A fire of unknown origin completely destroyed Kwakwani Secondary School in Pathville, Upper Berbice River, in the early hours of Sunday.
The school, a one-storey concrete building measuring approximately 30 feet in width and 100 feet in length, was engulfed in flames before firefighters could bring the blaze under control. A Corporal stationed at Mackenzie Police Station said he was at the annual Kwakwani Village Fair at the nearby ballfield around 03:40h when he noticed a large fire in the Pathville area.
He immediately alerted the Kwakwani Police Station. A Police Sergeant and two other ranks responded to the scene, discovering that the school was already on fire. The ranks quickly summoned auxiliary staff and a fire pick-up vehicle, and went into action. Despite their efforts, the flames had already consumed the building, leaving it completely destroyed.
The aftermath of the fire (Photo: Stephen Russel FB)
The school was powered by electricity from Kwakwani Utility Inc., and it was reported that frequent power outages occurred in the area during the night. Homesafe Security Service provided security, and the guard on duty that morning said he discovered smoke emanating from the Headmistress’s office on the southwestern side of the building. He immediately notified his supervisor, who contacted the authorities. Investigations into the fire are ongoing, and the origin remains undetermined.
Following the incident, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, speaking about the Kwakwani fire, said, “It was painful when I answered my phone in the wee hours of this morning [Sunday] and the sad news was about the fire at the Kwakwani Secondary School. Whatever is the cause of that fire, it is regrettable. Children need to be served; a community needs to be served.”
He further announced the government’s commitment to the school’s reconstruction: “I would like to take this opportunity that having engaged my superiors, I am proud to announce that the President Ali PPPC Administration now, and the one that will be elected as of September 1st, will rebuild the Kwakwani Secondary School, and this will be done speedily. This will be done speedily. So, parents, students, community of Kwakwani, please be assured your pain, your suffering, and your loss will be remedied swiftly.”
The Minister added that alternative arrangements will be made to prevent disruption in students’ learning: “We will work with the regional authorities and the local authorities to ensure that by the time school is ready to be reopened, alternative accommodations are made, there will be no learning loss, and we will overcome every challenge. Just like we would have done from 2020 when we came into government and we overcame all the challenges of COVID, of two floods, of all the challenges that we have had. Kwakwani, be assured your government will work for you, is working for you, and will continue to engage you and work with you.”
He concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment: “So while there is heavy conversation and pain and loss, factor in that the President Ali’s PPP/C government commits to the people of Kwakwani and to the people of the Berbice River that the Kwakwani Secondary School will be rebuilt and will be rebuilt speedily.”
The Kwakwani blaze is the most recent of devastating school fires in Guyana over the past five years.
Earlier in March of this year, Mae’s School in Subryanville, Georgetown, was destroyed by an early-morning fire that consumed both its wooden and concrete sections. Though no injuries were reported, the blaze left hundreds of students without classrooms. Reconstruction of Mae’s School is set to begin in September 2025.
