By Rehana Ashley AhamadSeven years have passed, and some families of the slained Kaieteur News pressmen seem to be holding their grounds and moving on. But, this is not the case of Julius De Grace, one of the two survivors of the attack.It is not the case where he just did not recuperate, his wife said, noting that her husband’s mental state has deteriorated.Ever since the fateful night of August 8, 2006, the woman explained that De Grace who was once a fearless man has become scared to the extent where even sleeping has become a task.Her words came as no shock to me, because as I spoke to Mr. De Grace, he was literally shaking like a leave. He seemed very fragile.The now 74-year-old man was the only security personnel on duty that night, and the first to be shot in the head by one of the fully armed youths who wasted no time in scouring the premises for those who were inside, executing five of the six pressmen who were hiding in the toilet.“Right now, I don’t remember anything. You underrate the shock I been through? I still feel stupid to this day. Only people who been through it can understand young lady,
Air Max 97 Undefeated Green, you wouldn’t. That thing ruined my whole life,” De Grace said.He added that ever since the killings, he has not been able to work any longer. And out of fear that tragedy might once again strike in his path, De Grace said that he does not leave his home very often.The man even pleaded that I not accompany this article with his photograph, as he heard that the accused were released, and are currently roaming free.Meanwhile, Ramchand Harripersaud also known as “Harry”, the only surviving pressman has been able move on to some degree. Although the events of that night would still make tears fall, he has commenced working to provide for his family. “Harry” is currently employed in the printery of another newspaper.Recalling that night, the he said that just minutes after he and his colleagues reported for work at around 22:00hrs, the sound of gunshots filled the air.The Kaieteur News printery at Eccles Industrial Site where five pressmen were killed.He explained that they did not put much thought into it, because it was during the crime wave, and such sounds had become a norm, especially on the main road which was “a good way” from where they were working at the Eccles Industrial Site.Usually, the workers, he said, would climb on a few roles of news print, and peep through a small window close to the ceiling of the building, to see what was happening out on the road, but on that fateful night,
Cheap Air Max 2018, the men had just started working to get the press up and running, so they did not bother.Just then, Harripersaud said that Bhena Lall, wife of Kaieteur News’ Publisher, Glenn Lall, had called to warn them that they should secure the place, since she heard gunmen were in the area.But before the men could do anything those sounds grew nearer. By that time, De Grace was about to padlock the gate, when some “li’l children with guns” managed to overpower him.Upon hearing his colleague, De Grace scream-”gunmen coming”, “Harry” said that he and other pressmen rushed to the back where they hid in a toilet.Harripersaud noted that the youngest of the cold-blooded youths was just about 13-years-old, while the eldest did not seem to have passed age 19.Harripersaud recalled that one of the men were “cussing” that if them (the pressmen) don’t come out, they will riddle the place with bullets.His five colleagues thought that their attackers just wanted to rob them, so they exited the toilet. But as the youths ordered the men to lie face down,
China NFL Jerseys, “Harry” said he knew that the men were there to kill.Harripersaud survived by not coming out of the toilet like the men ordered. “I don’t know who mek da decision fuh me da night. Maybe was god. Me curl up and stay in that toilet till everything, and place get back quiet,” the West Coast Demerara resident related.Harripersaud said that he watched helplessly through a crease in the door and saw his colleagues’? “feet jumping”, with each passing gunshot as the life was snuffed out of them.Found lying face down with bullets to the back of their heads, were Chetram Persaud called “Boyo” who was 46 years old at the time of his death; Eion Wegman, 47, who resided at Lot 51 Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, which is now known as the Pet Shop; Richard Stewart, 24, of Lamaha Park, East La Penitence; and the youngest of them, 22-year-old Mark Maikoo (Marko) of Company Park, Yarrow Dam, La Penitence.Year after year, Kaieteur News would feature articles in remembrance of fallen colleagues who were ruthlessly executed by a group of misguided and cold-blooded youths. This year, I opted to take up the task of penning a few lines in memory of the fallen members of the Kaieteur News family.I a
