Prime Minister commends resilience of Lusignan massacre survivors
– says Govt’ will ensure such an incident never recurs
Prime Minister Hon. Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, this evening, commended the resilience demonstrated by the relatives and friends of the 11 Lusignan villagers who lost their lives during a massacre committed there 13 years ago.
During a ‘Night of Reflection’ held to honour the victims, and to demonstrate support for the survivors, the Prime Minister said the Government is committed to ensuring that such an incident never recurs in Guyana.
“We are reminded of these dark times, not to dwell on them, but to be guided by the lessons learnt as a nation and as a Government, that such a time must never recur, it must not happen again, that is our commitment, that all our efforts and our resources must be focused towards ensuring that our citizens must never again live in the fear that had been cast over this country during that era.”
PM Phillips said although it was at a colossal cost, the event gives everyone an enduring warning to be proactive and to remain vigilant so that the nation and its people are always protected.
“Even as we protect our citizens, our unity as a people must accompany those efforts. Strife and interpersonal confrontations must be set aside so that we can focus our energies on healing, but it is not just healing that we need, we must build. We must build this nation on a foundation of these painful, but sturdy lessons, lessons that will guide us on how not to repeat these mistakes.”
The Prime Minister was joined by several of his Cabinet colleagues, representatives of the Ethnic Relations Commission, family, friends and the community of Lusignan.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall said the event has scarred the psyche of the nation permanently. He called for introspection and reflection to see whether as a society we have learnt any valuable lessons from the incident.
“How else can we pay respect and homage to those who perished, if at least as a society, as a people, we do not do that which is necessary to ensure there is not a recurrence. It is clear that this was not a mere crime. It was an act of immense hatred, a manifestation of unimaginable cruelty and a human rights tragedy,” he said.
AG Nandlall said if everyone does not take up the mantle of rehabilitation, reform and introspection and do all that is necessary to mould Guyana into a cohesive unit, then the country will continue to have violent, cyclical manifestations.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, a former Chairman of the Ethnic Relation Commission, urged Guyanese to foster peace and unity among themselves.
Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Anand Persaud, encouraged citizens to be more vigilant and to be their brother’s keeper. He also called on citizens in all villages across the country to form themselves into policing groups.
On Saturday, January 26, 2008, gunmen stormed the village of Lusignan and murdered 11 people, including five children. The deceased are 48-year-old Clarence Thomas, 12-year-old Vanessa Thomas, 11-year-old Ron Thomas, 32-year-old Mohandan Goordat, 10-year-old Seegopaul Harilall, four-year-old Seegobin Harilall, 52-year-old Dhanwajie Ramsingh, 11-year-old Raywattie Ramsingh, 56-year-old Seecharran Rooplall, 22-year-old Shazam Mohammed and 52-year-old Shaleem Baksh. Several of the children were murdered in their sleep. The memorial was hosted by the Indian Action Committee at the Lusignan Massacre Memorial Arch, which was erected in memory of those killed in 2008.