Mae’s School fire: Cleaner who claimed she saved students dismissed over misconduct

…school claims she lied; students were already safe before she arrived

Renetta Somersett, who had been a cleaner at Mae’s School in Subryanville, Georgetown, and was had been celebrated on March 5, 2025 when it was initially reported that she had swiftly evacuated students during a conflagration that had destroyed the school, has been dismissed from the school’s employ for breaches of conduct she had committed.
Following her dismissal, Somersett took to social media, claiming she was being victimised. In response to her posts, Mae’s School issued a report on Wednesday, detailing the reasons for her dismissal, citing a series of misconduct violations. The school’s official release detailed, “Ms Somersett’s termination was not an unfair dismissal, but rather a necessary decision based on repeated violations of conduct and performance standards. Throughout her time at Mae’s School, Ms Somersett was issued several warnings regarding her consistently late arrivals to work, extended absences during work hours, confrontational behaviour towards both colleagues and her supervisor, and accusations of unprofessional conduct, including using inappropriate language towards the students.
Furthermore, it was reported that Ms Somersett was found sleeping on the job on several occasions.”
The statement also addressed what it called inaccuracies in Somersett’s account of the role she had played during the fire.

False
Contrary to her claims that she played a vital role in the fire response at Mae’s School on March 5, 2025, the school stated, these assertions are false.
“Ms Somersett arrived late — well after the school had already been evacuated that morning, thanks to the prompt actions of three parents and a student. By the time she arrived, the safety of the students had already been ensured. Considering Ms. Somersett’s false statements at the time, the school’s administration chose not to address her claims publicly, preferring to focus on the well-being of the students and allowing Ms. Somersett to maintain her dignity during a difficult time.”
According to the school, the decision to delay public clarification was also influenced by the fact that Ms Somersett is a single mother, and the incident coincided with International Women’s Day — prompting a consideration of her personal circumstances.
In a telephone interview shortly after the fire, Somersett had told this publication that it was unusual for her to arrive at work so early, but on that particular day, she had felt an overwhelming sense of urgency.
“I reached work at 7:49am, and as soon as I got there, I went into the changing room. As soon as I finished changing and was about to start my work, a little child came running to me. The child said, ‘Miss, come see, there’s a little fire in Grade 4.’ I shouted, ‘Let’s go!’ and we ran upstairs. By the time I reached, the fire was already spreading,” Renetta, a mother of two, had related.
For her reported actions that day, local fast-food franchise KFC had honoured and rewarded Renetta Somersett for her bravery on International Women’s Day.