Ministry’s programmes suffer major setback, says Minister Desrey Fox
The Ministry of Education will learn from its experiences and put better systems in place for the future.

The Education Department at Vreed-en-Hoop ablaze

She explained that future plans for the Ministry will include putting smoke detectors in the new facility so that alarms can be triggered faster in such events.

Additionally, she stated that training should be done for staffers so as to make them aware of how to use fire prevention methods.

Reports are that at approximately 2:20h an explosion was heard which, it is believed, led to the fire that broke out in the middle flat of the building.

Three guards from Strategic Security Services were stationed in the compound and they called the Guyana Fire Service.

The firemen reportedly arrived at 2:45hours by which time the building was ablaze.

The origin of the fire is yet unclear.

After the fire

“The current come off and on steady last night,” one man, who requested anonymity, said.

As for the impact on Region Three’s education agenda, Minister Fox stated that the Ministry’s programmes, have suffered a major setback.

“I am between tears and agony because the department’s destruction is not something we can afford,” the minister asserted.

Fox pointed out that aside from the morale of the staffers, a major concern is the retrieval of documents held by the department.

“All records in regard to the administration and delivery of education in Region Three were lost,” she said.

However, Management Information Systems personnel from the Ministry Education will be assisting the region with the retrieval process.

The destruction of the facility has affected 37 staffers.

The Department of Education housed District Education Officials, Region ThreeSchool Welfare Office, a Human Services Department and staffers from National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI).

She explained that currently personnel are in a position to deal with any pressing issue that needs to be handled.

And in a week’s time the Department will be in a better state to facilitate smooth functioning.

To this end, Regional Chairman Mr. Julius Faeber explained that 21 Ministry of Education Staff were already relocated to the Education Resource Center next door to the burnt-out building.

He added that arrangements were being made for the six probation officers from the Human Services Ministry to be accommodated at the National Democratic Council Office in the Region.

Additionally, remaining personnel who were housed at the Department of Education building will be relocated to the Regional Administration Office.

To assist in the relocation process, Permanent Secretary of Local Government, Mr. Seewchand, stated that Local Government was taking measures to ensure that the daily operations are made easier from the new locations.

“We are sourcing furniture and equipment to assist the Ministry of Education,” he said.

Meanwhile, School Welfare Officer Mr. Mohammed Khan, in an invited comment, explained that the loss is a tremendous one.

“The loss is overwhelming and reconstructing everything will take time, time that we should spend on other work,” Khan said.

Regional Educational Officer for Region Three, Mrs. Marilyn Jones O’Donoghue, in an invited comment, said that despite the fire, the Department of Education has systems in place to ensure the delivery of Education in Region Three.