- progress pegged back by haunting memories, fear of the dark
THE families affected by the January 26 Lusignan massacre said they are “bracing themselves” and “trying to hold-up” in the wake of the tragic loss of their loved ones seventeen days ago. But even as they do this, the entire Lusignan community is sounding a common clarion call for the installation of lights along the landmark “grass field” to the east of “Track “A” – the area leading to the extremely volatile and violence-prone backlands of Buxton.

The wide expanse of land is usually very dark at nights and can make residents vulnerable to further criminal and terror attacks, residents told this newspaper yesterday.

One elderly Lusignan resident directly affected by what has now been dubbed the ‘Lusignan massacre’, pointing across the field, commented in a very grim tone of voice: “What you are looking at out there is about one mile of dense darkness when the nights come. How on earth can we feel safe, given what just took place in this scheme?”

Families in the neighbourhood are still gripped by fear, and many reported that as soon as night falls, a sudden fear envelops the community. Families have reportedly even moved out from the area ‘wholesale’, seeking refuge in other perceived safe places until the following day.

It has now become a routine, they said, and - like it or not, they are forced to turn to other people’s homes for shelter at nights.

“We are just not taking chances, we are horrified at the very thought of what could happen,” they lamented.

Noting that the ravaged Track “A” is bordered by a wide expanse of green fields (grass field) in the east and cane-fields in the south, residents claimed that their worst nightmare at the moment is being exposed to darkness. “It is like a death-grip experience, from which we are trying to free ourselves, and we’re desperately crying out for help,” they implored.

The residents are grateful for the street lights installed along a portion of the road in Track “A”, following the massacre, but are hoping that lights could be installed throughout the length of that road which is usually ‘pitch black’ at nights.

In fact, every street in Lusignan needs lights right now, they chorused dolefully.

The residents have also expressed profound gratitude to good samaritans - BK International and BM Soat - private sector entities who, following the disaster, set up flood lights at two strategic points in the community to help illuminate a section of the grass field at nights.

Those who continue to sleep in their homes at nights, claim that the presence of the lights, beaming across the field, does much to build their courage

However, that arrangement is only temporary, and one lighting facility has already been removed. They fear the very thought of seeing the remaining one go.

That apart, the residents credited the heightened presence of security patrols through the streets by night and occasionally during the daytime.

Meanwhile, commenting on a promise made for the setting up of a Community Policing facility in the area, residents made it clear that what they want is a Police Outpost to be manned by regular police ranks, as they do not want to be protected wholly by community policing personnel.

Noting that on the morning of the attack, a gang of more than fifteen gunmen invaded their homes, they said that any Police Outpost set up in Lusignan will have to be adequately staffed, or it will not solve their problem.

Track “A” Lusignan was invaded by a gang of blood thirsty marauding gunmen around 2:00h on the morning of January 26 last. Five homes came under attack, and in the brutal massacre that followed, eleven persons – five of them children, were mercilessly gunned down.

The first of the victims was laid to rest on Tuesday, January 29, and the others were buried and cremated following a mass funeral service at the Good Hope Cemetery and Crematorium on Thursday, January 31 on a day the Guyana Government declared a ‘a national day of mourning’.