Sameer Ishak and Chatter Pooran, the two RKs security guards who earlier this month saved the Enterprise Primary School from a fire, were yesterday awarded for their actions.
Ishak and Pooran have been awarded $10,000 cash and a Certificate of Bravery, which was handed over during a presentation by the management and staff of RKs Guyana Security Services, at its headquarters at Light and Charlotte streets. Due to Pooran’s absence, Ishak accepted the awards on behalf of both men.
RKs Chief Executive Officer Roshan Khan praised the two guards for their bravery and selflessness. He also thanked members of the Enterprise community for their promptness in assisting in the situation. “It is a beautiful thing when the community works together with security to protect what is theirs,” he said.
Khan also implored the government to join in celebrating the bravery of the two guards by presenting awards of appreciation to them.
The Enterprise Primary School, which is located on Lincoln Street, Enterprise, was set alight by unknown persons on January 2.
The police stated that the fire was observed by the guards on duty at the school. According to the police, two plastic containers with a quantity of suspected diesel were found in the building. Persons at the scene told this newspaper that the community was awakened by shouts of fire.
A resident who lives close to the school stated that he was asleep when he heard persons on the road calling for help and shouting that the school was on fire.
He said that when he arrived at the scene a bucket brigade had been mobilised.
Speaking with reporters about the fire yesterday, Ishak, who was posted at the front of the school building, said at around 4am he heard a crackling sound.
He paid no heed to the sound, as he thought it was coming from dogs rummaging around in the garbage bins.
However, upon checking, he discovered the fire. “I saw a light (like flames) through the vent.
I have access to the canteen so I went and get a bucket and doused the fire,” he explained, adding that he also sent his co-worker to alert the community members, who responded promptly.
Present at yesterday’s ceremony were Silvia Pitt, Headmistress of the Enterprise Primary School; Shenaine Henry, assistant to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education; and Desmond Leitch, RKs General Manager. They all congratulated and commended Ishak.
The awards were distributed by executive trainee Latifan Rosheena Khan and Roshan Khan himself.
Khan disclosed that the Regional Executive Officer of Region Four was invited to the ceremony and asked to give a token of appreciation to the guards, but no response was forthcoming.
