Mahdia, Guyana—(May 22, 2023) – The nation of Guyana is reeling from a devastating fire that engulfed the Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory last night, claiming the lives of 19 children, including 18 girls. In response to this tragic event, His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali has declared three days of national mourning, urging the country to come together in prayer and support for the victims’ families and the affected community.
President Ali, visibly shaken, addressed the nation earlier today, expressing his deep sorrow and declaring this day as one of the “saddest days” of his presidency. The President called for unity during this difficult time, emphasizing that the pain must be shared collectively as a nation and as a family. He implored the citizens of Guyana to utilize the next three days as a period of prayer and reflection for the children who lost their lives, their grieving families, and the affected community.
To honor the memory of the young lives lost, President Ali announced that the national flag would be flown at half-staff from 4 pm today at all public buildings. The President highlighted his personal interactions with the family members, acknowledging their immediate desire for peace and closure by seeing their loved ones.
Out of a total of 59 girls staying in the dormitory, 56 were present at the time of the fire, while three had gone home for the weekend. Tragically, thirteen girls and a little boy lost their lives at the dormitory, while an additional five perished at the Mahdia Hospital. In the wake of this devastating incident, six injured children were urgently transported to Georgetown for advanced medical care, while 17 remain in the Mahdia Hospital.
Due to the severity of the deaths, DNA analysis will be required to identify the 13 female victims who perished in the dormitory fire. The Government of Guyana has already reached out to regional and international partners for the necessary support and is hopeful that assistance will be received promptly to aid the grieving families in finding closure.
President Ali acknowledged the outpouring of support and condolences received from leaders across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and international partners. He expressed his gratitude for the love and prayers extended by governments and people worldwide during this tragic time.
At home, two task forces have been established to handle the aftermath of the tragedy. A technical task force led by Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan, and a Cabinet task force led by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips will coordinate the response efforts.
President Ali assured the nation that the government has mobilized comprehensive counseling services for the affected children, their families, and members of the community. He pledged the state’s unwavering support in all aspects, including medical, social, counseling, financial, transportation, and accommodation needs of the affected families.
In addition, the Ministry of Education is actively working on reprogramming all educational requirements, including the ongoing Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations, which some of the deceased children and other students at the school are currently undertaking.
As Guyana mourns the loss of these young lives, the nation stands united in support of the affected families, offering prayers and assistance during this time of immense grief and sorrow.
 - The nation of Guyana is reeling from a devastating fire that engulfed the Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory last night, claiming the lives of 19 children, including 18 girls.){kind=link}