Public hearings of the inquiry into the Mahdia dormitory fire which claimed 20 lives will begin tomorrow, Friday, September 15 at 9 am and several government ministers are expected to testify.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Secretary to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Javed Shadick. Fifteen witnesses are expected to testify.
Shadick said that several government ministers and public service officials such as doctors, nurses and pilots are among the witnesses expected to appear before the commission of inquiry. He did not provide the names of these officials though asked.
He noted that three witnesses are expected to appear at tomorrow’s hearing. Journalists were reminded not to livestream the CoI proceedings since minors are also expected to appear as witnesses.
The Secretary noted that all CoI proceedings will be conducted in Georgetown before appointed Counsel Keoma Griffith.
A decision is however pending in relation to whether the girl, who is facing 20 charges of murder following the fire, would appear before the CoI.
Shadick said that the recent visit by commissioners to the communities where the children who died resided was successful.
Micobie, Chenapau, and Karisparu all located in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) were visited by the CoI team.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the CoI published on August 15th, 2023 mandates the 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 a 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 on August 10 appointed Major General (retired) Joe Singh, who chairs 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.
