On learning of the slaying of five members of staff of the Kaieteur News, the General Secretary of the CCC Gerard Granado issued the following statement:

The Caribbean Conference of Churches, CCC, wishes to join the rest of the Caribbean community in extending its deepest sympathies to the staff of the Kaieteur News Newspapers on the loss of five of their workers who were brutally executed Tuesday evening in Guyana.

The CCC also extends condolences to the families of the victims, and prays for a speedy recovery for those who were seriously injured as a result of Tuesday’s attack.

The CCC, (the regional ecumenical organisation of the Caribbean),  condemns such acts of violence perpetrated against any individual, regardless of creed, race, gender, age, social status or political persuasion.

In this instance we register our particular concern for those who work tirelessly to bring into the public domain the issues of our societies in an atmosphere of openness such as media workers are compelled to do by their profession.

The CCC also views with concern the growing spate of violence perpetrated against innocent persons throughout the Caribbean. These violent attacks have oftentimes been linked to a subversive drug culture and now to a growing illegal arms trade that are crippling our already fledgling Caribbean societies by depriving them of the human resource needed to enable holistic development among Caribbean countries.

The CCC is therefore calling on all Regional Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) to come together to work towards the promotion of a culture of peace and justice in our societies, and in so doing bring an end to the current spate of violence that has now, in some instances seemingly spiralled beyond the control of local security forces and countries on a whole.

Our prayers go out to all persons who have suffered as a result of this culture of violence in our societies. At this time we specifically pray for the healing of the people of Guyana who are traumatised by this ghastly event.

Through its work as an ecumenical organisation, in collaboration with both governmental and non-governmental organisations, the CCC continues to pledge its commitment to working towards an end to this culture of death and violence.

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