Moving march for Lindo Creek victims
- COI report imminent
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, June 21, 2018
Family and friends of the victims of the Lindo Creek massacre gathered at the Square of the Revolution to march in their memory today.
Amid the rain they walked solemnly to the Le Repentir Cemetery where they visited the grave site of their loved ones and shared words of comfort even with the deaths fresh in their minds.
Subsequently, Commissioner for the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the massacre of the eight miners, Justice Donald Trotman, told the gathering that this event and the memorial service at the Brickdam Cathedral yesterday were part of the process including the visit by relatives to the campsite at Lindo Creek. He went on to say that the presence of those there shows great commitment to finding the truth.
“Our being here today, the commission and all of us, is testimony to the commission’s continuing commitment to find truth, so that justice closure and reconciliation could result for the benefit of our inquiry for the benefit of the surviving families of these men. For the benefit of the nation. And most importantly, for the honour and respect which must be accorded to the memory of these brave but unfortunate men.”
The Commissioner’s report is to be presented to President David Granger at the end of this month. The commission is also expected to make recommendations on actions to be taken against any individuals responsible for the deaths.
The visit concluded with the relatives being handed eight yellow helium balloons to release in remembrance of their lost ones.
The deceased were killed at the mining camp at Lindo Creek, Upper Demerara Berbice River on or about June 21, 2008 and their bodies burnt.
The COI was established to investigate and make factual findings relating to the murders of the eight miners. The eight men were Bonny Harry, Horace Drakes, Dax Arokium, Cecil Arokium, Nigel Torres, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee and Compton Spiers.
By: Stephon Gabriel.
Images: Jameel Mohammed.