| Families of dead Linden protesters disappointed with compensation amounts | | Print | |
| Written by Kwesi Isles |
| Friday, 01 March 2013 19:48 |
President Donald Ramotar (in black and white shirt) presents copies of the Commission of Inquiry Report to Opposition Leader, David Granger and Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan. (GINA photo)
The father of one of the Linden protesters shot dead by police on July 18 is “disappointed” with the amount being offered as compensation for his son’s life. Twenty-four-year-old Shemroy Bouyea was killed along with Allan Lewis and Ron Somerset during a protest against electricity tariff increase in Linden which led to police intervention. The Commission of Inquiry appointed by President Donald Ramotar submitted its report to the Guyanese leader on Thursday and though there has been no official release of the findings copies have surfaced in the media. According to the report seen by Demerara Waves Online News the families of Bouyea and Lewis are to be compensated to the tune of GUY$3M while Somerset’s family is to receive GUY$2M. Bouyea’s father Clebert Duke gave his views based on the reports that have since surfaced about the compensation. “A 15-year-old boy, he’s still alive and he would still be able to earn, he was given $6M when his genitals was burnt, a 24-year-old, physically challenged to a point who in spite of disability still had the presence of mind to fend for himself and his family and in exercising his democratic right was denied life the extent to which his dependents are given $3M,” Duke said. His reference was to the case of a teenager whose genitals were burnt by the police while in custody in connection with the murder of a regional official in 2009. The court awarded the youth $6.5M which the government paid last year. Duke said he was disappointed with the compensation since it appeared as though life was not worth much. He added that his son was healthy and even if public assistance was extended to him from July 18, 2012 to cover what could reasonably be assumed to be his life expectancy the figure offered “ain’t mek it.” His sentiments were echoed by Lewis’s brother Clyde. “We haven’t seen anything in black and white, it’s just people telling us they saw it on the net but based on what I heard I’m not satisfied, if what I heard is true I’m not satisfied and I guess the other families aren’t either,” Lewis said in a brief telephone interview. Somerset’s mother Margaret Somerset migrated to Suriname shortly after her son’s funeral and could not be reached immediately. Bouyea’s mother had testified before the Commission that her son used to do odd jobs for someone in the market for $10,000 a week, half of which he would give to her to help with his two brothers aged 15 and 29. The woman explained that her surviving sons both have mental disabilities and do not work. However, the commissioners in their report said they did not believed Bouyea earned $10,000 a week and awarded the $3M figure in light of the “peculiar family circumstances.” Meanwhile, Clyde Lewis had testified that his 46-year-old brother had worked intermittently as a mason, carpenter and handyman and took care of their elderly mother Daphne but he was unable to present a clear estimate of his earnings. Asked by the commission how often his brother would work Lewis averaged about three-quarters of the year in total. The Commission also heard that Lewis financially supported his 21-year-old son Rodwell at the University of Guyana to the tune of some $50,000 a month. “We do not believe that the son, Rodwell, who attends the University of Guyana, received a monthly support of $50,000 from his father who only worked periodically. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, we feel that his estate should be awarded the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) …” the Commission’s report stated. In Somerset’s case the body said it was also not sold on his mother’s testimony that the 18-year-old was providing her with financial support and it dubbed her “a most unimpressive witness.” 
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Comments
The Commission of Inquiry was a farce just like all the previous Commission of Inquiries.
The anger of the people at Linden remain the same or got worst.
Due to loss of life and low compersation, the original problem with the electricity rates has not been resolved and next time the people might be prepared to shoot back or burn the bridge first.
Anyway its looked at, the PPP government is digging a deeper sink hole for itself.
US$15,000 for a life in Guyana, do they just hate blacks?
I agree/ enough money wasted on the coi
What is sad is that the opposition fought to make sure the terms of reference did not inquire into the genesis of the problem. We all know how KR instigated the old soldier to renege on his agreement with the president leading to the chaos.
The opposition should be saddled with the bill for the deaths and not the government. After all they were the ones responsible for the protests.
This was a terrible precedent set by the commission. One would be hard pressed to find an instance ,here in the caribbean when the amount of compensation granted to the fammily after an accidental death was below the poverty level.The commissioners must be made to explain this.
The commission's decision was clearly an abuse of power and shows how little value they and this government has for human life.
That the COI thinks that 3 million Guyana dollars could see someone through university makes it a joke.
Quoting realist:
What a "DUFUS" :( If this was intended to be funny - only like-minded fools will laugh. Got to hand it to you though - You must make your folks real proud!!
To say the things that you all are freely allowed to say , you both and others that share your views should be classified as mentally insane and curse for the nation.
You both have so much hatred for Afro Guyanese and anything black it is my view that you both should be arrrsted for inciting violence and racial unrest and provocation by the irresponsible and reckless things you say.
If you members of the PYO or of the regimes propaganda machinery then the ppp regime is in a poor state of mind.
If the ppp regime are aware of you two idiots they should do the decent thing and disassociate themselves from you two moroons, it should be embarrassing for them ,the ppp regime to know that people like you lot support them, since your thoughts and ideas can only be describe as having racist tones.
As a black british it is my opinion that this ppp so call government practices and encourages apartheid in guyana and this can only led to diasaster in years to come.
Black people in Guyana must take positive actions and take more control of their lives and communities and set themselves high standards.
I was in guyana a few years ago and I was surprised at the mentallity and behaviour of many black afro guyanse men and woman.
The girls/women seems to focus too much on short term material gains and not on a constuctive future where dreams and aspiration are part of the norm. Many of them seems to lack mentors and positive role models and values appears to be limited.
There seems to be deliberate act by this racist govenment and some companies, a few of which I can mention to promote and feed a negative imagine into the mind set of afro guyanese men, women, boys and girls, disguising it as if is good for them.
This comes in many forms such as negative and slack musics and fashions and using racism to contain the young afro population by not giving them enough opportunies as is given to their indians peers.
I believe that its time that the afro guyanese population stand up and demand more than what is given to them by this partisan regime and not to accepted the situation that they are placed in.
You must break out of this programmed mind set, in a positive manner and take control of your situation and if necessary fight for what you know you rightfully deserve.
What this racist ppp government is doing to guyana and a section of its population will have grave consequences for themselves and a section of the population that they are empowering at the expense of all others in the near future.
I am certain that the indian population are aware of this situation too,so its time that they also demand more from this regime in order to secure a better future for all the sons and daughters of Guyana.
Remembering that Guyana does not belongs to a clan but is a land of 6 peoples.
The ppp regime is not taking the interest of Guyanese to heart , they are a bunch of villians and have no clue on how to govern , since their actions are based on race and parties ties and lines.
Quoting CleveM:
Quoting Judgement:
BOO HOO HOO .. BLAH BLAH BLAH...
SOME OF U CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH.
They should charge them for burning down Linden instead of giving them TAX money.
To say the things that you all are freely allowed to say , you both and others that share your views should be classified as mentally insane and curse for the nation.
You both have so much hatred for Afro Guyanese and anything black it is my view that you both should be arrrsted for inciting violence and racial unrest and provocation by the irresponsible and reckless things you say.
If you members of the PYO or of the regimes propaganda machinery then the ppp regime is in a poor state of mind.
If the ppp regime are aware of you two idiots they should do the decent thing and disassociate themselves from you two moroons, it should be embarrassing for them ,the ppp regime to know that people like you lot support them, since your thoughts and ideas can only be describe as having racist tones.
As a black british it is my opinion that this ppp so call government practices and encourages apartheid in guyana and this can only led to diasaster in years to come.
Black people in Guyana must take positive actions and take more control of their lives and communities and set themselves high standards.
I was in guyana a few years ago and I was surprised at the mentallity and behaviour of many black afro guyanse men and woman.
The girls/women seems to focus too much on short term material gains and not on a constuctive future where dreams and aspiration are part of the norm. Many of them seems to lack mentors and positive role models and values appears to be limited.
There seems to be deliberate act by this racist govenment and some companies, a few of which I can mention to promote and feed a negative imagine into the mind set of afro guyanese men, women, boys and girls, disguising it as if is good for them.
This comes in many forms such as negative and slack musics and fashions and using racism to contain the young afro population by not giving them enough opportunies as is given to their indians peers.
I believe that its time that the afro guyanese population stand up and demand more than what is given to them by this partisan regime and not to accepted the situation that they are placed in.
You must break out of this programmed mind set, in a positive manner and take control of your situation and if necessary fight for what you know you rightfully deserve.
What this racist ppp government is doing to guyana and a section of its population will have grave consequences for themselves and a section of the population that they are empowering at the expense of all others in the near future.
I am certain that the indian population are aware of this situation too,so its time that they also demand more from this regime in order to secure a better future for all the sons and daughters of Guyana.
Remembering that Guyana does not belongs to a clan but is a land of 6 peoples.
The ppp regime is not taking the interest of Guyanese to heart , they are a bunch of villians and have no clue on how to govern , since their actions are based on race and parties ties and[\QUOTE]
Hi Briton,
Read about the burning of the school.and the road block which put aboriginal lives at risk.
"The girls/women seems to focus too much on short term material gains and not on a constuctive future where dreams and aspiration are part of the norm. Many of them seems to lack mentors and positive role models and values appears to be limited."
What is a shame is that every blackman in Guyana biggest aspiration is to marry an Indian woman!!!!
Like Indians are the promised messiah for black salvation. Iis this the best that is possible?/
All the money they atre therotically awarded will be gone in 3 months or less.
in rum drinking,sporti ng, dancing, drugs and chopping up etc
This is BLOOD MONEy . it is not blessed. Lets see if the sue the AFC for anything.
the comissioners awarded on what was credible evidence presented to them although some claims were over inflated
comparing the burn boy who was in police custody when he was injured is differeny from those unlawfully on the bridge and protesting with threats and missiles on the police
the awards r not legally bound but a gesture
how can the police be blamed when there ' WAS NO DIRECT EVIDENCE TO UNRESERVEDLY CONCLUDE THAT THE POLICE WERE RESPONSIBLE '
parents next time keep ur children safe at home and away from violence
It's common sense
the government owe them families nothing
but their lucky the government give their
families million of dollars compensation
if these three youths were indo guyanese
under the pnc government their families
has nothing to get
loo loo, you are so far from the truth , where is the evidence to say that the people of linden burnt down the school. This could have been carried out by others trying to discredit the good name of the people of Linden. loo loo it could have been you for all we know, why was no proper investigation conducted, seems like the ppp regime have another skeleton in their cubboard to hide.
loo loo dont you look at television or read foreign newspapers, I gather not from your blatant ignorance, we have demonstrations here in Europe and police do not fire live rounds into crowds at point blank range, that would be an out cry and unacceptable by every one including the police officers, and the demonstrations at the neck of the wood are more dynamic and far more intimidating to the police at large.
What is wrong with Guyana is backward and moronic people like yourself , realist, dogula and many more like you trash like you lot who is because of your biased view can only see things from your narrow and limited viewpoint. Like I always say, Guyana needs to be purged to rid itself of filth like loo loo, dogula ,realist and many more racist backward elements of the so call ppp regime.
Remember loo loo, that nothing last for ever, tell your backward friends, that history has proven that and again I say that this racist ppp regime is sowing the seeds of a sad tommorrow for themselves and clan.
Just for the records, we Britons often refer to the toliet has lu, what an appropriate name for you, you sad little fellow looks like your ignorance manifested itself a long way back.
Stop speaking crap and learn to be an independent thinker, something which you might find difficult to do, there might still be a little hope for you and your buddies, you genetic moroons
muni how can someone attending a peaceful demonstration cause their own death like you said when they were not armed but simply protesting against an unjust occurance.
property blocking bridges and put their
life in danger causing their own death
I AGREE. POLITICAL LEADERS SHOULD HANG THEIR HEAD IN SHAME . WE KNOW HOW IT ALL STARTED.
That says a lot about black women !!!! What a shame.
Uncle Tom speaks!!
You might be right, but only a retard like you can come up with that level of [censored].
Of course, but all they wanted was a sham that is to say that we had a COI and their findings was, you know the rest? Idiots, this govt.
Just imagine that the govt paying more for advice than to the victims? Really great.
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