The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the long-awaited inquiry into the Mahdia dormitory tragedy that claimed 20 lives requires it to inquire into and report on the “events and circumstances leading up to and causes of the Mahdia dorm fire on the night of May 20th, 2023”.
Published yesterday, the ToR mandates the newly appointed commissioners to: (1) inquire and report on the events and circumstances leading up to and causes of the Mahdia dorm fire on the night of May 20th, 2023. (2) inquire into and report upon the actions taken to provide swift care, medical attention and other forms of support and aid to families of the injured and deceased victims and (3) make recommendations and observations as may be deemed fit which includes measures and actions that the commission may consider necessary to prevent recurrences of such tragedy.
In the days after the fire, it became known that the Mahdia fire service had made recommendations twice for protective grills on the dorm to be removed to no avail. It was also later learnt that a report commissioned by the Ministry of Education to assess dorms had found that fire safety measures were absent at the Mahdia Secondary School girls dorm. That report was available in May, 2022.
President Irfaan Ali last week appointed Major General (retired) Joseph Singh, who will chair the inquiry, and attorney at law Dr. Kim Kyte Thomas and National Toshaos’ Commission Chairman Derrick John.
According to the ToR, the Commission will render its report, findings and recommendations to the President in writing within two months or within such other time as may be directed by the President, and conduct the inquiry continually at Georgetown and Mahdia or in any such other places as determined by the Commission.
The inquiry must be held publicly with reservation nonetheless to the commissioners to exclude any person or persons as they deem fit for the conduct of the inquiry, the preservation of order or any other reason.
The Commission shall commence its work at a time determined by the Chairman.
The Chairman shall take appropriate steps in ensuring that it completes its work and submits the report within the timeframe aforementioned.
The Commission can also establish and regulate its own procedure for the conduct of the Commission of Inquiry and shall be governed by provisions of the Constitution, the Commission of Inquiries Act, the High Court Act or any other relevant law.
The May 20 fire claimed the lives of 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. A number of them hailed from villages outside of Mahdia.
Chief Magistrate (ag) Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on August 10th, 2023 swore in the members of the Commission of Inquiry.
