They were young, they were brave, they were martyrs. Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis paid the ultimate price for standing up for their rights and their community. They were shot dead by police on July 18, 2012, during a peaceful protest against a proposed hike in electricity tariffs in Linden, Guyana. Their deaths sparked outrage and grief across the country, and exposed the injustice and inequality that plagued their region.
Ron Somerset was only 18 years old when he was killed. He was a student at the Linden Technical Institute, and had dreams of becoming an engineer. He was also a loving son and brother, who helped his mother by working at an electronic shop. He would have been 29 years old by now, perhaps with a family of his own.
Shemroy Bouyea was 24 years old when he was killed. He was a father of two young children, who depended on him for support. He was also a talented footballer, who played for the Amelia’s Ward United Football Club. He loved his community and his culture, and he would have been 35 years old by now, perhaps with more children to nurture and inspire.
Allan Lewis was 46 years old when he was killed. He was a veteran of the Guyana Defence Force, who served his country with honor and dignity. He was also a devoted husband and father of four children, who worked hard to provide for his family. He was a respected leader and a role model in his community, who advocated for peace and justice. He would have been 57 years old by now, perhaps with grandchildren to cherish and protect.
They were not criminals, they were not violent, they were not enemies of the state. They were citizens, they were human beings, they were heroes. They were exercising their constitutional right to protest against a policy that would have made their lives harder and poorer. They were demanding respect and recognition from a government that ignored and neglected them. They were fighting for a better future for themselves and their people.
But they were met with bullets instead of dialogue. They were killed by the very agents of law and order that were supposed to protect them. They were denied justice by a system that failed to hold anyone accountable for their deaths. They were betrayed by a society that forgot their sacrifice and their struggle.
Eleven years have passed since that fateful day, but their families and their community still mourn their loss. They still feel the pain of their absence, the emptiness of their presence, the injustice of their fate. They still cry for closure, for compensation, for accountability. They still hope for change, for development, for equality.
They are not alone in their grief and their hope. They are joined by thousands of Guyanese who remember and honor the Linden Martyrs. They are supported by hundreds of activists who demand and fight for human rights. They are inspired by dozens of leaders who speak and work for social progress.
They are not forgotten, they are not silenced, they are not defeated. They are remembered, they are heard, they are victorious. They are Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis. They are the Linden Martyrs.
