‘We are outraged’ – Linden leaders condemn killing of youths, demand justice
Apr 09, 2025
Kaieteur News – Lindeners and their leaders have expressed outrage over the killings of two young men at the hands of police and have ramped up protest actions in the mining town as they demand justice.
Scenes of protesters blocking the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge and the subsequent shooting to death of one of the protesters, Keon Dan Fogenay, rekindled memories of similar demonstrations back in 2012, which resulted in the killing of three Lindeners.
Region 10 MP, Devin Sears
Member of Parliament Devin Sears, in a statement, said as a representative of the people and a son of Linden, “I am deeply troubled and heartbroken by the recent events that have shaken our community. The fatal shooting of Ronaldo Peters and the subsequent death of Wismar resident, Dan, during a protest for justice on Tuesday, April 8, are tragedies that demand not only our collective mourning but immediate and transparent action.”
He said these incidents have left families grieving and an entire community searching for answers. “As such, I am calling for full transparency and accountability in all investigations related to the death of Ronaldo Peters and the events that led to the tragic loss of Dan. The people of Linden deserve to know the truth, and justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done,” Sears said. “Our community has a proud legacy of standing up in the face of injustice, and today is no different. We will not accept silence or inaction. I am therefore urging the relevant authorities to ensure a swift, impartial, and thorough investigation into both incidents. All parties involved must be held accountable under the rule of law, and the processes must be made open to public scrutiny. At this moment, more than ever, the people of Linden need reassurance that their lives matter, that justice is not selective, and that the rights of every citizen will be upheld, no matter their status. I am calling on the Government, the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Human Rights Commission to intervene and act with urgency. To the families affected, I offer my sincerest condolences. I stand with you, and I commit to using every platform available to me to advocate for truth, fairness, and justice in your name. Let us remain united, vigilant, and peaceful as we demand the justice our community so rightly deserves,” Sears said in his statement.
Region 10 MP, Jermaine Figueira
Another Region 10 MP, Jermaine Figueira, said: “On behalf of the people of Linden, we want justice. We call for an immediate, independent investigation of this incident, the transfer of Police Kendall, the arrest of the police officers directly involved, and an audience with the Head of State. We demand swift justice and a just resolution to this matter. This is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately. One life is too much; another youth under this commander’s watch will not be accepted.” Speaking directly to Lindeners, Figueira said: “As residents, we are justified in our anger at the senseless murder of two of our youth. I call on us all to be equally responsible and lawful in our actions. We should not engage in actions that destroy our own infrastructure (bridge) and the property of anyone. This bridge is not just a symbol of resistance; it is important for people to access work, school, their homes, and to receive important services, including healthcare (ambulances), fire engines in the event of a fire, and much more.”
Adding his voice in condemning the killings, Deputy Mayor of Linden, Dominique Blair, said the killing of the men is deeply distressing. “My heartfelt condolences go out to Ronaldo’s family, friends, and all who are affected by this loss. As Deputy Mayor of Linden, I stand in solidarity with our residents in calling for a full and transparent investigation. A life has been lost under circumstances that demand clarity, accountability, and justice. We must ensure that all relevant facts are brought to light through an impartial process that respects the rights of everyone involved.
Deputy Mayor, Dominique Blair
The relationship between law enforcement and the public is built on trust. When that trust is compromised, it is our duty to advocate for transparency and justice in a responsible and constructive manner,” Blair said. He noted that Linden is a community known for its resilience and unity. “In this time of grief, we must come together to support one another and push for the answers our town deserves. Let us honour Ronaldo’s memory by committing to truth, healing, and the prevention of further tragedies. I will continue to advocate for the people of Linden and ensure that your voices are heard as we navigate this difficult time together,” the deputy mayor noted.
The Regional Democratic Council of Region 10, in their statement, said it stands firmly with the relatives and friends of Peters and is seeking clear answers and a thorough investigation in the face of contradicting accounts and visuals of the incident. “We recognise the deep pain and grief created by this shooting and extend our sincere sympathy to Ronaldo’s family and friends, as we echo the calls for an immediate and transparent investigation of the circumstances under which this young life was ended,” the statement read.
Chairman of Region 10, Deron Adams
The RDC also said that in the face of the evident frustration of our residents, restraint is urged “so that we can move through these trying times and achieve the result we all seek, justice. A de-escalation of the current unrest is desirable to ensure that we do not experience further loss of life, as we are informed of additional shootings in the aftermath of residents’ actions to seek an appropriate response to yesterday’s shooting.”
Additionally, the Council advised that schools be dismissed early on Tuesday to allow for the safe transit of children to their homes, especially given the events unfolding at the Wismar Mackenzie Bridge, which have claimed the lives of another Linden resident, and seen injuries meted out to residents and security forces alike.
“We call on the ferry services to commit to facilitating the transit of our children and the elderly as we navigate this difficult period. It is also important that we maintain access to our health care and other important public facilities. As we resolve to utilise our various offices to ensure that justice is not only served, but is seen to be served, we appeal to residents to use all peaceful and lawful means to advocate to ensure that situations like this never happen again. Lindeners have always united across ethnic, religious and any other seeming division, and we are confident that we will again do so to secure justice without further loss of life or damage to property. We will coordinate with our fellow local leaders and continue to keep residents informed of progress to resolve this matter,” the RDC statement concluded.
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