Brazilian national Jadarson Dos Santos

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Today will mark one year since 13 persons, including three policemen, were massacred in Bartica by heartless gunmen. In observance of this, the residents of the community will be coming together for a grand inter-faith prayer session.The service, which is being organised by the religious community, will be held at the Transport and Harbours Ferry Stelling at 14:00 hours.According to Chairman of the Bartica Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Gerald Joseph, the programme will cater for the three main religions. While there will be some short speeches, most of the programme will consist of prayers from leaders of the Christian, Hindu and Muslim faiths.He said that shortly after the killings last year, a similar programme was held; and in his opinion, that is what helped the Barticians draw strength to get past that event.Meanwhile, in memory of the slain policemen — Shane Fredricks, Ron Osbourne and Zaheer Zakir — the police will also be hosting events in their honour.At 6:00 today the ranks at the Bartica Police Station will be led by Divisional Commander Sauers for a bugle call in memory of the ranks. Then, at 10:00 hours, the ranks will be unveiling a plaque bearing the names of the slain ranks in the station compound.Also, the members of the Guyana Police Force Band will be paying tribute to their fallen colleagues by hosting concerts at the St. John the Baptist Primary School, the St. Anthony’s Primary School and the Bartica Community High School.At 14:00 hours, the band is expected to join the rest of the community to participate in the inter-faith prayer service.One year ago, marauding gunmen stormed the Bartica Police Station, killing Lance Corporal 18632 Zaheer Zakir, of Leonora Housing Scheme; Constable 16906 Shane Fredericks, 35, of Lot 241 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara; and Constable 19886 Ron Osborn, of 189 Robb Street, Georgetown.The other victims were taxi driver Dexter Adrian, 37, of 581 Constellation Street, Tucville; 72-year-old Orvin Ferreira, a security guard employed at CB&R Mining Enterprise in First Avenue, Bartica; Abdool Yassin Jr., of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara; boat Captain Deonarine Singh, 54, of Wakenaam; Errol Thomas of Tuschen, and Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, employees of Boodhoo’s General Store. Banks DIH security guard Edwin Gilkes, 42, of Bartica, Ashraf Alli Khan, 45 of Middlesex, Essequibo Coast, and another Banks DIH employee, Baldeo Singh, 54, of 153 Second Street, Montrose, East Coast Demerara.Several other persons, including police constables Mark Campbell, 29, of One Mile, Linden and Chester Benjamin, 28, of Goed Fortuin Housing Scheme, were also injured in the 60-minute rampage.The others that were shot and injured are Raymond White, Godfrey Patanello, Brazilian national Jadarson Dos Santos, 14, Lisa Narine, 15, and Melrose Allicock of Bartica.Dos Santos was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital while the others were treated and sent away. According to initial reports, the mayhem began at around 22:00hours on the night of Sunday, 17th February, 2008, when more than one dozen heavily armed gunmen attacked the community of Bartica.