By Jomo Paul
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Thousands of persons turned out this afternoon at the Parade Ground on Middle Street, decked in red and black to pay tribute and say final goodbyes to slain political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing.
The streets were filled with people as the Basketball court was packed to the seams with curious onlookers and persons who came out to show solidarity with Crum-Ewing’s family.
Persons stood in the blistering sun as they attempted to catch a glimpse of the body of the slain activist at a special viewing.
The political activist was gunned down on March 10 in Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank of Demerara as he was urging persons to go to the polls on May 11 and cast their ballots.’
He was shot five times, including three times to the head at point blank range.
Crum-Ewing had staged a protest for several weeks outside the office of the Attorney General between November and December 2014 calling for his resignation following allegations of corruption and threats to journalists.
When his casket – draped with the Guyana flag – was opened even more persons pushed to catch a glimpse of the father of three.
Georgetown City Mayor Hamilton Green, delivering an address at the funeral, noted the struggles faced by the political activist. He declared that by the power vested in him as Mayor he will be naming the block on which Crum-Ewing protested for eighty plus days as “Courtney’s Block.”
The Queens College Alumni representative also noted that they will be advocating for the establishment of a monument in honour of Crum-Ewing.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International in a statement said that the slaying of Crum-Ewing may spark violence as Guyana moves closer to elections day –– May 11.
“However, given the sensitive electoral context and the police’s poor record in solving high-profile murder cases, there are fears that this killing might exacerbate political tensions, spark further violence and have a chilling effect on freedom of expression,” the statement noted.
Amnesty International is also calling on the authorities to carry out a thorough, independent, impartial and timely investigation into the killing and bring those responsible to justice.
The organisation also wants government to guarantee a favourable context and peaceful atmosphere for the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, association and assembly and other civil and political rights and is urging the authorities to provide adequate protection to political activists, journalists and human rights defenders who might be at risk as a result of the exercise of their right to freedom of expression.
