WE, of the Guyanese Diaspora comprising individuals of different racial and religious backgrounds and of varying political persuasion, at a gathering under the auspices of the Canada-Guyana Forum on February 16, 2008, vehemently condemn the senseless massacre of the eleven innocent children, women and men at Lusignan, Guyana.

We are horrified by this barbaric act and we join the families, the Lusignan Community and all Guyanese in the homeland in mourning the victims.

We call on the political leaders in Guyana to stop their pandering to narrow partisan interests that are divisive, and commence immediately to work together to make Guyana a safe and secure place for all Guyanese. The following motion was acclaimed:

MOTION
FROM MEMBERS OF THE GUYANESE DIASPORA AT A MEETING CONVENED IN TORONTO BY THE CANADA-GUYANA FORUM

WHEREAS the people in GUYANA, our homeland, have been living with destructive patterns of politically driven civil disobedience and conflict since the early 60s;

AND WHEREAS these patterns have been progressively overtaken, expanded and intensified into industrial, political and racially driven hostilities by interest groups and criminals into periodic outbursts of vicious criminal activities, evidenced most recently by the massacre of eleven residents, including innocent children, women and men, of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara on January 26, 2008;

AND WHEREAS agencies of government and governance, especially the forces of law and order, visibly appear to be unable to effectively maintain and uphold the Rule of Law;

BE IT RESOLVED at and by this large gathering of Guyanese of all racial groups and religious and political persuasions in Guyana that the institutional sources of power represented by/in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC), in the United Nations Organisation (UNO) and by/in AMNESTY International be invited to enter into serious sustained discussions either separately or individually, formally or informally, with the sources of political, parliamentary, executive, judicial, religious and administrative power and all civic groups in Guyana in order to help in restoring the basic requirements of life and living and protection from abuse and violation of basic human rights to the people of Guyana, especially to women, infants and children who are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in various real and devious forms.

Be it further resolved that while the people of Guyana will be an integral part of the process through their various representatives, that there be established effective mechanisms for direct public involvement and input into the problem, definitions, deliberations and recommended solutions at the regional and local community level of the country, so that the people’s voices can influence and fashion the future they want for Guyana.

On behalf of all Guyanese here assembled in the St. John the Divine Anglican Church Hall, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, on this Saturday the 16th day of February 2008, this MOTION is passed by unanimous acclamation.

SIGNATORIES

1. Anne Abraham

2. Diana Abraham

3. Azeem Abrahim

4. T. Ali

5. Zinul Bacchus

6. L. Baksh

7. Radika Boodhoo

8. Edith Bynoe

9. Sister Hazel Campayne

10. Taijpaul Dayaram

11. Joan de Barros

12. Sheila De Gannes

13. David Driffield

14. Janet Hanif Ferouz

15. Harry Hergash

16. Mohammed Ibrahim

17. Brian Khan

18. Raza Khan

19. Derek Kowlessar

20. Adit Kumar

21. Ramdai Misir

22. Dr. Roop Misir

23. Ed Moses

24. Shirley Najharam

25. Deoraj Narine

26. Dr. Raj Narine

27. Jai Parsram

28. Michael Parris

29. Pandit Chandan Persaud

30. Pandit Tulsie Persaud

31. Wally Persaud

32. John B. Rameshwar

33. Ronald Rampersaud

34. Safdar Rayman

35. D. Rohit

36. Harold Sahadeo

37. Ras Leon Saul

38. Oma Sewhdat

39. Danita Singh

40. Sahadeo Singh

41. Bibi Sukhai

42. D. Sukhai

43. Angela Thomas

44. Rampersaud Tiwari

45. Alissa Trotz

46. Orlean Williams

47. R. Williams