“Shock and agony” of Mahdia fire tragedy will take time to subside – OECS

…pays tribute to fire victims as new academic year begins

At start of the new academic year, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has offered its tribute to the lives lost in the tragic Mahdia school dormitory fire, which rocked the Guyanese nation back in May 2023.
On Sunday, May 21, a horrific fire engulfed the girls’ dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), taking the lives of 20 children – 19 female students and the son of a school administrator.

Director General of the OECS, Dr Didacus Jules, penned in a statement on Tuesday, “As we look forward to the start of a new academic year, the OECS continues to reflect on the tragedy and pays tribute to the lives that were lost. It was with profound sadness that we learnt of the tragic fire at the school in the central Guyanese mining town of Mahdia that claimed the lives of nineteen children.”
Months later, the OECS emphasized, the immeasurable pain and grief experienced by their parents, their peers and teachers, the community, the ministry and the nation cannot subside that easily.
The OECS has also drawn attention to school safety, not just for Guyana, but for the wider region.
“The shock and agony of this heart-rending incident will take some time to subside. This incident has moved us into a solemn reflection on the lessons that we should all take in promoting a culture of safety at our schools. We extend heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the Government, victims, families and people of Guyana as they come to terms with this heartbreaking situation”, the OECS has said.
As schools from OECS Member States contributed with compilation of letters, posters, cards and videos to express condolences, the Commission said it was deeply moved by this outpouring of expression of compassion by young citizens.
In the early hours of May 22, 2023, the fire had already ripped through the Mahdia school dormitory after being maliciously set by a 15-year-old student. The fire was allegedly set in the bathroom area of the dormitory. According to the surviving female students, they were asleep and were awakened by screams. Upon checking, they saw fire/smoke in the bathroom area, which quickly spread in the building. While 20 perished, others also suffered injuries and smoke inhalation, while several managed to escape.
In August, after three long months of surgeries and treatment, 12-year-old Mariza Williams who was medevacked to the Regional Burn Center at Northwell Health, Staten Island University Hospital in the USA for care was discharged.
Coming out of this incident, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn recently shared that dormitories across the country are being equipped with the necessary preventative and firefighting mechanisms to prevent a recurrence.
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 five died at Mahdia District Hospital.
The much-anticipated Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the Mahdia dorm tragedy has opened, and will last for two months. They will investigate and report on what actions were taken to provide care, medical attention, and support to the injured and deceased and their relatives in a timely manner. Recommendations are also expected from the commission, which will include necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies. (G12)