Dear Editor,
I write to express my deep sense of shock, sorrow, and grief over the loss of lives in that terrible tragedy at Mahdia. Those affected by this tragedy are in my thoughts and prayers.
I am deeply saddened by the deliberately set fire that took the lives of 19 children and injured several other students. The disaster has also disrupted lives in the entire community, if not the entire nation. It is incomprehensible that innocent youngsters could be the victims of such a senseless arson.

I extend love and compassion to all who have suffered from this very sad and disturbing event. I join the government and others in mourning the dead, and praying for the recovery of the burnt victims and those psychologically affected. I thank the government for rendering all assistance to the victims and their families.

While feeling and expressing grief and sorrow, there is also anger within me that keys to open escape doors were not easily accessible for emergency situations like fires or flooding.
Lives could have been spared had the caretakers been more responsible in their handling of this kind of emergency, and if there were dress rehearsals or drills of what to do during such calamities. There were several fires recently in several parts of Guyana; lives were lost.

The country should have learned from them. Caretakers should have been better prepared for fire disasters as well as other emergencies. A fire or a natural disaster can happen anytime and anywhere.
Fire drills should be a regular occurrence at all dwellings for students, etc…, as is routinely done in developed countries. I really hope much is learnt from this latest tragedy.
The government should immediately hold drills at all government buildings including schools and tertiary institutions on how to escape fires and other disasters.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram