THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has expressed its solidarity and sympathy to the relatives of the victims of the Lusignan massacre as Guyanese observe the sixth anniversary of one of the most horrendous acts committed in our nation’s recent history. 

Following is a statement the party issued yesterday:

“We vividly recall the fear, outrage, and anger which this atrocity generated on that fateful morning of 26th January 2008 and the days immediately following. We hope that our nation and our people are never visited by such cruel and inhumane acts of violence. To many of us, the heart-wrenching images of young children whose bodies were ripped by the bullets of AK-47 machine rifles in their beds and the bodies of their parents similarly and savagely punctured with bullets, will forever be etched in our minds and memories.

It is imperative that we note that some of those who committed these gruesome crimes continue to walk free among us. It is equally imperative that we recognise that the intellectual authors of this murderous design are also still enjoying their liberty.

We must never turn a blind eye to the chairman of an Opposition party who played a significant role in not only defending those charged with this genocide but also the manner in which he manipulated the legal process in order to release them from the arms of the law. We warn that should we forget these lessons of history, we may be forced to repeat and relive them.

To the relatives of Clarence Thomas, Vanessa Thomas, Ron Thomas, Mohandan Goordat, Seegopaul Harilall, Seegobin Harilall, Dhanwajie Ramsingh, Seecharran Rooplall, Raywattie Ramsingh, Shazam Mohammed and Shaleem Baksh, we say that they are gone but will never be forgotten.

Their lives must not go in vain. We must use this occasion to renew our commitment, our energy and our will, not only to ensure that the perpetrators and those who encouraged and abetted them are brought to justice, but also that such atrocities never ever take place in our country again.”