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Monument site and pictorial representation
A monument is being erected in remembrance of 16-year-old Isaiah Henry and 19-year-old Joel Henry of Number 3 Village, West Coast Berbice, who met their brutal deaths in the backlands two years ago. The mutilated bodies of the two were discovered on September 6, 2020.
The postmortem revealed 19-year-old Joel received 18 wounds across his body, seven to eight chops to the head, and defensive wounds in both palms from a sharp object. It was concluded from those injuries, he fell to the ground, then he received a chop to his back that severed his spine. That chop was 14 inches x 3 and 6 inches deep. There was also evidence that Joel bit his tongue, and his throat slit.
16-year-old Isaiah’s spine was also severed. He received several chops to his head, his throat too was slit and almost severed from his neck, and the wound inflicted on him was 14 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 6 inches deep.
At a motorcade and rally held on Tuesday to commemorate their murder, Region Five Member of Parliament (MP), Vinceroy Jordan, announced the project to build the momument needs the support of the public, be it in cash, labour or kind, to ensure completion. Persons are invited to contact him on telephone numbers 620-2532 and 622-5436 or via Facebook messenger.
Jordan said he was part of the search to find the two who left their homes for the backlands to reap coconuts. Giving an emotional recount of the incident the MP, who was addressing the rally, said, when the bodies were found and he touched them, they were cold and hard as rock.
The ground had opened up to swallow the blood of the two, and if we are to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers it would be understood the fight for justice for two is a struggle for all, he made clear.
Empathically stating the killing of Black men must stop, the MP alluded to the “sickening” fact that two years later, the promise by President Irfaan Ali that the government will leave no stone unturned in bringing justice for the two has resulted in no justice to date.
Reflecting on others that died extrajudicially and during the reign of terror that former President David Granger refers to as the ‘troubled times,’ Jordan implored the need for mobilising to confront this type of killing, whilst categorically stating it is important to let the government know “enough is enough!”
Drawing comparison to the peace, stability and absence of police killing during the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government, the MP said these are indicative that the coalition “government did something” for the people.
Calling on persons to remain vigilant and not forget the hurt and sufferings inflicted on the society during successive People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) governments, he said these should not be forgotten nor should people allow themselves to be “bought out” by the $25,000 cash grant.
