GUYANESE were among those honoured, yesterday, at a National Memorial and Museum Ceremony in New York City, commemorating the lives of those who perished in the deadly September 11, 2001 attacks.

A total of 25 Guyanese lost their lives while 2,983 people were killed in the horrific attacks altogether. At the ceremony, loved ones were allowed to bring roses, flags and other memorabilia to place near the museum which bears the name of each victim.

In line with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, family members were not required to read the names of victims in person on a stage but recorded readings were instead played.

The Guyanese who died include Patrick Adams, born December 20, 1939, who was a Security Officer at the World Trade Center (WTC) working on the 80th Floor; Rudy Bacchus, born May 20, 1953 who was a Floor Broker attending a breakfast Risk Water Conference at Windows on the World Restaurant on 107th Floor and Pamela Boyce, Assistant Vice President of Carr Futures who was on the 92nd Floor.

Annette Dataram, born January 20, 1976, worked as accountant at the time on 107th Floor; Sabita Guman, a Computer Specialist at Fiduciary Trust Company International, worked on the 97th Floor; Nizam Hafiz was employed at Worked for ReSolutions on the 94th Floor; Ricknauth Jaggernauth, worked for Worked for NTX Interiors – 104th Floor and Sarah Khan who worked for Forte Foods/Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st Floor.

Others include Shevonne Mentis who worked for Marsh Enterprises – 93rd Floor; Hardai Parbhu employed by Marsh and Maskan Insurance – 98th Floor; Ameenia Rasool who worked for Marsh and McLennan Inc. – 98th Floor; Sita Sewnarine who worked for Fiduciary Trust Company International – 97th Floor; Kamini Singh who worked for Windows on the World – 107th Floor; Ronald Singh who worked for Windows on the World – 107th Floor; Astrid Sohan, Assistant Vice President for Marsh and McLennan – 95th Floor; and Vanava Thompson who worked for ABM – 73rd Floor.

The lone Guyanese at the Pentagon at the time who died was 23-year-old Kris Romeo Bishundat, a Navy Information Systems Technician. Charles Gregory John, Bhowanie Devi Khemraj, Marcus Neblett, Amarnauth Latchman, Patricia Stanton, Joyce Stanton, Vishnu Ramsaroop and Shiv Shankar also lost their lives in the attack.

At intervals, after the reading of the names, a bell was rung three times. For those unable to visit the museum, a website has been created where persons can visit to look for the placement of the names of their loved ones.

The September 11 attacks, also called 9/11 attacks, is associated with airline hijackings and suicide attacks committed in 2001 by 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda against targets in the United States. It was the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil in U.S. history.

Two of the planes hijacked were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The attacks against New York City and Washington, D.C., caused extensive death and destruction and triggered an enormous U.S. effort to combat terrorism.