— Crum-Ewing’s mother yearns for justice

A WOMAN yearns to feel the hands of her son, holding her in a loving embrace and reassuring her with words that what he feels for her as a mother is more than mere appreciation.

Tears still flow easily down the dark cheeks of Donna Harcourt, the mother of Courtney Crum-Ewing, the anti-corruption activist who was shot five times as he walked in the upscale community of Diamond, motivating voters to vote in the run-up to the 2015 general elections in Guyana.

Renewed confusion and signs of distress came as she received news of the freedom of a man in whose home police allegedly found the weapon, which ballistics tests prove was used to discharge five bullets in her son, three penetrating his head, killing him instantly.

He died of hemorrhage and shock as a result of the gunshot wounds. Harcourt on Monday told Guyana Chronicle in a weary tone, “This thing it taking a toll on me and I don’t even want to say how.”
Today, the world, through a United Nations (UN) dedication, commemorates International Women’s Day, celebrating the lives, personalities, accomplishments and experiences of women globally.

Many women who have been lifted professionally find it especially special in the 2017 dedication under the theme, “Be Bold for Change”, which focuses on “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”.

REFUSED TO BE BROKEN
For Crum-Ewing’s mom, she has many questions, but will stand up and refuse to be broken down again by disappointments in the outcome of her son’s murder investigations.

She has become a woman of valour and started her journey to bravery when she took to the streets in front of the Office of Attorney General, Basil Williams, in her son’s prominent fashion as a lone protestor for the prosecution of the unjust.

That day she was informed that former AG, Anil Nandlall was scheduled to visit Minister Williams and so her intent was to confront the former AG, against whom her son was a lone protestor, after allegations link the former AG in a highly publicised fiasco involving Kaieteur News.

She is now planning to talk with Attorney Nigel Hughes, who represented the interest of Crum-Ewing’s family pro-bono and has called on President David Granger to create a special investigating committee with credible ranks.

Harcourt said she personally has her own suspect in her son’s murder, and for as long as she lives, she will be unshakable in her position in crying for justice for her son.

HEARTBROKEN
When Guyana Chronicle approached her for the interview, some of the first words she said after a courteous greeting were, “I am so heartbroken now.”

She has grown tired of her growing pains and the event has already taken its toll. “And I refuse fuh let it tek toll on me all the time. Whatever gatto be gatto be!”

She came to this decision after the man charged with her son’s murder was set free of the charge.
In September 2016, Regan Anthony Rodrigues, fondly called ‘Grey Boy’ was freed of the charge after Magistrate Judy Latchman, in accepting a no-case submission filed by his Attorney, Adrian Thompson, pointed out that although the gun used in the murder was found at his home, the evidence offered by the prosecution did not implicate him in the actual murder.

Prior to that, on January 11, 2016, Rodrigues was sentenced to three years imprisonment for escaping custody, but was freed of a possession of gun and ammunition charge, which linked him to the shooting of Crum-Ewing.

The mother said another of her sons saw Rodrigues at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court Monday but not as a prisoner. He was walking free.

She said it is especially difficult for her to bear, since Crum-Ewing’s death was unexpected, given the fact that he was in excellent health and was never a criminal.

“If you son loss through sickness is a different thing. If yuh son does be in the bad gang and he finally die, it hurts but it’s a different thing. But when you see that your child is none of that and because of what he believes and what he doing, another person could just order him dead and nothing come out of it, it’s a whole other thing,” the grieving mother explained.