AFC Calls for Accountability Following Mae’s School Fire, Questions Lack of Insurance and Safety Measures

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has expressed deep concern and anger over the tragic fire at Mae’s School in Subryanville, Georgetown, which claimed the life of Fireman Vashaun Manbodh and injured several others, including firefighters who bravely responded to the blaze. The AFC extended its condolences to the family of the fallen firefighter and offered its best wishes for the swift recovery of the injured responders.

In a statement issued Sunday, the AFC commended the quick thinking and bravery of Ms. Renetta Somersett, who played a crucial role in evacuating students and faculty members during the emergency. The party also condemned the fact that, despite the ongoing risk of fire-related incidents in schools across the country, proper safety measures appear to have been sorely lacking.

The fire at Mae’s School is only the latest in a disturbing series of fire-related incidents at schools since the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) took office in 2020. According to AFC, between January 1 and September 18, 2024, there were 14 fire incidents at schools across the country, with 13 of them occurring at public institutions.

The deadliest of these was the fire at the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory in May 2023, which tragically claimed the lives of 20 children—an incident the AFC calls one of the deadliest school dormitory fires in recent history.

Despite guidelines from the Guyana Fire Service recommending smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in schools to mitigate fire risks, the AFC has raised concerns about a gap between policy and its actual implementation. The Ministry of Education has also mandated monthly emergency drills, but the recurring fires suggest that these measures are not being fully enforced or effectively applied.

The AFC is demanding immediate action to prevent further tragedies, including:

1. A comprehensive audit of all schools to ensure compliance with existing fire safety regulations.
2. The mandatory implementation of insurance policies for all educational institutions, to provide financial protection in the event of accidents.
3. Regular fire safety training for both school staff and students, ensuring they are prepared for emergencies.
4. An increased allocation of resources to implement modern fire prevention and suppression systems in schools across the country.

The party has stressed the importance of safeguarding the well-being of students, educators, and first responders, and called on the government to take a more proactive approach to fire safety in educational facilities.

The tragic loss of life and the recurring risk of fire-related incidents in schools highlight the urgent need for serious reform in how we approach school safety, the AFC said.

The fire at Mae’s also highlighted troubling reports suggesting the school was undergoing a change in ownership at the time of the fire was not insured. This raises serious questions about the safety of a facility where children spend a significant portion of their day.

The government needs to provide an explanation why Mae’s School, like so many others, was not properly insured to protect against such tragedies, considering the paramount importance of safety in educational institutions.

Why are schools, where our children spend most of their waking hours, not insured?  The failure to ensure the safety of students in a building that should have been prioritised for insurance and risk management is not just irresponsible—it is dangerous. Minister Priya Manickchand must be held accountable for this level of lawlessness and blatant disregard for the safety of children under the ward of the education system.