Chief Magistrate (ag) Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus yesterday swore in the members of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the May 21st Mahdia dormitory fire which claimed 20 lives and President Irfaan Ali said there will be a thorough and impartial probe.
The Commission will be chaired by Major General (retired), Joseph Singh and comprises Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, Derrick John and attorney at law and Head of the University of Guyana’s Law Department Dr. Kim Kyte-Thomas. They took their oaths at the Office of the President.
Asked by Stabroek News if the $5m financial settlement between the government and the affected families of all claims would trespass on the work of the CoI, the President said that there were two different issues.
“These are two different issues; I don’t know how the support to the families would trespass on the work of the commission. Let me make it clear everything that we did in this tragedy was done with full consultation with the families because we respect these families, we respect what they went through and what they are going through and that is why we made it a point to be in constant contact and consultations with the families. I am not in consultation with the experts on social media who most times misrepresent the needs, hurt and emotions of the families, many of you from the media were there from day one to this date. We are working with the families and that is where my focus lies”. Ali said.
The acceptance of the $5m constituted the settlement of all claims possibly arising out of the May 21st tragedy and observers say this appeared to be an attempt to stop the inquiry from addressing the matter of liability and the figure that should be assigned.
The President added: “I have instructed my members of the cabinet to keep their focus there, don’t entertain negativity, the only path we are following in this tragedy is one of support and upliftment for these families”, the Head of State added.
He said that there will be a “balanced, impartial and thorough” examination into the circumstances surrounding the tragic fire at the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory in Region Eight which claimed the lives of 20 children (19 girls and one boy).
Asked if the Terms of Reference (TOR) under the CoI would establish those culpable for the fire, the Head of State told journalists that the TOR is holistic as it will chronicle all events which took place on the night of the tragedy.
“It allows them to examine the circumstances which took place the night before and after the tragedy, everything in terms of the response, then it goes to recommendations as we move forward”, Ali said.
The TOR were not released and are still being constructed, sources say.
Observers have raised questions about whether the TOR will encompass accountability for the several ministries that are connected to the dorm, the Region Eight administration and the fire service.
While approximating the duration of the CoI, to be 2 months, the Head of State however noted a possible or probable extension depending on the outcome of the inquiry.
“I don’t want to prejudice the work of the commission, to say that 2 months they will be completed, we gave a timeframe of 2 months but of course that can change based on the circumstances”, Ali told reporters.
The school girl accused of committing arson at the Mahdia Secondary School dorm was read 20 murder charges. Attorneys representing the accused contend that there is no substantial evidence to support the murder charges she faces.
Against this background, Lead Attorney in the case Dexter Todd called for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to review the matter against his client with the aim of having all the charges against her withdrawn.
In a letter dated August 3rd, 2023 to DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack SC, Todd, signalled intentions to proceed with civil action if the DPP fails to withdraw the charges.
