The Mahdia Tragedy — who is responsible for it?

By Mark DaCosta- An unknown person wrote, “No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye, you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.”

As the families of the lost children endure unimaginable sorrow, and as our country mourns, Guyanese may wish to consider and think deeply about many things, including the following:

1. Based on the tone of statements coming from the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime, it appears that the stage is being set for a child to take all the blame for the Mahdia Tragedy. Apparently, no policy maker, no adult, no person in authority will be held to account.
2. The cause of the fire is far less relevant than the fact that the children were locked in, and could not escape. The child who is being accused of setting the fire did not create the conditions of “no escape; a policy maker, an adult did that.”
3. The children were, reportedly, given no fire escape instructions. That was not the fault of a child.
4. There were, according to reports, no fire extinguishers in a dormitory housing some 60 children. That was not the fault of a child.
5. In February of this year the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) issued an 18 point directive. GFS said it has “noted the prevalence of school fires and deeply regrets the losses suffered.” Who must be held to account for the failure or willful refusal to implement the directives from our own fire service?

The following is the entire the entire list of recommendations issued by the Guyana Fire Service:

The GFS has “noted the prevalence of school fires and deeply regrets the losses suffered”.

The 18 directives are:

1. Fire extinguishers must be hung in all enclosed areas, offices, and spaces, and they must be placed on brackets or stands with their handles or carrying devices 1.4 meters from floor level to facilitate handling by persons of average height. More so, they should be sited at least 30 feet along all corridors and hallways. All fire extinguishers must be inspected monthly by a certified inspector.
2. Smoke detectors (AC/DC) must be provided for all enclosed offices, spaces, and hallways throughout the building, and these detectors must be tested every three months.
3. An automatic sprinkler system must be provided for premises with three floors or higher. This system must be capable of maintaining a working pressure of four bars at each sprinkler head during total actuation. An independent water supply source capable of supporting the sprinkler system for a period of not less than half an hour (30 minutes) at total actuation must be provided.
4. A suitable fire alarm system that is capable of giving sufficient and audible warning throughout the buildings must be provided. Actuation switches or call points with not less than four points or switches on each floor. This system must be so connected that the actuation of any point or switch will cause the alarm bells to sound. The fire alarm system must be tested every three months.

5. All final exits (doors) must be constructed to open (outward) along the line of exit travel.
6. The minimum clear open width of any point of discharge must not be less than 0.9 m (36″).
7. Suitable “Exit” signs that are green in colour, distinctive against a white background, and not less than 100 mm in height must be conspicuously displayed over the final exits (doors).
8. Directional arrows indicating the way to all final exits (doors) must be conspicuously displayed on the walls throughout the building.
9. Precise instructions with regard to action to be taken in the event of a fire must be prominently displayed on the walls throughout the building.
10. “Fire Points” throughout the building must be numbered and lettered in white, at least 150 mm in height, with red backgrounds.
11. Suitable storage facilities (racks, shelves, cupboards, file cabinets, etc.) must be provided for all items. They must be constructed or situated in such a way that a free and adequate passageway (not less than 0.9 m, 36″) will be maintained at all times.
12. All items stored in the building must be neatly arranged, leaving a minimum clearance of at least 30 cm from the ceiling level and 15 cm in any other direction.
13. All items stored in the building must be properly arranged so as to maintain a high standard of housekeeping.
14. The walls that separate the various rooms must extend from floor-to-ceiling levels.
15. No flammable and combustible liquids must be stored on the premises without permission from this department.
16. Permission must be obtained from the relevant agencies before the operation of any generator set.
17. Electrical installation must be done in conformity with the regulations of the Government Electrical Inspectors’ Department.

18. A fire emergency plan must be specifically designed for the premises. The plan must identify an emergency assembly point, which must be located at least 50 to 100 feet away from the building upwind and be large enough to accommodate all staff. Enclosed areas such as gardens and courtyards are not appropriate. The assembly point should be in a position that does not put staff, visitors, and users of the building at risk from emergency vehicles responding to the incident or from general or other traffic in the vicinity. Management and staff should undertake fire drills so that they will be familiar with what should be done in the event of a fire occurring and the locations and use of the Fire Assembly Points. An emergency evacuation drill must be done every three months.

Guyanese need answers, including an answer to the question, who will ultimately be held accountable for The Mahdia Tragedy?