Home > TOP STORY > Sixth Memorial held for 11 Lusignan Massacre victims Sixth Memorial held for 11 Lusignan Massacre victims Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at the Lusignan Evening of Remembrance Sixth Memorial held for 11 Lusignan Massacre victims - 12 killed in Bartica shooting rampage also remembered THE Sixth Annual Evening of Remembrance was on Sunday held at Track ‘A’, Lusignan, East Coast of Demerara, in memory of the eleven persons slain in the horrendous massacre of January 26, 2008, and 12 others who lost their lives in a separate shooting rampage at Bartica, three weeks later, on February 17.The programme was organised by the Indian Arrival Committee and attracted a large gathering of bereaved family members and friends, from the affected community, who tried to garner strength and courage as they huddled, in sober reflection, under canopies specially set up for the occasion. Special guest was Acting President Samuel Hinds, as President Donald Ramotar had left for Cuba to attend the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Heads of Government Summit. Other guests included Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill, Jnr., Pastor Balgobin Ragnauth of Lifesprings Ministries, Chateau Margot and Pandit Haresh Tiwari. Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Raymond Azeez. It was a sobering occasion, and apart from the many messages of hope and healing, another special feature was the ceremonial opening of a Memorial Arch, in memory of the residents who were slain in the infamous Lusignan Massacre. The arch donated by Rajendra Ramcharran in memory of those who were slain in the Lusignan Massacre The arch donated by Rajendra Ramcharran in memory of those who were slain in the Lusignan Massacre Prime Minister Hinds performed the function of cutting the symbolic ribbon, declaring the arch open. The arch was donated by Mr. Rajendra Ramcharran and family, residents of Lusignan, and was erected with the assistance of other residents of the community. In his address to the gathering, Prime Minister Hinds alluded to the Lusignan Massacre as the most horrible event he has ever experienced. He recalled that as he visited the community early in the morning, following the massacre, there was, understandably, great tension and people were literally ‘boiling over’. Mr. Hinds, however, credited the work of the security forces and the restraint eventually exercised by residents, for bringing things under control and preventing a ‘worse situation’. Lusignan and Bartica killings “It was truly one of the most testing times, I think, in our young nation,” he recalled, and described the Lusignan and Bartica killings as the two most horrible events in the history of our nation. Commenting on what he considered to have been the motive for the Lusignan killings, Mr. Hinds conceded, “But these were all innocent people who might have been just close at hand.” He however alluded to the Bartica killings on February 17, as having been merely an attempt at robbery to rid people of cash and gold – going after quick riches. He said the people must be commended for having submitted to the big challenge of coming together as one nation. The Prime Minister was of the view that, even though we cannot bring an end to violence, we should reflect on our religious teachings so as to minimise violence. Reflecting on the spate of violence taking place the world over, and pondering “what can we do about it,” the Prime Minister said that “as we live day by day, we should give some of our time and some of our effort in reducing animosity and bitter behaviour amongst people, and extend a hand of friendship … smile with each other, so that we can create the circumstances, hopefully, where events like Lusignan would not happen again.” He called on persons to extend an attitude of camaraderie. “By being together and being concerned about each other, we could reduce the likelihood of such events like Lusignan and Bartica occurring again,” he said. Mr. Hinds commended the IAC for taking the lead role in these annual ceremonies of Remembrance, and not least, those who erected the arch as a Memorial. “We should commit ourselves, that when we too are angry with one another we should recall and we should try to control our anger.” In closing, Mr. Hinds reiterated his sympathies to the bereaved families of those killed, on his own behalf, and on behalf of President Donald Ramotar who is in Cuba for the CELAC Summit. Meanwhile, Pandit Haresh Tiwari, commending the IAC for hosting the Evening of Remembrance, considered it a signature occasion, noting that there are people who still remember this tragic occasion which befell the community. Pointing to the immutable and immortal Law of Cause and Effect, he posited, “Whatever we see around us, be it as the night following the day, it is as a result of this law – an unchanging law.” He said the people are deeply angered by what has happened to this, their beloved village of Lusignan, noting that according to that law, one thing is for sure – “Whatever we give to this world comes back to us, and this is something that neither of us can avoid.” To this end, Pandit Haresh cautioned, “We should all be careful in our lives as to what we give to this world; what we give to our families; our neighbours, community, country and we must understand that whatever we give, that comes back to us.” “Giving is receiving” He alluded to the ancient Vedic thought which says, “Giving is receiving. If a man gives hate, he will receive hate; If you give love, and if you give compassion, it is undeniable that that should come back to us.” He admonished the gathering to take this word back with them: “Be very much aware and conscious of what you give to the world, with the understanding that ‘Whatever we give, comes back to us’.” And praying for peace, he concluded, May God Almighty guide us from darkness into light and may he lead us from the fear of death to the understanding of our immortal soul.” Meanwhile, Bishop Edghill condemning the persons who committed the heinous act of cold blooded murder said they should be brought to justice, punished and penalised. But ironically, he said, he is of the view that the wounds and the pains of the families would have been relived at the end of the trial, when the jury freed a particular person who was on trial … and after that, it was discovered that there was a concern, that one of the members of the jury was connected with one of the defence attorneys. “That is something that should not escape our attention, because in the quest for justice, there is a demand that those of us who hold office; there is a demand that those of us who lead organisations; those of us who people look up to, to demand that we act in a very responsible manner, by being truthful, by being candid, and by being honest to the people we claim to represent.” “For this reason,” he said, “we are now faced with two tragedies” – the death of innocent people who were gunned down in their sleep, women and children included, and the second tragedy was what was referred to as ‘A Miscarriage of Justice’… a situation where, following police investigations and charges, a defense attorney and a juror have been placed together and there was no declaration made at the time of the jury selection. And this is something that “all of us in this country must cry out against, because it is a Miscarriage of Justice,” Edghill said. Other items on the programme included brief remarks by Pastor Balgobin Ragnauth, Islamic Qaseeda by Mohamed Shizad and Ryan Adams, among others. (By Shirley Thomas)
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 04:30:25 +0000
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