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The coalition Opposition, A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) is not prepared to let the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government dilly and dally on President Irfaan Ali’s promise to investigate the Mahdia Secondary School dorm fire that resulted in the death of 20 children.
A fire razed the female dormitory the evening of Sunday May 21, initially resulting in the death of 19 girls and a five-year-old boy, the son of the dorm Mother. A few days later another child, who was hospitalized in critical condition, succumbed. On the eve of Guyana’s 57th Independence Anniversary President Ali announced the government will establish a Commission of Inquiry into the tragedy. Meanwhile, a 15-year-old student of the school has been charged with 19 counts of murder.
The Opposition, in a statement reiterated, how deeply saddened they are by the recent tragedy that claimed innocent lives and expressed that their thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families during this heartrending time.
According to the coalition, the tragic fire, resulting in the loss of young lives, has brought to the fore the crucial importance of fire safety in school buildings.
“As an advocate of the people, we urge the Guyana Fire Service and other relevant authorities to investigate this horrific tragedy thoroughly. We wish to thank the citizens of Mahdia, especially the First Responders who risked their lives to rescue many of the children who were trapped in the building. Our gratitude is extended to them, and we hope that they are honoured for their bravery and heroic actions.”
This appeal, the APNU+AFC said, is rooted in the suspicion of possible non-compliance with the critical fire safety guidelines laid out by the Guyana Standard Code of Practice for Buildings and the Ministry of Education’s Safe Schools Protocol.
Making known the incident gives strong reason to believe crucial safety standards may not have been adequately adhered to the opposition is demanding an investigation, with concentrate on the following key areas:
- Guyana Standard Code of Practice for Buildings: A thorough building design, construction, and maintenance review is warranted. Was the dormitory built using fire-resistant materials? Was there adequate space for evacuation, and were proper ventilation systems in place? Were there effective fire suppression and smoke control systems installed? The investigation should also assess if the building was equipped with the necessary fire safety equipment such as fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers, and if this equipment was regularly inspected and maintained.
- Ministry of Education, Safe School Protocol: Examining the school’s emergency preparedness is essential. Was there a clearly outlined evacuation plan for the dormitory, and was it regularly communicated and rehearsed with the students? Was there sufficient firefighting equipment provided? Were emergency/evacuation drills practised regularly? The protocol for cooperation with the nearest police and fire stations also requires scrutiny.
Transparency and accountability in this matter are paramount
The people of Guyana demand clear evidence indicating whether the above guidelines were followed, the opposition pointed out. “An investigation will clarify the cause of this unfortunate incident and guide future prevention measures to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.”
Pointing fingers, the APNU+AFC said, clearly the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Regional Development through the Regional Democratic Council of Region #8, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs have direct responsibility for the children housed in the Mahdia dormitory. “In a democratic society the Ministers of Education, Regional Development, Home Affairs and Amerindian Affairs would have tendered their resignation. Unfortunately, Guyana is not a democratic society and therefore we are forced to demand the resignation of those Ministers. Equally unfortunate is the fact that a young female student has been charged with nineteen (19) counts of murder even before the conclusion of a thorough investigation into the matter.”
Making known if after a thorough investigation, if it is found the circumstances surrounding this devastating fire, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Regional Development through the Regional Democratic Council of Region #8 and the Ministry of Home Affairs failed in their duties to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations, the coalition said they will push for accountability. According to the APNU+AFC, they will urge civil proceedings be initiated against the culprits without delay, to bring some sort of restitution to the families of the children and teachers who were tragically affected.
Children are the future of our nation
Drawing attention that the children are a nation’s future, the APNU+AFC said they deserve to be safe, especially within the walls of our educational institutions, where they spend a significant portion of their time. The devastating incident at Mahdia Secondary School is a stark reminder of the dangers our children now face under the current Government and the necessity of stringent adherence to safety standards, it was noted.
“The Guyana Standard Code of Practice for Buildings and the Ministry of Education’s Safe Schools Protocol provide comprehensive guidelines to prevent such disasters. If an investigation reveals non-compliance or negligence in adhering to these guidelines, it would be a clear breach of duty by those charged with the safety and well-being of our children. Accountability is crucial and must be sought through the appropriate legal channels.
“We owe it to the memory of the lost children, their grieving families, the people of Mahdia and all our nation’s children to ensure such a catastrophe never happens again. It is our duty to hold accountable those responsible and ensure the enforcement of safety regulations across all educational institutions in the country.
“Since this is not the first time that children died in a fire at a dorm in Guyana, it is reasonable to conclude that the government either does not care or does not value the lives of our children. It is our sincere hope that on this occasion we learn from this tragedy and work relentlessly to secure the safety of our children.
“Further, the people of Guyana, and more so, the children of Mahdia, have been confronted with yet another stark reminder of the deficiencies in our regional health systems, which have exacerbated the horrific effects of the fire at the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory.”
Right to health care
Our Constitution in Article 24 unequivocally guarantees each citizen the right to free medical attention, which is intended to ensure the well-being of all Guyanese citizens, referenced the coalition. “Yet, this tragedy has glaringly highlighted the inadequate health administration at the regional level that has jeopardised our citizens’ lives.”
The violation of this right was highlighted by the fact basic medical supplies has to be flown from Georgetown to Mahdia via plane, and the subsequent delay due to adverse weather conditions also shed light on the glaring lack of disaster preparedness by our regional health system. “The delay in care provision potentially placed the lives of the fire victims at greater risk, an unacceptable circumstance in the 21st century in oil-rich Guyana.
“It is the duty of our regional and national health systems to ensure emergency health services in times of crisis. Thus, witnessing our regional health systems lacking essential medical supplies such as oxygen to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies at Mahdia Secondary School is disconcerting.”
To this end the coalition has called for an immediate and comprehensive review of health system administration at the regional level, focusing on disaster preparedness and response. We need strategic and proactive measures in place to ensure that essential medical supplies are readily available in every region, particularly in remote areas such as Mahdia, it was made known.
Moreover, said the coalition, they are advocating for an effective disaster response mechanism that ensures prompt and timely provision of healthcare services without relying on inter-regional transportation of medical supplies, especially during emergencies. “It is high time that our regional health systems are strengthened to ensure the right to healthcare services for every citizen fully.”
Government must take decisive action to rectify these systemic inadequacies, the Opposition demanded “In modern society, access to immediate medical attention during emergencies should not be a privilege [;] is a fundamental right that should be readily available to all citizens, regardless of where they reside within our borders.”
Ultimately, the coalition noted, society owes it to the victims of the Mahdia Secondary School fire, our indigenous brothers and sisters living in the hinterland, and all the citizens to ensure the lapses in the health system are corrected immediately and that a tragedy like this never repeats itself.
