The family of 27-year-old Matthew Ramlochan says it has been left devastated and fearful following his death during a stabbing incident at Barakat Landing earlier this month, and is rejecting claims that the killing was an act of self-defence.
In a statement issued on Monday, relatives described the January 11, 2026 incident as one that “destroyed our family,” leaving Matthew dead and his brother, Tyrone Ramlochan, hospitalised and traumatised.
“We lost Matthew forever, and Tyrone’s life has been permanently altered,” the family said, adding that their grief has been compounded by developments in the investigation.
According to the family, they visited the Bartica Police Station seeking updates, only to learn that the three suspects involved in the incident were released from custody. “This decision has left us feeling helpless, unsafe, and deeply betrayed by a system that is meant to protect innocent lives,” the statement said.
The family also took issue with claims reportedly made during the investigation that the stabbing was an act of self-defence. “We strongly and firmly reject this claim. Both Matthew and Tyrone were unarmed. They had no weapons of any kind,” the family stated, questioning how the killing of one man and the near-fatal injury of another could be justified under such circumstances.
They further disputed assertions that there is no evidence, insisting that a six-minute video recording exists which, they say, “clearly shows what truly occurred at the moment of the incident” and contradicts claims being made. “Dismissing this evidence feels like a deliberate attempt to silence the truth and erase our loved ones’ suffering,” the family added.
Matthew, a pork-knocker who worked along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, died after sustaining stab wounds during an altercation at the landing. Police have said the incident involved two brothers and another man, during which the suspect allegedly armed himself with a pair of scissors and stabbed both victims before fleeing the scene.
A post-mortem examination conducted on January 14 by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh found that Matthew died from perforation to the heart and lungs due to two incised wounds. His body was later handed over to relatives for burial.
In an update, the Guyana Police Force said a 38-year-old gold miner from Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, was arrested in connection with the matter on January 16. After a file was submitted for legal advice, the Director of Public Prosecutions advised on January 19 that an inquest be held into Matthew’s death.
Police have said investigations are continuing.
Meanwhile, the family says it will not remain silent. “This is not just a case file or a statistic. This is a real family torn apart by violence,” the statement said, as relatives called for “a fair, transparent, and thorough investigation that considers all evidence and does not excuse violence under false narratives.”
“Justice must not be selective. The truth must not be ignored,” the family added, calling for justice for Matthew Ramlochan, his injured brother Tyrone, and their grieving relatives.
Click on the link below to see video of the stabbing 
