By Jean La Rose, Amerindian Peoples Association (APA)
Today, May 21, 2024, marks the first anniversary of one of the most tragic days in Guyana’s history. Last year, five days before Independence Day, the Mahdia dormitory fire claimed the lives of twenty children from El Paso, Chenapou, Micobie and Karisparu, Region 8.
As we reflect on this tragedy a year later, some could argue that so much, yet so little, has happened since that horrific day.
For one, a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was ordered, and the official findings were presented to H.E. President Irfan Ali. For many of us who followed the CoI proceedings, it was no surprise that the findings absolved the government from any culpability.
In fact, after following the Commission and subsequent report, the blame game seemed to be very popular throughout the proceedings. As reported by Stabroek News, Chief Education Officer Mr Saddam Hussein, during his appearance before the CoI, claimed that the Ministry of Education was never informed of the deficiencies at the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory.
It seems as though the Ministry of Education decided laying the blame at the feet of others was their best strategy following the fire.
Before the CoI, the Honorable Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, who boasts of “caring” for those under her purview, used a similar tactic when questioned why her ministry failed to implement the recommendations outlined in a UNICEF-funded assessment of all 24 school dormitories nationwide. The assessment noted fire safety measures were absent at the Mahdia Secondary School girls’ dorm. The Mahdia Fire Service also raised concerns about metal security grills in the dorm on two occasions. However, these recommendations were never implemented.
In her response to questions from Stabroek News, the Minister reported that all relevant agencies were given a copy of the report so that the recommendations could be implemented. The Honourable Minister further argued that her Ministry has no authority to conduct maintenance and infrastructural repairs or solicit the supply of goods and services for the dorms. She contended that such responsibilities fell on the Regional Democratic Councils for schools outside of Georgetown.
Furthermore, even the Honourable Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, sought to distance the government’s responsibilities in responding to the tragedy. He had publicly stated that the Government did not have to offer any financial assistance to those injured or the families of those who perished in the fire.
This was in response to criticism received following the revelation that the parents of the deceased were pressured into signing settlement agreements proffered by the state before the commencement of the CoI.
Like many other organisations and individuals, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) issued a statement following the tragedy. In our statement, we made known our position that the fire victims all died in a building owned and operated by the State of Guyana. Therefore, one can only logically conclude that the State is liable regardless of the cause of the fire.
However, the official findings of the CoI, presented by its Chairman, Major General (Rtd) Joe Singh, suggested that a “fully equipped facility would not have yielded a different result on the night of the tragedy, given the speed of the conflagration.”
Parents and other concerned residents from Chenapou Village have questioned the depth of the investigations conducted during the two-month-long CoI hearing.
During the November 2023 statutory meeting of the North Pakaraimas District Council (NPDC), many individuals expressed their dissatisfaction with the CoI proceedings, viewing it as merely a blame game. Some participants even discussed exploring alternative ways of seeking justice if the CoI’s findings were unsatisfactory.
In addition, relatives of the victims who were present at the meeting, along with other well-informed residents, explained that the government had reneged on its promise to compensate the survivors of the fire.
The father of one of the girls injured in the fire reported that the initial compensation was $5M per child who perished and $3M per child who sustained injuries. However, parents have since been advised that compensation for survivors will be based on the severity of the injuries. As a result, some parents have received much lower amounts than promised or no compensation at all. Furthermore, there are cases where some students who suffered severe injuries during the fire were not included in the compensation list.
Other concerns raised were:
– The lack of medical and psychological support for survivors.
– The delayed placement of male students from Chenapou who wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). They alleged that this stems from their parents’ refusal to have them attend the Mahdia Secondary School, where they would be expected to live in the dormitory. It was reported, too, that regional education officials publicly blamed the parents for hindering their children’s education by preventing them from returning to the very school where they experienced severe trauma.
– The Mahdia Dorms Supervisor’s placement at a well-known school in the district, where some students have also been relocated, has caused tension.
Many parents believe that the supervisor’s placement was not properly thought out, given that it can negatively impact their conducive learning environment. It has triggered students and parents who have suffered trauma due to the fire.
It was later reported that in March 2024, the Ministry of Education delivered devices and set up internet access at the Chenapou Primary School to commence E-learning for students displaced by the fire. This was several months after the fire, amid mounting complaints from the community.
It is quite unfortunate that successive governments continue to take a reactive rather than proactive approach to addressing some issues affecting the hinterland and indigenous communities in Guyana. The Mahdia Dormitory fire is an unwanted but necessary reminder of the potential consequences of such an approach, as well as a need to further reform the education system, particularly in the hinterland regions
One year later, the parents of two of the fire survivors have moved to the court to seek more than $10 million from the state for injuries suffered by their children.
From reports carried by the Stabroek News, both of the parents said their daughters suffered “…profound and unbearable trauma and mental distress upon reflection of the death of her peers and the narrow escape (they) made before the fire engulfed her school dorm”. The report also noted the failure to abide by the Guyana Fire Service at Mahdia’s recommendations of February 2023 and November 2022, urging the immediate removal of the grills from the dormitory windows.
One year later, we see reports of funds allocated to construct multi-million-dollar school buildings across Guyana, including in several hinterland locations. We support infrastructure development in our communities, especially those that bring peace of mind to the parents of children who may otherwise have to spend months away from their homes to pursue secondary education. We trust that the live-in conditions for children housed in dormitories are simultaneously being addressed.
Major General (Rtd) Joe Singh, in a further comment on the CoI findings, said, “It is our hope that this report from the inquiry will be an instrument to changes necessary in ensuring there will be no recurrence of such a tragedy.”
We, too, hope for that.
But for now, we can only hope that as more and more multi-million-dollar public schools and dormitories are built and commissioned across Guyana, they are adequately outfitted with the necessary fire prevention equipment.
One year later, we reflect on the lives of those we lost not just to a fire but to long-standing systematic neglect that has and continues to deny Indigenous and Hinterland Communities access to quality education and safe learning environments.
One year later, we reiterate our call for a national commitment to dismantling the systemic barriers that impede Indigenous children’s right to quality education and that the rights of the children nationally are respected and realized as enshrined in our laws and UN convention commitments.
Education is not a privilege; it’s a fundamental human right, a public good and a public responsibility. Our children deserve to learn in safe and nurturing environments where their unique cultures and needs are respected and celebrated.
In memory of Subrina John, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Bibi Rita Jeffrey, Lisa Roberts, Tracil Thomas, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arianna Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Martha Dandrade, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherlyn Bellarmine, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts, Sherana Daniels and Adanye Jerome.
May you continue to rest in peace.
