FOLLOWING the tragic dormitory fire at Mahdia, which resulted in the loss of the lives of 20 children and deeply impacted the Mahdia community, substantial efforts have been undertaken to improve fire safety measures and provide assistance to the affected residents.

The Commission of Inquiry, led by retired Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Major General Joe Singh, along with Commissioners Derrick John and Attorney-at-law Kim Kyte-Thomas, conducted an on-site inspection of several crucial locations related to the unfortunate incident.

The Commission has undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of various important facilities, including the Mahdia Fire Station. This station played a critical role during the incident and has since undergone significant enhancements, thereby reducing the likelihood of a similar disaster in the future.

After the devastating blaze, the Mahdia Fire Station received a slew of improvements. These include the acquisition of a new fire truck, additional firefighting equipment, a new water well, and ongoing construction work at the station’s building.

To facilitate better communication, the station now has dedicated phone numbers, allowing people to swiftly report emergencies.
The new fire truck was formally presented the day following Guyana Fire Service Chief Gregory Wickham’s testimony before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) last month. Preceding Wickham’s testimony, Sub-Officer Ryan Scott, the supervisor of the Mahdia Fire Station, provided his account.

SUB-OFFICER RYAN SCOTT’S TESTIMONY

Scott’s testimony had revealed a proactive approach taken by the station. He had conducted an inspection of the dormitories three months before the tragic fire and communicated several deficiencies in writing to Wickham.
These recommendations led to significant changes at the station, including the installation of a well system, which aids in getting water into the fire trucks, particularly during the dry season.
He highlighted the importance of continuous training for firefighters, acknowledging that “no two fires are the same.”
Sub-Officer Scott further highlighted the acquisition of essential rescue equipment, including the “jaws of life,” a disc cutter, a power saw, a sledgehammer, and a fireman’s axe – all crucial tools to enhance their fire and rescue services, added after the fire incident.

During the COI’s recent visits, Sub-Officer Scott walked the commissioners through a detailed recount of the tragic night and pointed out the suspected origin of the fire.

The male dormitory was also thoroughly inspected, revealing improved safety measures such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, in line with Scott’s recommendations.

There were five living quarters for the boys, a storeroom, and his room, which was situated next to the toilet area—a layout that mirrored the female dormitory.

IMPACT ON THE MAHDIA COMMUNITY

The Mahdia community remains deeply affected by the tragedy, especially the schoolchildren who lost friends in the fire.
The COI visited the school, where students expressed their condolences on the walls of the female washroom. The head teacher highlighted the ongoing trauma among the children and advocated for the need for a welfare officer in the region.

The COI also visited the Mahdia Hospital, where they met Dr. Newton and Dr. Jeffers, the two doctors present during the tragic night.
These brave medical professionals were the first to provide assistance to the victims.
They revealed that a psychologist now visits on two-week rotations to support those affected and travels to the different villages where the girls were from.

While the hospital has received more medication and oxygen since the incident, there is an urgent need for an additional doctor to meet the community’s health care demands.
In addition to facility inspections, the Commission members have been actively engaging with the affected residents and the families of the victims.

These interactions provided crucial firsthand information, personal accounts, and community insights connected to the devastating fire incident.
The COI was recently given a one-month extension by President Dr Irfaan Ali, after a request was made by its chairman.

During the public hearings, 29 witnesses testified, including the facility’s Dorm Mother and Father, senior fire officials, among others.
The CoI had heard the emotional testimony from Steve Jerome, the ‘Dorm Father’ who rescued some of the survivors but lost his son in the blaze.

Jerome’s 10-year-old daughter was residing in the female dormitory along with her five-year-old brother, whose mother, Carlette Williams was the ‘Dorm Mother’.
Jerome had broken down in tears during his testimony as he recalled battling flames to save the girls’ lives and losing his son in the process.

On May 22, the country was plunged into mourning after a fire that authorities said was maliciously set, ravaged a secondary school’s girls’ dormitory in Mahdia.
At the time of the fire, 56 of the girls were present, as three had gone home to their families for the weekend.

The children housed at the ‘dorms’ came from the communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie, and Chenapao.
Initially, 18 girls from the ‘dorm’ and the five-year-old son of the ‘Dorm Mother and Father’, perished in the fire, but another student who was injured in the fire, passed away a few days later.

Several of the survivors were airlifted to Georgetown for emergency care. One critically injured girl was medevacked to a New York health facility for further treatment. She has since returned after a successful round of treatment.

The CoI’s Terms of Reference (ToR) outlines that the Commission will investigate and report on the events leading up to the dormitory fire, as well as the fire’s causes.

Additionally, the CoI will examine the actions taken to provide care, medical attention, and support to the injured and their relatives, and the relatives of the deceased, in a timely manner. The Commission is also expected to make recommendations for necessary measures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.