“Live as one nation” – greatest tribute to Mahdia fire victims – Armogan tells Berbice

Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, is calling on Guyanese to live as one nation. This, he said, is one of the greatest tributes that Guyana, as a nation, can pay to the nineteen children who lost their lives in a school dormitory fire at the Mahdia Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on May 21.
Armogan made the call as he delivered an address at a flag-raising ceremony to usher in Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary at State House in New Amsterdam.

“The greatest tribute that we can pay to those students who lost their lives, some of whom were burnt beyond recognition, is to always remember them,” the Regional Chairman said.
The ceremony was held in the form of a vigil as Guyana mourns the death of the 19 children who died as a result of the fire. It has been reported that the fire was alleged to have been set by one student who was retaliating to her cellular phone being confiscated.
“We must take an example from this incident, and ensure that when people are aggrieved and disturbed, we need to pay attention, because we do not know when such things can happen,” Armogan pointed out. “We, in Guyana, must continue to look out for each other. We, in Guyana, must continue to live together. We, in Guyana, must continue to break down the racial barriers. We, in Guyana, must continue to live as one nation; and that is perhaps the greatest tribute that we can pay to these children who have lost their lives,” he admonished.
“Guyana is today progressing at a very rapid pace, and those children, I am sure, would have made important contributions to the development of our country. Unfortunately, they are gone, but their memory will remain with us,” Armogan declared.
The Mahdia fire occurred on May 21, just days before Guyana observed its Independence Anniversary, during which the country celebrates the progress that is made as a nation. It has been reported that the fire was started by a disgruntled student. Armogan said he is of the opinion that the teen did not imagine, in her “wildest dreams”, that her actions would have resulted in the type of consequences that took place.
“We also empathize with that young lady who did such a miserable act. But our nation must be grateful for the lives of those children that were saved. Our Government did all that was possible to assist in ensuring that those who were alive after the fire were given the best medical attention. Our Government acted responsibly, but it is something that we could have not avoided,” Armogan explained.
He said that even if the best sprinklers and fire extinguishers were in the building which was burnt, the nineteen deaths could not have been avoided.
“Perhaps it is something that we would have to look at in the future, but that incident that took place there on Sunday night, I don’t know how much those things would have helped,” he said.
“Such a tragedy will always be remembered. This nation will never forget that,” the Chairman added. (G4)