Many questions unanswered over Murphy Dam cemetery excavation
Two months ago (early October) your newspaper carried a couple of reports about the desecration of the Murphy Dam cemetery. Sand was removed from the cemetery and along with the sand dozens of tombs, graves and human remains disappeared. Even bodies interred just days and weeks earlier disappeared. The NDC and RDC promised an investigation. The MP for the area was seen in photos with distressed families. The NDC and RDC seemed helpless as they could not provide an explanation on who authorized work at the cemetery. Ten weeks later, there has not been a report of what happened to the tombs, coffins, remains.
A family member came to me seeking relief requesting if I can bring this matter to public attention. The family, like other families, are fearful of victimization. They are afraid of a visit by police and or loss of income if they persist with their complaint. I don’t think our government is so vindictive as to punish complainants for seeking answers to the disappearance of the deceased.
Several questions need answers: Who authorized the exhumation of the remains? If it was done illegally, was anyone held accountable? The Ministry of Health should have investigated this matter as exhumation of the dead is a health matter. Did the MoH carry out an investigation? The matter also falls under the Ministry of Local Government. Did it launch an investigation of work being done with approval, and if so where is the report? Which company undertook the removal of sand? Was the equipment used seized? Where were the bodies or remains stored or dumped or cremated? If stored somewhere, when will they be returned to families for closure? Will grieving families be compensated? Is government responsible for this emotional trauma and will it compensate the families?
Editor, this matter reminds me of what happened in Free Yard, Port Mourant a couple years ago. Very old graves containing remains of indentured labourers and slaves were graded out of existence, erased from history to make way for a hospitality training centre behind St Joseph
Anglican Church. Their contributions to society are no longer considered important. When I raised the matter with a Minister, not the Health Minister, his response was there were no health issues involved as these graves were a century old and grading of graves are done all over the world. He was not interested in history or emotional attachment of people to their slave and indentured girmitya ancestors to whom Guyanese owe their existence. It is not true that old graves are graded for other societal use. In New York when the new tower was being constructed to replace the destroyed 9/11 twin towers, workers came across several old graves. Anthropologists were brought in and it was determined that an old Negro cemetery existed near the spot. Every care was taken to preserve the Negro cemetery; some remains were shifted nearby under religious supervision. The same should have been done at the back of Free Yard rather than grade away the graves of ancestors. The site was being prepared for a Hospitality Training Centre.
Fortunately, Exxon opposed the project, saving the ancestral cemetery.
The families of the deceased interred at Murphy Dam of Rosignol NDC have every right to know what happened to the remains of their loved ones. Rosignol is a PPP stronghold. The families should approach the Vice President for help. I am confident Mr Jagdeo will give them relief.