…at Bartica Massacre anniversary message

MAYOR of Bartica Gifford Marshall urged citizens to ensure they vote for the APNU-AFC coalition as he expressed prayers to the family of the 12 persons who were brutally murdered in the infamous “Bartica massacre.”

Marshall noted that the country was experiencing an unprecedented crime wave, when, on the evening of 17 February, 2008, gunmen stormed the town. The killing came weeks after the Lusignan massacre occurred on January 26, 2008, where another 11 residents were murdered on the East Coast Demerara.

“Men, women and children were killed across the country as communities, villages and towns were raided by senseless gangs. Today we remember the family and friends of those who lost their lives. Today we pray that never again will those evil days return,” Marshall said in a statement.

He noted that it is now for the citizens to ensure that the country never again returns to a period of “the troubles”.

“We have the key in the palm of our hands to a secure future. May we use it as we move forward together as one people, one nation with one destiny. May we be reminded that we each have a responsibility to our own safety. State-sponsored terrorism and extrajudicial killing can be halted by any people in the world today who choose not to vote or embrace criminal governments,” he said.

In Guyana the period 2002 – 2008 was marred with countless extra-judicial killings- with some activists estimating that around 400 Afro Guyanese males were gunned down. During that period the People’s Progressive Party Civic was in government with Bharrat Jagdeo as president.

In 2017, four gunmen, were convicted for the mass killing, including Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams, who were sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead after being found guilty for the crimes.

Those who were killed in the Bartica Massacre when the marauding gunmen stormed the police station included Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakhir of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Constables Shane Fredricks, 35, of 241 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara; and Ron Osborne of 198 Robb Street, Georgetown.

After killing the three policemen and wounding others, the gunmen broke into a ‘strong box’ which housed weapons and ammunition and carted away five rifles, four revolvers and a shotgun, along with a quantity of ammunition. From another ‘strong box’ which they also broke into. They also stole $64,450.

Armed with the keys for one of the police jeeps, the now mobile and marauding gunmen moved along First Avenue where they killed security guards Edwin Gilkes, who was on duty at the Banks DIH outlet; Irving Ferreira, who was guarding the CB&R Mining Enterprise; and taxi driver, Dexter Adrian, 37, of 581 Conciliation Street, Tucville and One Mile Potaro, who was on his way to buy gasoline.

And, as they hastily made their escape using the T&HD Stelling, they attacked and killed the crew that was aboard ‘Dave 11’, a vessel belonging to the conglomerate Banks DIH Limited, and on another vessel ‘Little Giant’. Both vessels were moored alongside the T&HD wharf.

The men, Ashraf Ally Khan, of Essequibo Coast; Errol Thomas, 41, of 810 Tuschen Housing Scheme; Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam, Essequibo River; Ronald Gomes of Kuru kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway; Baldeo Singh, of 153 Second Street, Montrose, East Coast Demerara; and Abdool Yasseen, 23, of 153 Good Hope, ECD, were at the time resting in their hammocks. They were hauled outside and ordered to lie on the wharf and each shot execution-style in the head.

To the family of those victims, Marshall said: “Our prayers and love remain with you. May God bless us all and keep us safe.”