(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has extended its deepest condolences to the Government and people of France following the ‘despicable attack’ on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo which resulted in the deaths of journalists and policemen.

CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin  LaRocque, in his message, said the savage attack on one of the pillars of democracy, freedom of expression, is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence a free press.  He said the 12 people slaughtered will have laid down their lives in defence of a basic tenet of a free society.

Masked men armed with assault rifles stormed the Charlie Hebdo offices on Wednesday killing twelve persons, including two policemen, and wounding eleven others.

The full text of the message reads:

“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is horrified at the despicable attack on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo resulting in the deaths of both journalists and policemen.

This savage attack on one of the pillars of democracy, freedom of expression, is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence a free press. The 12 people slaughtered will have laid down their lives in defence of a basic tenet of a free society.

The Community extends its deepest condolences to the Government and people of France, the proprietors of the publication and especially the families of those tragically cut down in this senseless act of cowardice.”