Dominica’s Prime Minister, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit, has joined the world in mourning the tragic death of 19 children, consisting of 18 girls and one boy, in a devastating fire that engulfed a secondary school dormitory in Mahdia, Guyana, late Sunday. The incident occurred at the Mahdia Secondary School.
Expressing his deep sadness over the loss of the children, PM Skerrit conveyed his prayers for strength to the families of the deceased and healing for those who were critically injured and currently receiving treatment.
Furthermore, PM Roosevelt Skerrit extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the government and people of Dominica to the grieving families, standing in solidarity with the Government and citizens of Guyana during this difficult time.
According to Guyana’s Department of Public Information (DPI), the fire, which engulfed the female dormitory of Mahdia Secondary School, claimed the lives of 18 girls and one boy. This revised the earlier death toll of 20 reported by the DPI. The DPI also confirmed that thirteen girls and a young boy lost their lives at the dorms, while five others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
Both the police and firefighting officials of Guyana have stated that the fire was deliberately set. During a press conference, a police spokesperson revealed that 56 children were present in the dormitory during the blaze, which occurred in a concrete and wooden structure with five doors and grilled windows.
The initial investigation, as reported by the fire department, suggests that the fire was intentionally set. The spokesperson further added, “Our investigation is ongoing, and tests will be conducted promptly on the remaining bodies.”
Although the DPI did not provide an exact count of the injured, it did state, “Of those injured, six children were transported by medevac to Georgetown in the early hours of the morning, while 17 are currently receiving treatment at Mahdia Hospital.”
Upon arrival at the dormitory, firefighters discovered the building completely engulfed in flames, as stated in an earlier statement. Firefighters managed to rescue approximately 20 students by creating openings in the northeastern wall of the building. It took them over three hours to bring the blaze under control.
Guyanese President Irfaan Ali expressed his grief, describing the incident as a major disaster that was both horrific and painful. He emphasized the deployment of medical teams at the airport and the preparedness of Georgetown’s two major hospitals to ensure that every child in need receives the best possible medical attention.
