Dear Editor,
In a meeting organized by the residents of Subryanville on September 9, 2025 to make enquiries, the Mayor, 2 City Councillors, and the City Engineer, revealed that the M&CC did not give permission to Mae’s Schools for the current construction of buildings on Farnum Playfield. The residents of Subryanville were not consulted and opposed the prefab buildings with concrete columns and blocks which occupy a large section of the Farnum ground. The residents have written to all the relevant authorities demanding an immediate stoppage of the current illegal construction on Farnum Playfield and the removal of all building material from the ground.
Mr. Sugrim, who claims to be the owner of Mae’s Schools, was present at the meeting. He could not provide any approval which permitted him to construct prefab buildings on the ground. He confirmed he intended to construct a two-story building on Farnum Playfield and there was a photo to support this. The decision to occupy the ground seems to prioritize profit margins of an individual to the prejudice of non-Mae’s children.
Farnum Ground is used by the residents of Subryanville, Kitty, Campbellville and elsewhere, for sports and other activities, and has been maintained by the residents of Subryanville over the years. In 2018, Mayfield French of Mae’s School claimed ownership of the same playfield and attempted to convert it to her use and sole possession, excluding the residents of Subryanville by putting up a fence. However, the M&CC and CHPA, with the Minister of Communities, condemned the illegalities and took appropriate action to remove structures from the playfield. It was recognized that Farnum is a community space, and it must remain open and accessible to everyone. The M&CC promised for the land grab to never happen again and to consult with residents.
Given that the Mayor, 2 City Councillors, and City Engineer agreed that no permission was granted for the present construction, the issue remains whether the Mayor and Councillors will exercise their powers to stop the lawlessness. Will Mr. Sugrim, who failed to observe the laws of Guyana, remove his prefab buildings now, or even in the near future, from Farnum Playfield?
Furthermore, a view of the current environment will reveal it may not be appropriate for Mae’s children and parents may wish to address that concern. Mae’s students who are currently housed on the burnt-out site are already exposed to the construction taking place on the playfield. If students are kept on Farnum, they will have to endure the entire rebuilding of the school. We urge parents and other stakeholders of Mae’s Schools to find suitable accommodation for the students so that they can learn in a conducive environment, where all the safety regulations and building codes are followed. Georgetown has suitable buildings.
We are concerned that despite the disasters in schools in Guyana in recent years, the Ministry of Education has not intervened since March this year to ensure that Mae’s students have alternative accommodation for the beginning of the school term. Students waiting to be housed in Farnum have already missed one week of school and construction is still ongoing. Why wasn’t appropriate accommodation found elsewhere? All students deserve better. Do we really believe that a prefab building on community green space is now the most suitable accommodation for children?
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Fernandes
Elizabeth Deane-Hughes
Vidyaratha Kissoon
Bonita Harris
Ingrid Clarke
Lianne Sears
Rene Edwards
Christina Edwards
Johnette Gonsalves
Shad Fernandes
Jonathan Fernandes
Dianna Stuger-Shepherd
Stuart Gonsalves
