Linden trio given moving farewell

Hundreds of tearful Georgetown residents turned up at the Square of the Revolution on Wednesday to pay homage to the three protesters, Shemroy Bouyea, Allan Lewis and Ron Somerset, who were killed in the line of protest on the first day of the mining town unrest.
Prior to the arrival of the three bodies from Linden, several political dignitaries were allowed to address the emotional congregation.
Alliance For Change (AFC) executive member, Moses Nagamootoo said the three fallen Lindeners expect that “we must continue in the struggle for justice”, contending “their deaths must not go in vain”.

“We must not be divided by racism and political affiliations, but as one people, we must strive for the better treatment of humanity,” Nagamootoo charged, adding that “Linden must embrace Georgetown; sugar workers must embrace rice farmers for concord and liberation, only in such forces would our nation move on.”

The outspoken Nagamootoo assured the relatives of the dead men that their lives were not lost in vain, because the entire nation mourns with them.
According to him, his party is prepared, willingly and relentlessly to move from stage to stage with the families of those killed to demand justice.
Opposition Leader David Granger took to the podium and first expressed his condolences to the families of the three Lindeners killed.
“We cannot celebrate while Linden and the rest of the country are bleeding, “he said, as he urged persons not to use the occasion to score political points.
“This is not a day to talk about election, electricity tariffs, but it is a day to talk about human dignity; this is a day to talk about the self respect of human beings and what happened exactly two weeks ago on July 18 was most of all the disrespect of human lives,” he said, adding “You cannot say my people that three people have been killed and no one is responsible.”
Granger concluded by saying that the day should be referred to as the “Day of Determination”, and what happened in Linden should be the last as he urged the sorrowful crowd to always keep in mind the relatives of the dead protesters.
Nigel Hughes, also of the AFC, said Lindeners are crying out for justice, thus they will not cease in their endeavour until their demands are met.
“No peace, no justice and no justice, no peace” he bellowed, urging Lindeners not to give up their demands.
Working People’s Alliance member Dr David Hinds called on the gathering to forget about the politics, and organise, for it is only then “we can stand in true harmony”. He urged all Guyanese to not use this occasion to riot, but as a force to liberate them.
On this note, he called on the people to use their bodies as barricades and stand up to continually demand justice and equality.
One of the protesters, Michael Roberts, who was shot, also addressed the mourners. The grieving man, who spoke with great discomfort because of the gunshot wound he received to his face, requested that a monument be erected in remembrance of those who lost their lives, and the many who were injured on July 18, in the mining town.
The wounded Roberts noted that on that fatal day, the people of Linden were protesting peaceful, and claimed that no form of violence was used against the law enforcement ranks.
“Minutes before the shooting, I had called my wife promising her that I would pick her up from work and then we were going to stand and watch what was taking place. We were at a fence when shots started to fire, we then ran in to Bosai utility compound, and one of the guys who was with us I see got shot in his back and I run around to render assistance, but after I saw the police, I decided I am going to run and there I was shot from behind where the bullet existed through my mouth.”
Throughout the semi-formal proceedings, close relatives and acquaintances of the three dead men wept silently as they were consoled.
Almost immediately after the viewing of the bodies, which were laid in three white caskets with red and black custom made flags, they were taken to Linden for further viewing and burial. It is said that a motorcade followed the bodies to the mining town.