MASH DAY MURDER

WHEN news circulated of the bestial and unprovoked murder of Enterprise businessman Kumar Mohabir, on February 23rd, 2013, while he and his family were enjoying the Mashramani festivities, some Indo-Guyanese were heard unsympathetically commenting: “What was he doing there? That is not our culture.”But the Government has long been attempting to have at least one celebratory occasion, among the many calendar events that celebrate the diverse cultures of each race inhabiting this country, that is peculiar to the national cultural fabric; the obvious choice is Republic Day, when Mashramani is celebrated in a national way throughout all the regions.

MURDERED: Kumar Mohabir
MURDERED: Kumar Mohabir

Initially, because of the association of this particular public holiday with the birthday of Forbes Burnham, Indo-Guyanese, who suffered immeasurably under Burnham’s regime, refused to participate in any way; but slowly, as the PPP/C Government persisted in promoting the commemorative occasion as a day celebrating the nation, the Indo-Guyanese community ventured out – from a trickle initially, to practically full participation in the day’s festivities.
There are, however, still pockets of resistance which was compounded by isolated incidents such as the murder of Mohabir and the other Berbician victim, as well as other criminal activities.
Thus the Government’s attempts to create of this nation the Brindley Benn formulation for nationhood through the motto he crafted ‘One People, One Nation, with One Destiny’ could face setbacks if these incidents are not dealt with peremptorily and satisfactorily, which the ruling in the Mohabir case has done.
When the jury, comprising members of different races, religions and political persuasions, at the Demerara Assizes unanimously found Devon Thomas, 17, and Randy Isaacs 21, guilty of the Mash Day murder of Kumar Mohabir, as well as the attempted murder committed on eye-witness Navendra Mohabir, they sent a strong message to all those who go to Mashramani events to create trouble and inhibit others from enjoying themselves without fear of being accosted by troublemakers and meeting the fate of the Mohabir family. It is certain that members of that family, as well as many others who have become fearful of the lawlessness and aggression displayed by some participants, will never again attend Mashramani

ACCUSED: Devon Thomas
MURDER ACCUSED: Devon Thomas sentenced to 75 years

celebrations.
The chief witness, Navendra Mohabir, had suffered five serious incised wounds to his right hand. The Mohabir family were enjoying the festivities at Vlissengen Road that evening when a gang of youths attacked Kumar Mohabir under the pretext that he had “mashed” the feet of one of them.
Navendra Mohabir had gone to his brother’s rescue when he was also viciously attacked.
Police investigations that followed led to the two accused being arrested and charged with murder.
According to media reports, one female relative of the accused, who was standing in the corridor, was heard to say: “He (the judge) is a mad man – we are going to appeal.” Whatever the outcome of the appeal, there was sufficient evidence to convince a jury that the duo was guilty of depriving another human being, who had harmed or

MURDER ACCUSED: Randy Isaacs sentenced to 75 years
MURDER ACCUSED: Randy Isaacs sentenced to 75 years

provoked them in no way, of his life.
Justice Navindra Singh told the accused that his base for sentencing will be 60 years. From that 60, he would add 10 years for attempting to murder the eye-witness Mohabir and five years for the other injuries inflicted, resulting in each of the accused having to serve 75 years imprisonment.
He therefore adequately answered the question of the persons who contended that the Mohabir family had no right to participate in the Mashramani celebrations and that Kumar’s death was the expected and deserved outcome by underscoring, through his sentencing, that Mashramani is a national festival to be enjoyed by all Guyanese, without fearing that some hate-filled individuals would deprive them of their peaceful enjoyment, their possessions and/or their lives.

 

 

 

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