THE Office of the President (OP) has declared today a National Day of Mourning, in memory of the 11 victims of the Lusignan massacre and the soldier who was killed in a shootout at Buxton, also on East Coast Demerara.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, made the announcement yesterday at his weekly post-Cabinet news conference.

All flags at State, Government and other official offices are to be flown at half staff, while members of the public and various groups are encouraged to observe the occasion in appropriate ways, a statement from the OP said.

The statement also urged respect for the wishes of the relatives of the slain and respectful mourning with dignity and civic-mindedness.

Those massacred at Lusignan on January 26 were Clarence Thomas, 48; Vanessa Thomas, 12; Ron Thomas, 11; Mohandan Goordat, 32; Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Seegobin Harilall, four; Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52; Seecharran Rooplall, 56; Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; Shazam Mohammed, 22 and Shaleem Baksh, 52.

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Corporal Ivor Williams was killed on January 24 when an Army patrol was ambushed by gunmen in Buxton.