Comprehensive response in face of ‘national tragedy’

The fire that claimed the lives of 18 females and a five-year-old boy in the township of Mahdia, on Sunday (May 21, 2023) night, was maliciously set, the Guyana Fire Service confirmed during an update on May 22, 2023.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer (ag), Dwayne Scotland revealed that the fire was lit in the south-western end of the building, which rapidly consumed the building killing 19 children residing in the dormitory. “After we would have completed our initial investigation, the same was handed over to the police force,” Scotland revealed.

He said the Mahdia Fire Station received a call about the fire at 23:15 hours on Sunday; it took the firefighters four minutes to arrive at the scene; however, the building was completely engulfed in flames. “Immediately, firefighting and rescue operation initiated. These operations would have rescued not less than 20 students. The operation continued for approximately three and a half hours after which, the fire was brought under control and subsequently extinguished,” he noted.

The Guyana Fire Service has also confirmed that the building had 26 windows and five doors and explained that the escape of the 56 students was curtailed because the windows were heavily this investigation swiftly,” the commissioner expressed.

The Government of Guyana has already sought the needed support from regional and international partners and is optimistic that by the end of the day, that support will be received to bring closure to the families. Already, the collected samples will be sent to the prestigious Mount Sinai laboratory in New York for analysis and the matching results are anticipated to be available by Friday, May 26, 2023. Additionally, Barbadian Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Shubhakar Karra Paul arrived in Guyana early Tuesday (May 23, 2023) to assist in the process. Also, the Government of Cuba has offered to provide Guyana with any further surgical help needed for the survivors. That assistance includes flying any of them to Cuba, if needed.

Task Forces

Further, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan, who is also heading the Technical Task Force to coordinate the national response, explained that at about 23:15 hours, they received a call for a medevac operation. Subsequently, a national mobilisation effort was organised involving assets from the Ministry of Health, the joint services, as well as the private sector. These include five aircraft, six ambulances, and over 80 emergency, medical, and security personnel.

“As you know, last night was bad weather and because of this, we had some concerns about flying into this area; however, despite this, our pilots were determined to execute this medical evacuation operations,” Brigadier Khan stated. This resulted in the successful extraction of nine of the female students who received injuries. The Chief of Staff also expressed his heartfelt sympathy on behalf of the defence force to all those who lost their loved ones and to the ones who survived the incident.

to help them traverse this difficult moment. Guyanese are assured that the Government continues to hold dialogue with survivors and the bereaved families to provide dedicated support wherever needed. We are sparing no effort to provide the required assistance to help our country navigate these difficult and testing times for all of us as Guyanese. A multi-prong plan that involves several Government ministries, agencies and departments has been activated to adequately cover the initial wave of assistance… the Government will continue to spearhead assistance and is committed to expending all resources necessary to prioritise the is a pain we must carry as a nation and as a family. It is a pain we must share together and support in our prayers,” he said.

According to the President, in his interaction with the family members, their im- consisting of psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers have been assembled to offer counselling services to the students, their families, teachers, and members of their respective communities.

The Ministry of Education is working on the reprogramming of all educational requirements, which includes the CXC examination, which some of the students at the dorm were taking at this

18. Sherana Daniels

19. Tracil Thomas

Of the 56 students at the dorm, while 18 girls died, a total of 38 were rescued. As of Thursday (May 25, 2023), the Ministry of Health said, “There is no child from the dorm still admitted to the Mahdia District Hospital. Twelve girls, however, remained patients at the GPHC. There are three (out of twelve children) admitted to the ICU at GPHC, and nine in the PHDU. While two are still critical in the ICU, the others are listed as stable. Their conditions are improving and discharges for some are possible in the shortest possible time. In addition, after arriving in Mahdia, the President requested that 11 children who had gone home without seeing a doctor be medically assessed. These children arrived in Georgetown at about 3.00 pm on Wednesday, May 24th. They are presently being assessed by the special team in the ER of GPHC grilled and the five doors were locked with keys.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken has assured that the force’s investigation will be concluded swiftly and will bemade public as soon as the investigation is completed. Hicken further stated that DNA testing will be conducted expeditiously to identify 13 bodies that were charred, while post-mortem has been completed on six of the bodies. “I want to reiterate on behalf of the force, my condolences going out to the families, we will conclude

Prime Minister, Brigadier (rtd) Mark Phillips, has also been tasked with heading up the Cabinet Task Force to provide support. In a statement he said, “The Government of Guyana is fully committed to ensuring all of the needs are met for the victims and relatives affected by the fire that destroyed the girls dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary School and claimed the lives of 19 children. We are truly saddened by the tragic loss of life encountered by the fire. Our Government’s deepest sympathies go out to the families who lost loved ones in the inferno. May the relatives find the peace that they seek full recovery of the students currently hospitalised and to ensure that relatives receive the help they require to cope with the loss of lives. The Government is providing assistance with counselling for relatives of the 19 persons who died, and the wider student population and faculty of the Mahdia Secondary School. We have also started the process of evacuating residents from the hinterland so that they can be with their loved ones who are receiving treatment in Georgetown. Additionally, food, clothing and other supplies are being provided to the community through the Civil Defence Commission, the lead agency tasked with spearheading the direct provision of critical supplies.”

NATIONAL MOURNING

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced an official three days of mourning for those who lost their lives, which commenced at 16:00hours on Monday (May 22, 2023) and the national flag must be flown at halfstaff at all public buildings in honour of the children who lost their lives.

President Ali described Sunday (May 21, 2023) as one of the “saddest days” in his life as president and said that Guyana is in pain.

“There are no words that can describe this magnitude of pain that our brothers and sisters are going through today…We wish this day had never occurred… This mediate goal is to have peace by seeing their loved ones.

The President disclosed that the Government has mobilised full counselling services for the children, their families and community members. He said, “I’m committing, as I have done to the family members already, our full unconditional, unhindered support for the families and these children; whether it be medical, social, counselling, financial, transportation, accommodation- whatever the form of support required, the state will provide that support to the families, to the children.”

Next Steps

The Head of State has assigned a government minister to each of the families affected by the horrific Mahdia Secondary School Female dormitory fire as the government looks to provide comprehensive support in their time of need. The Cabinet members are tasked with directly engaging the families who lost their children or have their children receiving treatment.

Currently, four teams are operating daily from Mahdia, and these teams are expected to continue their support for the next three months.

Further, President Ali said, “We have offered to bring all the remaining girls to Georgetown even those who were discharged so that we can have a second review and make sure everything is okay,” he explained.

A comprehensive team time.

In terms of action, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) is expected to review the file on the investigations into the devastating fire and provide advice.

Affected

A total of 59 girls were staying in the dorms, but only 56 were in the rooms when the fire started, since three went home for the weekend.

Thirteen of the girls and a little boy died at the dorms, while five died at the Mahdia Hospital –totalling 19. The victims have been identified as follows:

1. Adonijah Jerome (Male, 5)

2. Andrea Roberts (13 – Micobe Village)

3. Ariana Edwards (13 – Micobe Village)

4. Belnisa Evans (13 – Karisparu Village)

5. Bibi Rita Jeffrey (13)

6. Cleoma Simon

7. Delicia Edwards (15 – Micobe Village)

8. Eulanda Carter

9. Lisa Roberts

10. Loreen Evans (14 – Karisparu Village)

11. Lorita Williams

12. Martha Dandrade (15 –Chenapau)

13. Mary Dandrade (15 –Chenapau)

14. Natalie Bellarmine

15. Nickleen Robinson

16. Omefia Edwin

17. Sabrina John (16 – Karisparu Village) assigned to see all the children from Mahdia. Presently, there is an enhanced medical team present in Mahdia.”The students hailed from the communities of Mahdia, Campbelltown, Micobie, El Paso and several other villages in the North Pakaraimas in Region Eight.

Funerals

The first funeral, that of Sabrina John, was held on Wednesday (May 24, 2023). She was laid to rest in her home village of Karisparu, Region Eight.

Outpouring Of Support

Since Sunday (May 21, 2023), there has been an outpouring of support across the country, as well as regionally and internationally.

A flower laying ceremony was held the Mahdia hostel on Wednesday (May 24, 2023). The ceremony, Dr Ali said, will be attended by diplomats stationed in Guyana, as well as other officials.

Further, vigils were held across the country and schools, from nursery to tertiary levels, participated in memorial activities.

Guyana’s Independence celebration, which took place on Thursday (May 25, 2025), was converted into a night of prayer and remembrance for the children who perished in the fire.