous about an incident that occurred the previous day when a minibus, BKK 3724, apparently hit four protestors at Lusignan.
According to residents, a senior police rank reportedly told the driver of the bus to drive through the crowd, and in the process the persons were struck.

“The police tell he drive, drive and he drive and hit down the people,” one resident said.
Among those injured was 13-year-old Andrew Dhanraj.
He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC), where he was treated and sent away.

Meanwhile, today the first of the funerals will reportedly be held. Shazam Mohamed was one of the residents who were mown down on Saturday morning when a gang of marauding gunmen unleashed their unprovoked rage on the East Coast Demerara village of Lusignan.
The gunmen struck at around 02:00 hours on that fateful morning, simultaneously kicking down the doors of five houses, slaughtering children as they lay sleeping in their beds.

PAGE ONE COMMENT

This newspaper understands the anger and concern being vented by ordinary citizens in predominantly East Indian communities of the East Coast following the massacre of last Saturday. The people’s hurt is genuine.
However, this newspaper is convinced that political elements aligned to the ruling party have also been instigating some of these protests. The people of the East Coast and further afield should not allow themselves to be manipulated by political instigators who wish to dabble in gimmickry so as to divert attention from the inadequacies of the Government in confronting the security threat now facing the country. It is not only politically irresponsible but smacks of the worst type of moral reprehensibility the human mind can comprehend.

We reiterate for emphasis -- political opportunists and immoral spin doctors from the ruling establishment have devised a strategy to prolong the tyre-burning protest in order to deflect the concentration of the Guyanese people from demanding that the Government of Guyana, which won an election mandate to direct the affairs of this nation, put an end to bestial savagery and uncivilized violence from animalistic gunmen who are presently terrorizing an entire country.
It says nothing good for the Government of Guyana when citizens tune in to NCN and see a running strip urging the entire Guyanese population to be on guard. Is this country in a state of civil war? It is not. So the point is that a band of terrorist criminals, numbering about thirty, can force the Government of a country to warn the entire land to be on the lookout. We say most emphatically that this is a dereliction of duty on the part of the political elite that is in charge of this nation.

The political hands instigating these protests desperately want to take the rap off the Government for its consistent failure to bring peace to Guyana because the Government has been exposed for its incredible incompetence. We ask, in all sincerity, how will protests such as what took place over the weekend into yesterday solve the dilemma of the East Indian community, who for too long have borne the brunt of acts of violence and terror?
Will these protests force those that slaughtered the Lusignan 11 to surrender?

The real issue is not about protesting by blocking the main roadways and by committing damage to private property. These may bring attention to the need for justice, but we believe it is diverting attention from the need to go after those responsible for Saturday’s slaughter of eleven innocent citizens and the killing of a member of the military’s elite unit, the Special Forces. This is unacceptable. The Guyanese people should reject this ugly descent into political opportunism of the worst type.
Those guilty of these crimes will be brought to justice and the threat they represent neutralized only if there is the requisite will at the highest levels of this government. We are not satisfied this exists.

Instead of protesting by blocking the roadways and damaging public property, the people should therefore be calling on their leaders to retreat from band-aid solutions and be forceful and resolute in confronting this challenge. If the leaders do not have what it takes to get the job done, they should step aside and make way for those with leadership fortitude and courage. We urge that the entire Guyanese population join us in this call. The time has come for all of us to ditch diplomatic language and speak to the Guyana Government for forceful changes.
The Government must demonstrate that it is prepared to confront the forces of evil. The President of Guyana should issue the appropriate instructions, and he must be prepared to act if these are not followed or results not forthcoming in a timely manner.
The time for pussyfooting is over. It is now time to deal with this threat; to root it out once and for all so that all Guyanese can live in safety. We end with the belief that if, in the present circumstances, the present leaders cannot show this nation results, then we they should give way to others who are prepared to show leadership qualities so that Guyana can be saved.
Peace be upon Guyana!

Post mortem traumatise strangers
...witnesses were moved by the sight of the Lusignan victims
more than by the demise of their own loved ones

A veteran investigator said yesterday that he was left 'sickened to his stomach' as he watched a pathologist conduct autopsies on the victims of Saturday's massacre at Lusignan.
The autopsies were carried out at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary, and the findings left some of the veterans wondering about the mental state of the men who callously took eleven innocent lives.
Kaieteur News was told that nine of the victims were shot in their heads. Some had been shot four times, others seven times. Clarence Thomas, who was gunned down on his back step, was shot in the back.
According to an official, the post mortem examinations also confirmed that most of them were shot while lying in their beds or on their floors.

In the main, the bodies all bore gaping exit wounds, indicating that high-powered weapons were used to carry out the slaughter. “We only found a few pellets and two pieces of metal (in the corpses),” an official told Kaieteur News.
“(Almost) every bullet went in and out.”
The investigators were particularly horrified by the disclosure that one of the two little girls who were slain was clearly shot at point blank range. According to a source, the gunman who executed her pressed his weapon directly onto the girl's shoulder before squeezing the trigger.

“The bullet went straight through her shoulder and damaged her lungs.”
“I have never seen anything like this in all my years, one officer said.
“It sickened me to my stomach. Those people had to be on drugs or something. I can't see this as something that normal people would do.”
According to one officer, some people who went to witness the post mortem examinations of relatives who died of natural causes seemed to be even more moved by the Lusignan slaughter than the demise of their own loved ones. Survivors said that the gunmen, numbering about 20, struck at around 02:00 hours on Saturday, simultaneously kicking down the doors of five houses before slaughtering even children as they lay sleeping in their beds.

The dead are: Shazam Mohamed; Clarence Thomas; his son, Ron, 11; daughter, Vanessa 12; Mohandai Gourdat, 32; her two children: Seegobind, four years old, and Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Shalem Baksh, 52; Rooplall Seecharan, 56; his daughter, Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; and his wife, Dhanrajie, called Sister, 52.

The injured are Howard Thomas, 19, Nadir Mohamed, 48, and Roberto Thomas, five.
Police have since said that ballistics indicated that spent shells retrieved from Lusignan matched shells found at the scene of the late Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh; the scene of Drakes's murder in Agricola; the murder of two MMC security guards slain at Two Brothers Gas Station, and an attack at Canal Number Two in 2007.
Police are now offering a $30M reward for information leading to the arrest or capture of Rondell Rawlins, called 'Fine Man, who is believed to have orchestrated Saturday's massacre.
Rawlins, of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, and Agricola, East Bank Demerara, is wanted for a series of murders and robberies under arms.

---

Reposted from Kaieteur News - January 28th. 2008

Massacre dampens spirit
- city remains a ghost town

The massacre of 11 persons at Lusignan East Coast Demerara early Saturday morning has definitely impacted negatively on social activities in the city and its immediate environs.
Tours around the capital city yesterday revealed that most persons chose the safety of their homes instead of the customary Sunday evening ‘night on the town’.
The popular Jerrie's bar on Camp Street had a sprinkling of customers, so too was the normally packed Church’s Chicken a few buildings away.
The normally busy South Ruimveldt bus park was also devoid of its usual crowd of limers. From about 21:00hrs, the normally buzzing New Court Yard on Main Street was void of patrons while the Pegasus and Buddies parking lots gave proof that last night was not one for usual socializing. Sheriff Street, known as the street that never sleeps, had a few pockets of people who were all heading home. Meanwhile, all the nightspots along Durban Street were evidently lacking in their patron support. The White Castle Fish Shop, known for attracting hundreds of limers and patrons, was in the process of shutting shop when Kaieteur News visited there around 21:30 hrs.
Even church members seemed to have opted to stay indoors as the Lifespring church at Chateau Margot, which is usually packed to capacity, only had a sprinkling of people.
But perhaps the most shocking piece of evidence that persons are taking the situation seriously was the Georgetown Seawall. No one could be seen taking their Sunday night stroll in the Kingston area as barricades and armed ranks diverted the little vehicular traffic that was on the road.
In the Kitty Seawall environs, empty chairs lined the parapets as vendors who are normally overwhelmed by customers resorted to soliciting these. The regular vehicular and pedestrian build up along the skirts of the Rupert Craig Highway on Sundays was evidently not there before 19:00 hrs and just about 24 vehicles were evident after 21:30 hrs. The normally impassable seawall walk way was free of the crowds.
Ras Polly, a vendor on the seawall, blames the situation on the recent killings on the East Coast of Demerara and the heavy military presence on the streets.
“Crime does affect everybody. And that is wha slowing up everything. De place de going nice, Buxton de quiet down, now this happen. I hope it come back normal because I gat a dance deh soon,” the vendor told this newspaper.
Natalie Thompson, another vendor, expressed the same sentiments.
“Earlier they had one and two children and they family but now ill slow,” she said.
Another vendor believes that since a significant amount of the seawall revelers come from the East Coast of Demerara, the limited access to the city as a result of protest action has impacted negatively on activities on the premier Sunday evening lime on the seawall.
Surprisingly, there was no need for police traffic ranks to man the usually busy Rupert Craig Highway.
From all indications, most of the ranks have been deployed to beef up security around police headquarters which came under attack last Friday night.
Evident last evening was the blocking of vehicular access around Eve Leary, which was mainly responsible for the absence of persons on the seawall behind the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters.
With the weekend ended, many businesses are hoping that the situation will return to normalcy and not remain for an extended period as was the case of the previous crime wave of 2002-2005.

FRONT PAGE COMMENT

The horrifying events at Lusignan have left a nation on the precipice of collapse. The combined efforts of the security forces, both GPF and GDF, have been unable to contain a small band of heavily armed men who last Saturday carried out the most frightening and monstrous of crimes in the short history of this country by slaughtering eleven ordinary civilians at Lusignan, including five children. Only evil, uncivilized humans would kill children as these animals did.

This newspaper joins in condemning the dastardly act committed against innocent human beings. Like all Guyanese, we are outraged that these inhuman acts could have been committed on our soil. Words cannot express how we feel at this newspaper. For a nation so small to suffer such horrendous casualties in a matter of hours is simply unbelievable and psychologically devastating. These helpless victims did not do anything wrong; they committed no crimes against their murderers and did not deserve the savagery to which they were subjected to at the hands of heavily armed animals. They shot some of their victims in their beds. What has this nation done to have given birth to these beasts of the wild? Are they humans? They are not! We join with the entire nation in extending condolences to those directly affected by this tragedy, but we also know that the pain and hurt inflicted and the mental anguish that these attacks have created are felt throughout the nation. We mourn those killed. We empathize with the communities still reeling and traumatized from these attacks. We offer our support to a nation that must be wondering what the future holds.

All Guyanese must now be deeply worried about what will happen next. The State of Guyana is now imperiled, unable to guarantee a secure and stable environment for citizens. Will the authorities simply stand by and allow a small band of hellhounds to terrorize and hold this country to ransom? Is this the future that we want for our children and grandchildren?  Or will Guyana do what all great nations have done when the very existence of the State is threatened? Will leadership rise to the occasion and deliver Guyana out of the clutches of evil that threatens to devour the entire nation? Will the threat be stopped before it is too late?

 Nothing should stand in the way of the preservation of the State of Guyana. We urge that the leadership of this country do whatever is necessary to ensure that those who committed these heinous crimes are made to pay for their evil crimes. We urge the government to take decisive action to rid this country of the threat that it faces from a small group of savage killers.
 A great deal of effort is being concentrated on the one person suspected to be the architect of these atrocities. However, the terror that reigned on Lusignan in the wee hours of Saturday morning was not just the actions of one man but of a group of killers. So who are the others and why is it that in such a small society like Guyana, these persons cannot be identified? What is preventing this?

 We urge the government to give firm orders to the disciplined services to take back peace, stability and security on behalf of the people of this country. We urge that there be no relenting until the task is achieved.
 The time for procrastination and indecision has long passed. This is time for courageous thinking and bold leadership. There is a mission to be accomplished.

 Those guilty of the slaughter of innocent children deserve to be hunted down like the heartless degenerates they are. They should expect no mercy; they deserve none. Peace be onto our nation!

Lusignan massacre…
“I'm just thankful to be alive”- injured survivor

Nadir Mohammed, one of the survivors of last Saturday’s blood bath in Lusignan, says he is just thankful to be alive. Speaking to Kaieteur News from his hospital bed, Mohammed, who lost his son, 22 year-old Shazam Mohammed, said he is upset at the fact that he can’t be with the rest of his family to provide physical and emotional support for them during this difficult time.
“Is we son we loss and look wah happen to me, I know it really hard fuh me wife deal with…right now me really can’t do nothing fuh me family me just deh lay up and it frustrating,” Mohammed said. Mohammed sustained gunshot injuries to both legs. The father of three who is a farmer, his wife Bibi, his sons 22 year old Shazam (deceased), Shazon 10, and his daughter Nazera Khan were in their lot 24 Lusignan home at the time of the incident.
While Mohammed said he is hoping for a speedy recovery from his injuries, he is thankful to members of the community for their support.

“Since the shooting me hear the whole community come out and supporting one another. Me wife tell me that even dem people from me son wuk place come and helping out with wake and me family ah get nuff support,” the injured man told this newspaper.

Mohammed said he is still in a lot of pain as a result of his injuries, He stressed that only someone who has experienced the loss of a loved one could understand the pain he is feeling for his son who died.
However, Mohammed said he is comforted by the support given not only to his family, but also that extended by residents of other villagers.

The injured man related that Lusignan is a community with persons who are very close knitted and the incident has since caused them to bond even closer in their grief.
“Me wife tell me that right through de street (where the shooting occurred) residents set up and everybody keeping wake, she tell me Banks DIH come and donate stuff fuh de wake and even people who she (the wife) ain’t know coming forward and helping,” Mohammed said.

Meanwhile, the two other survivors of the attack, five-year-old Reberto and his elder brother, 19-year-old Howard Thomas also remained hospitalized up to press time yesterday.
Speaking to Kaieteur News, another brother, Mark Thomas said he was in Bartica when he heard the news that members of his family were gunned down.

Mark’s father Clarence Thomas, his only sister Vanessa Thomas, and 11-year-old brother Ron Thomas were killed.
Mark told Kaieteur News that round 5:30 hrs on the day of the incident, he received the gruesome news.
“I work in the interior but before I go in I would stay with an uncle in Seventh Avenue Bartica, and the morning while sleeping the phone ring and I wake up and I heard me uncle on the phone saying “Oh God". Right away I jump out me bed and I ask me uncle what happen, I ask if is something wrong with me family and he tell me that me father, me only sister, and me little brother get killed and me other two brothers get shoot and in the hospital,” Mark recalled.
Mark’s youngest brother, Reberto was shot twice in the abdomen and once in the right leg, while his other brother, Howard, was shot twice in the right arm. Reberto, up to press time remained hospitalized at the GPHC’s Intensive Care Unit while Howard remained in the High Dependency Unit.

Mark, while holding back tears, said after getting the news he immediately began his journey to the city. The man said it is very difficult to deal with the situation, more so to accept the death of his only sister, Vanessa. He added that he is still fearful for his mother and siblings wellbeing and remains optimistic about the remainder of his family staying in the community.

“This is not the first time I had to deal with something so difficult. A few years back I witnessed the kidnapping of Steve Lesniak (A US embassy employee who was kidnapped from the Lusignan Golf course by heavily armed men). When he was kidnapped the men had big guns and since then I frighten guns and is guns destroy me family this time,” Mark noted.
The surviving Thomas who said he last saw his family one week prior to their death vowed to be strong for his brothers and mother and to take care of them.

According to Mark, both brothers seem to be improving, but he related that his youngest bother continues to cry out for constant pains.

In the wee hours of Saturday morning last, 11 persons including five children from Lusignan were cold bloodily murdered as heavily armed gunmen stormed the village. Hours before the incident, gunmen had discharged several rounds at the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, during which two police ranks were injured.

 

Angry residents continue protest on East Coast
- military ordered to use minimum force

The situation on the East Coast of Demerara remained tense yesterday as villagers continued their protest action to press for more decisive action on the part of the security forces to eliminate criminals who were allegedly responsible for the slaying of 11 persons in Lusignan on Saturday.
The residents continued to block the two main roadways along the coast, despite the presence of heavily armed police and Guyana Defence Force ranks.
Two bridges at Lusignan and Mon Repos have been damaged.
However, the one at Lusignan has already been repaired and Minister Robeson Benn was in the area examining the extent of the repairs needed on the bridge at Mon Repos.
But even as the minister was examining the bridges, residents were vowing to damage them again.
This led to the deployment of several security ranks at the approaches to the bridges yesterday to prevent further damage.
The previous night, it took a contingent of police ranks using minimum force to disperse a crowd at Mon Repos, injuring a few in the process.
This was after they had set several tyres afire, blocking traffic for hours.
Kaieteur News understands that the security forces were under instructions to refrain from the use of force against the protestors.
“We protesting fuh we safety and de police come up and beat we,” said a young Lusignan resident.
Even a visit to the East Coast by President Bharrat Jagdeo again yesterday did not prevent the residents from carrying out their activities and they demanded that he address the problem immediately.
The President met with residents at Mon Repos and Lusignan and assured them that all necessary actions will be taken to deal with the criminal elements who have been reigning terror in the community for the past five years.
The Guyanese leader explained that the criminal elements do not care who they target since they do not know half of their victims.
The residents are also angry with the police for what they described as a 'callous approach' to reports of armed attacks by the criminals.
“Whenever we call the police about a shootout, they don’t come but if you call them when you neighbour playing music, they reaching very quick,” one woman told the President.
Several questions were posed to the President including the apparent delay in the execution of condemned criminals.
“You’re talking about condemning criminals, let me tell you, I signed death warrants since 1999. You know what happened? The courts blocked them,” the President stated.
He urged the residents to remain vigilant at nights and called on them to resuscitate the various Community Policing Groups in their areas, suggesting that the criminals appear to be getting desperate.
“If they come one time, they could come again. That is exactly why I am saying that we’ve got to start preparing. We can blow the steam here today, during the day but at night time we need the protection,” the President said, adding that the government cannot put a soldier in every home.
While the President was meeting with residents at the Lusignan Mandir, residents from other areas took to the main road demanding that he meet with them on that turf.
This action kept Colonel Bruce Lovell, police Commander Leroy Brummel and his deputy Roland Alleyne busy in permitting limited flow of traffic.
Opposition Leader Robert Corbin also visited with the massacre victims’ relatives and offered his condolences.
At about 15:00 hrs, the protest intensified after a minibus, BKK 3724, apparently hit four protestors at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.
According to residents, the police in the area reportedly told the driver of the bus to drive through the crowd and in the process the persons were struck.
When Kaieteur News arrived at Lusignan yesterday afternoon, the minibus was driving at full speed with a truckload of men in hot pursuit.
“The police tell he drive, drive and he drive and hit down the people,” one resident said.
Among those that were injured was 13-year-old Andrew Danraj.
He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) where he was treated and sent away.
The protest continued into early yesterday evening when the still agitated resident lit several small fires along the East Coast corridor.
According to the residents, this action will continue until something tangible is done to provide security for them.

Lusignan Massacre the day after

Boy, 10, survives death by hiding under bed

(By Mondale Smith)
“Me okay, me nah frighten,” said Arjune Bhir, aged 10, after evading marauding gunmen who killed his aunt Mohandai Gourdat, 32, and his two cousins: Seegobin, four years, and Seegopaul Harilall, aged nine.
Most do not know of this lucky youngster's survival story as his relatives are seeking to ensure that he is shielded after his horrific ordeal.

Standing quietly at the window of the crowded home, the petite lad recounted Saturday morning’s events.
He said on Friday night he and his aunt Mohandai as well as Seegobin were in one of their bedrooms at lot 23 Lusignan.
He said Seegopaul was in the back bedroom. All seemed well and they had no fears as the community is not known for any major criminal activity.

But that was not to be, as in the wee hours of Saturday morning the angel of death visited not only his street but also his home.
When it left, three lay dead in their own blood with gaping bullet wounds.

“We been sleeping when me hear a set of noise and me and aunty wake up. She peeped outside through a hole in the wall and say bandits outside and she turn on de bedroom light.” That move proved to be her fatal mistake as the gun toting men let loose a volley of bullets in her direction, shattering the windows. “Dem start shooting up de windows and de house"
He said his aunt grabbed her two sons and headed for the front of the house. “She tell we to lie down on the floor and don’t move.” He said seconds after, he heard angry voices and footsteps coming up the stairway. “The voices de cussing and saying open de door and when me aunty go to open de door I run in the backroom and go under the bed.”

There after as he listened, he heard his aunty begging for her life as two menacing voices asked her, “Where de gold deh?” to which she replied “We ain’t got gold, we poor.”
He said that the men then moved his aunt to the front bedroom and began kicking her and then several shots rang out.
“When she get shoot the lil boys dem run to she and then me hear some more shots.” Then came the deafening sound of silence as his cousins’ screams and weeping stopped. He also recalled hearing his aunt gasping for breath.

From where he was hiding he saw a pair of black shiny boots heading to the bed but his fear kept him quiet. “Me see the black boots and then de man shake up the sheet and the mattress looking to see if anybody else hiding but shortly after he walk out de room. “He ain’t see me.”

He said that his thoughts went blank for a while as it all seemed like a bad dream and then after a few minutes, there was silence . “Me stay under the bed and then me hear me aunty cell phone ring.” After the constant ringing went unanswered, the lad said that he crawled out from under the bed and followed the sound of the phone. However, he aborted the idea after he stepped into the front bedroom and made the gruesome discovery of his aunt and cousins lying lifeless in their own blood.

“De phone been ah ring under she belly and so me nah try to take it out and lil bit after the next cell phone ring and me answer.” It was his uncle on the phone to whom he relayed the news that his aunt and cousins were shot and killed. He said that after relaying the news, he went outside where neighbours were gathering. “Some of them been ah call for me aunty and dem turn and see me and ask me what happen. From the front porch he again bravely relayed the story that “the lil boys and me aunty dem dead up here.”

Since then he said “me nah sleep back that night but me does sleep in the hammock and suh; me nah frighten.”

Trini-based husband loses wife and children

On Saturday when the lad’s uncle, Rajkumar Harripaul, called Bobby, arrived at his mother’s house in the same village, he (Bobby) fell in and out of consciousness as he came to grips with the loss of his wife and sons. He flew in from Trinidad after departing Guyana last Thursday. “Me been go wuk for make life better fuh them and now this.” Yesterday, when Kaieteur News visited his home, there was not a dry eye.

As he stared at a school badge of his four-year-old son, he recalled that he often had to please his son by telling him that he looked better when he was dressed in his school clothing than his older brother. He said during his eleven years of marriage to Rajkumar “we never had any big problems…no quarrels, no fights.” He said too that when the authorities visited the area he did not speak with them as he was unconscious. He has not decided on funeral arrangements just yet but said “words can’t describe my feelings…ow God where you deh? Is best meh ben stay and dead with dem too.” He last saw them alive at about 11pm last Thursday before leaving for the airport. He said his wife had expressed fears about having to stay alone in the house .

He said his only response was that everything gon be alright…me tell she to go by she mother during the day time and come home at nights and she was okay with that because we just get the electricity here.” The family had only moved into the house six months ago.

He says he does not know what lies ahead but stated that he will be cremating the three together as part of Hindu rites. He does not have any plans of remaining in the house as it will only bring bad memories and he said “this thing got everybody scared…a set of people just pack up and move out and gone away from this village.”

After the shooting, Bobby’s relatives tried their best not to let him know what had happened until he got home but those efforts were in vain. “Me get a call ah Trinidad from me brother-in-law and he tell me come home now, that he book a flight for 7 o’clock but he nah tell me what happen.” He said the only news he got was that something had happened to his wife. Try as he might, he missed the flight. “Me buy another ticket and catch a flight out but before me get here meh friend wife call me and tell me that me wife and children get murder and that is all me remember till me reach ah Guyana. "How this could be?" he questioned.