Assassinated anti-Govt. protestor…Make Courtney’s death count; vote for him –speakers urged at vigil

Mar 17, 2015 News

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Yesterday afternoon saw crowds of people from all walks of life gathering on the basketball court at Independence Park, the same venue where the rebels from the 1823 slave rebellion were executed, to hear public speakers pay tribute to slain political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.

Crum-Ewing, 40, was gunned down last Tuesday night at Third Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) while reportedly urging residents, using a bullhorn, to vote against the ruling party in the upcoming General and Regional Elections on May 11.
Crum-Ewing first started protesting and attracting media attention last year after an explosive phone conversation between a senior Kaieteur News reporter and Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, surfaced.
The phone call, in which Nandlall warned the reporter to get out of Kaieteur News because of a possible attack, prompted Crum-Ewing to start several days of protest in front of the AG’s Carmichael Street office.
Crum-Ewing had said that his protests were because Nandlall’s actions as the Chief Legal Officer were shameful.
Among the speakers who addressed the vigil, yesterday, were chairman of Region Ten,

Sharma Solomon, Christopher Ram, Frederick Kissoon and Vanessa Kissoon, as well as former MP Jaipaul Sharma and Presidential candidate Mark Benschop.
Christopher Ram stating that the nation had reached the point of no return and that henceforth, the ordinary people would call the shots.
“Sometimes we as a nation talk too much. We need action, not destructive action but constructive action. We owe a duty to all the youths. Sometimes I am asked why the youths are not more vocal and I always respond. ‘Have our children failed us? Or have we failed our children.’”
He was critical of the Attorney General, stating that not only has the AG abused the constitution, but he has taken the opposition to court more than the opposition has taken him to court.

He described this as an absurdity within the legal profession.
“I am calling on the legal profession now. Let us do our duty. It is not just about how much money we make, what kind of car we drive, whether we get tax free concessions or we occupy a place in the National Assembly. It is what we do for the poor people of Guyana.
“One of my greatest disappointments is the gap between the haves and the have nots. The divide is wider than the Essequibo River. We must say to all our leaders that the economic models come May 11 must be pro poor.”
“I was delighted when Nadira Jagan came out and defended her father. Jagdeo is praising greed. He is defending greed. He has taken people’s money and has cheated the state!”
“We must remember what they have done. They have raped this country and given the resources to their friends and family. Come May 11 we have got to be firm. They must pay for their misdeeds!”
Sharma Solomon spoke to the assembly, illustrating the monopoly over the radio that currently exists, especially in Linden.
“In Region Ten I cannot access the radio station to speak to my people. I am unable to access the television to tell people how I want to improve their lives. No one in Guyana can say we don’t have a system designed to silence people.”
“My first pronouncement on Courtney was to call him a fearless warrior, because it will require that fearlessness in everyone to send that fear to those that want to silence us, that we will change this nation. This nation deserves a change.
“On this very ground, slaves stood up to say that their rights must be respected. That is what Courtney stood for. We owe him, and our ancestors, not to allow our voices to be silenced.”
“Think about Courtney, about Linden, about thousands of other voices that are being silenced, by a system that fears us. We must stand as fearless warriors, to conquer this system!”
Dr. Phillip Mozart Thomas of the Guyana National Civil Society Council (GNCSC) expressed regret at the death of Courtney Crum Ewing. He stated that Courtney, who was a member of the GNCSC, had sometimes despaired in his one man struggle in discussions with the Council, but had nevertheless carried on.
“When you look at the legal Practitioners Act, it absolves the Attorney General and the other legal officials like the DPP of all the despicable acts we have seen them display. (Courtney) said there’s no justice and the only thing he can do is go and stand up and each and every day echo that that despicable act has no place in this country.”
“Come May 11 we have to take a stand. Crum-Ewing represented our right to exercise a franchise. Our right to speak. Our right to stand up in a Democracy, free of fear. So we must stand with (Crum-Ewing). On election day, we must say, this is a vote for Courtney.”
ACDA also came forward and paid tribute to all fallen heroes. They described Crum-Ewing as a maverick who should have aligned himself with a group rather than picket the AG alone.
“It breaks my heart to see this young man gunned down. He did not have a gun. He didn’t even have an ice pick. He had a bull horn and was killed for that. For years we have been struggling. Come May 11 we will stop struggling.”
Vanessa Kissoon expressed her outrage for the excesses done by the administration and at the disrespect shown by the AG towards women.
Mark Benchschop, Jaipaul Sharma and other speakers also came forward to pay tribute to Crum Ewing and to call for change on Elections Day.
The funeral for Courtney Crum-Ewing is scheduled for Wednesday. The body will be at his residence, 189 Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara for viewing from 10:00-11:00hrs and from 12:00 to 14:00 at the Parade Ground. Service will be held at Heavenly Light Full Gospel Church at Cooper Street, Albouystown at 2:30. The body will then be taken to Le Repentir cemetery for burial.

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