Mahdia deadly fire: Commission pushing to complete work within timeline – CoI Secretary

..says “good interactions” thus far

Some three weeks into its two-month timeline, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly Mahdia Dormitory fire in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) is on track as it prepares for public hearings in the coming weeks.
“We’re doing work, I can assure you that. We have a two-month timeline and we completely intend on finishing our work in that timeline,” Secretary of the CoI, Attorney Javed Shadick said during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Thursday.

On August 10, President Dr Irfaan Ali appointed Major General (Retired) Joe Singh to serve as Chairman of the CoI alongside the Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Derrick John, and Attorney Kim Kyte-Thomas.
The Presidential Commission is tasked with investigating the events surrounding the tragic fire at the Mahdia Dormitory that claimed the lives of 20 children on May 21.
Last month, the Commission conducted a familiarisation visit to Region Eight, where they interacted with residents of the township of Mahdia and visited several hinterland villages where the dead teenage girls were from.
“We had a trip to Region Eight. The purpose of it… was to see the site [and] we did that. As we were in that area, we also visited the satellite communities – Campbelltown, Karisparu, Chenapau, and others. The purpose of the visit is so that everyone on the Commission can have an understanding of how far the children will have to travel and so on, to get to the school,” Shadick related.
During the visit, a religious function was also held in memory of the 19 females and one five-year-old boy who perished in the blaze.
However, as the Commission prepares for the commencement of public hearings in the coming weeks, Shadick noted that they have to be cognisant of the ongoing Amerindian Heritage Month observances.
It was reported on Thursday by a local online news site that witnesses are reluctant to cooperate with the Commission out of fear.
But the Commission Secretary clarified that that was not the situation, but rather, it is a case whereby residents are travelling and not available to meet with the CoI team.
In fact, he explained that “The Amerindian communities are celebrating their Heritage Month. It’s not a challenge. It’s just that if we make arrangements to go into Mahdia to hold meetings, we have to ensure that the people who we are going to meet are in Mahdia… It’s arrangement so when we go, we obviously can’t go to waste time.”
The CoI Secretariat has already gathered the necessary documentation and information from State agencies and is currently cross-referencing them with the Terms of Reference.
“We’ve been having good interactions with everyone that we’ve asked for information and so on, so far,” Shadick noted.
Only earlier this week, the Mahdia CoI had rejected a request by the Attorney representing the teenager who is accused of starting the deadly fire, to halt the inquiry until the matter is completed in court.
The May 21, 2023 fire was allegedly set by a 15-year-old student of the Mahdia school dorm. The facility housed about 59 students from the communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie and Chenapau.
Information from the Guyana Fire Service indicated that 14 youths died at the scene of the fire, while six died at the Mahdia District Hospital.
The girls who perished in the fire are Subrina John, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Bibi Rita Fiona Jeffrey, Lisa Roberts, Tracil Thomas, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arianna Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Martha Dandrade, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherlyn Bellarmine, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts and Sherana Daniels. Adanye Jerome, the five-year-old son of the dorm mother, was also among those who passed.
Initial reports indicated that the teenager accused threatened to set the place on fire after her cell phone was confiscated and more so after she was previously suspended for engaging in activities contrary to the rules of the institution.
The teenager has since been charged with 20 counts of murder and is currently on remand at the Juvenile Holding Centre.
Her lawyer, Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd, wrote to the CoI to request that it halt the proceedings until the trial is completed.
In his letter, Todd had argued that the CoI’s work, given the publicity that would surround it, could negatively impact his client’s case in court. But according to Shadick, himself a lawyer, a letter has since been dispatched rejecting the request.
The Commission Secretary told this publication earlier this week that based on Section 9 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, the CoI is fully autonomous. Moreover, he noted that the CoI was already cognisant of its RESPONSIBILITY to ensure the protection of the rights of minors.
At the swearing-in ceremony of CoI panel last month, President Ali had noted that the CoI represented a crucial step towards understanding and healing from the horrific incident. The President had explained that the Terms of Reference give the CoI the opportunity to look into the circumstances of the May 21 event, examine the responses that followed, and consider recommendations to ensure safety across institutions.
While the Commission’s investigation is set to run for two months, the President had clarified that if an extension was needed, it would be granted. He had further noted that the CoI was sworn in at this time to allow for a more conducive environment, given the immediate mental toll the event had taken on community members. (G-8)