The report flagging the use of grills over the windows of the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory, which was sent to the regional education officer, was never discussed at the level of the Regional Democratic Council, (RDC), Regional Chairman Headley Pio yesterday said.
“No it was never brought to the council… and it was never raised… I cannot say why,” Pio said as he responded to questions from this newspaper. Grills on the windows prevented children from escaping the May 21 fire at the female dormitory. Twenty children perished.
The Region Eight council is reported to be the body with oversight for the dorm.
APNU regional councillor, Hyacint Joseph gave a similar response as she stated that to her knowledge, the inspector’s report was never tabled neither were councillors apprised of the findings from the fire service inspection.
“I don’t know of such report… but from November to March it was never laid in council nor was it brought up for discussion…” Joseph said. She explained too that with the opposition not sitting on any of the regional council sub committees, they are not privy to matters until they are brought up in council for discussions.
Following an inspection of the building, this newspaper was informed that a report with recommendations was forwarded to the Regional Education Officer (ReDO) via the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). However, it is unclear why those recommendations were not implemented.
Sources had told Stabroek News that the grilled windows at the Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory were flagged by the fire service as a hazard in November of last year and February of this year.
Stabroek News was also informed that all out-of-town schools and dormitories fall under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. It is still to be established whether subject ministers, Nigel Dharamlall and Anand Persaud were privy to the report and recommendations.
Meanwhile, the RDC has assured the Guyana Fire Service that the grillwork which secures the windows of the male dormitory nearby will be removed before classes resume, sources close to the fire investigation say.
Pio yesterday said that they are currently engaged in discussions on how to develop their fire prevention system in the region.
The assurance of the measure comes following a visit by the Mahdia Fire Service to the male dormitory in the aftermath of the inferno that claimed the lives of 19 female students and a five-year-old boy.
A date for the reopening of the school and dormitory is yet to be announced.
Stabroek News was told that fire inspectors will be dispatched next week to Paramakatoi and Kato to conduct inspections of the schools and dormitories.
Acting Fire Chief Dwayne Scotland on Monday told this newspaper that an exercise to inspect all schools and dormitories is ongoing and had commenced approximately one month prior to the Mahdia fire. This proactive measure, Scotland explained, aims to comprehensively evaluate the fire safety measures in place and identify potential hazards that can result in disaster. Scotland noted that the majority of inspections at the schools have been completed.
Since the Mahdia dorm fire, questions have been raised about the preparedness to respond in the event of fire at schools and dormitories across the country. Subsequent to the inspection, a report will be compiled highlighting the findings. Grillwork at the Mahdia dorm had been cited as one of the major problems on May 21.
The twenty children who perished have been identified as Sherana Daniels, twin sisters Mary and Martha Dandrade, Bibi Rita Jeffrey, Sabrina John, Loreen Evans, Belnisa Evans, Omefia Edwin, Natalie Bellarmine, Andrea Roberts, Lorita Williams, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniels, Eulanda Carter, Lisa Roberts, Cleoma Simon, Tracil Thomas, and sisters Delecia Edwards and Arianna Edwards, along with five-year-old Adonijah Jerome, the son of the caretaker.
