POULTRY businessman R. Mangru and contractor Namenda Latchman were among eight persons laying claims for in excess of $9M compensation before the Linden Commission of Inquiry (CoI) yesterday.

On the second day of the resumed sitting in the Victoria Law Court Library, Mangru stated that he had a poultry farm at Dalawallah, Demerara River and operated his plucking establishment at Burnham Drive, Wismar.
He said, at the time of the disturbances, he was in Amelia’s Ward cutting logs to make posts to fence and build a large chicken pen.
Mangru said the police arrived and sought his assistance with the use of his chainsaw to assist in cutting up and removing the logs at the Wismar bridge which was blocked by protesters on July 18, 2012.
The witness told the commissioners that he left Amelia’s Ward and went to assist the police where he did as asked and, in the process, he received threats from the protesters that they would kill him, burn his business place and hurt his family.
He said while helping the police, his business place at Burnham Drive was totally demolished and his loss was over $1.3M in equipment etc.
Got support
Mangru said he has not done any business from July 18, 2012. Asked how he survived since, he explained that he got support for his family from relatives overseas and had not returned to the river farm since he was fed up of what had happened to him.
He has employed seven employees and is, at present, working to begin another farm at Amelia’s Ward where he now lives, after being able to acquire a plot of land from the Government.
Latchman, who was in the area of the Watooka bridge at the time of the protest undertaking a water main installation, said his equipment was vandalised by protesters.
He said his equipment, included a ‘Leyland’ truck valued at $6M, one $7M ‘Mitsubishi’ excavator and valuable tools worth $600,000 but was advised that they were not covered by insurance.
He said he was given assistance by attorney-at- law, Ms. Latchmie Rahamat after being recommended by the commissioners and will be returning with the contractual agreement he signed at the insurance company.
Michael Roberts, a miner was waiting for his wife, who worked as the caretaker at the Wismar Magistrate’s Court, in the Linmine Secretariat compound when he was shot in his mouth and rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex.
He told the Commission that his mouth was wired and he was hospitalised on two occasions and sought financial assistance for his family and transportation for him to the hospital.
Laid claims
He noted that a number of prominent businessmen, government officials and politicians who helped him lay claims to have these monies returned to them so they can help someone else.
Roberts said his earnings as a miner are a minimum of $9,000 weekly after taking out his expenses.
He said, until yesterday, he could not eat solid foods and had to be fed liquid and other steamed stuff. He is   frustrated with the medical process because he still has to support his wife and family of two minors.
The Commission ordered him to have a medical examination by a specialist and return.
The Commissioners will hear another set of witnesses on the resumption today at 09:00 hrs.