–in memory of township’s 2012 Martyrs

THE 2019 Budget has made provisions for the funding of a monument in honour of the three Linden martyrs, Ron Sommerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis who were gunned down during a bloody and fiery protest on the July 18, 2012.

The announcement was made by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan during the budget presentation on Monday, and follows the repeated call of relatives, friends and residents at large for the building of a monument in the men’s honour.
It’s also a nod to the holding of a memorial service on July 18 every year since the incident on the very spot on which they were killed.

Former Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, who was at the forefront of the protest and played an integral role in ensuring that the martyrs are remembered yearly, said that the monument is welcomed sincerely, not by the relatives only, but the residents as well since it has been their desire ever since. She said that it is long overdue, and will surely signify the ultimate price paid by the trio.

Allan Lewis’s son, Rodwell, said that he is happy that it is finally coming to reality. A street in Wismar Housing Scheme was named ‘Allan Lewis Avenue’ in memory of the martyr.
Lindeners took to the streets for 36 days to send a strong message that they will not be surrendering to the hike in electricity tariffs which had been proposed by the former administration to raise it from $5 per Kilowatt to $65.

To date, the government continues to pay billions of dollars in electricity subsidies for Linden. Figures show that from 2012 to now, the government would have expended over $18B in subsidies for Region 10, paying approximately $3B yearly. That is more than the region would have benefited in total budgetary allocations over that same period.
During the 2012 protests, the entire town was shut down, while main roads became impassable. Several government buildings, including a school, were gutted by fire. Public roads and bridges were also destroyed. A Commission of Inquiry found that the martyrs were shot by law enforcement officers.

Only recently it was made public that Shemroy Bouyea’s mother is in dire need of help, as she currently lives in a dilapidated apartment under inhumane conditions. Several sections of the house are also exposed to the elements. Several persons have already come on board a drive to rehabilitate her home.