Mahdia Guyana and The People of The Heavens
RDC and Ministry of Education should be called to discuss the conditions of Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory and the administrations role in fire safety, prevention and security.
The month of May around the Caribbean diaspora ignites a marry go around of history recognizing the arrival of Indentured Indians and laborers. Here in Canada, you can see a circulation of energy and gatherings having a diasporic conversation about our history. I see many voices adding and sharing in this conversation as a generation from a People’s inheritance. This I feel is good. We are talking about Us. Together, we are moving and weaving through different layers of awareness and I can feel the transformative healing that has been happening within all of us.
With the recent loss of lives in the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory tragedy, in Region 8- Potaro-Siparuni of Guyana, the Diaspora is gathering to mourn, grieve, and reconcile (Read more here). I can feel each of us being pulled into reconciliation within ourselves with the public questions and dialogue. This is the thing about communal healing, we are bonded together in a shared experience. Our work together as siblings is to find the path of healing for each of us as we share this moment. As Caribbean People all over the Diaspora lean into this moment; it is a moment for healing and growth.
Communities with online platforms took to social media breaking the story in the Diaspora (Read: Indo-Caribbean Canadian Association’s post here, The Cutlass Magazine post here, West Indian History post here, and Journey Through The Generations post here, here, and here.) As I became aware of the questions inside of me, I had to recognize I knew very little of the region and the administration of the school. I saw a focused discussion on the tragedy, however I wanted to know more about the region and the stakeholders involved that are responsible for the administration of this school.
About Mahdia, Guyana
Mahdia Secondary School is one of only three secondary schools in Region 8 (locate here ). The school is located in Mahdia, one of the tenth town of Guyana serving as the town capital of Potaro-Siparuni (Region 8); an area that is claimed by Venezuela as part of Guayana Esequiba. The main villages of Potaro-Siparuni (Region 8) are Campbelletown, Orinduik, Mahdia, Paramakatoi and Tumatumari.
Mahdia was established in 1884 by emancipated Africans in search of gold. Mining exploration was expanded into Mahdia by the British Consolidated Mining Company establishing Colonial Administrative offices. Gold and diamond mining operations is Mahdia’s commercial center with its mining boom and bust.
President David Granger of The Department of Public Information in 2018 said;
“These capital towns will become hubs for development. What you’ll see from now on is the development of the administrative regions. I have seen men and women who are committed to making something from their capital town so we’re moving forward with the creation of these townships,”
“You have to work with the government, region and upcoming municipality for improved services. The whole idea of regionalisation is not a pipe dream but a way to develop Guyana from the grassroots,” Granger said (Read here).
Mahdia comes under the control of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 8 with the governments greatest investment in upgrades to the internal road network. The Regional Democratic Council is the supreme Local Government Organ in each region responsible for the overall management and administration of the region and coordinated activities of all Local Democratic Organs within its regional boundaries.
Article 71 of the Constitution gives power for local government with parliament providing a country wide system of local government through “organs” of local democratic power. Guyana has 71 Local Authority Areas comprising 10 municipalities or towns and 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC).
Region 8 has 15 councilors who are elected every five (5) years. RDC councilors are elected at the same time as members of the National Assembly at Regional Elections. The Regional Executive Officer is the Accounting Officer of the Region and also functions as the Clerk of the Regional Democratic Council.
RDC is responsible for administering all services required within its boundaries such as education, health, public works, develop regional facilities, develop economic revenue earning projects for the region and coordinate activities of the Local Democratic Councils.
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD)also known as Ministries of Communities is the primary government agency that links various authorities with the Central Government; facilitating, coordinating and monitoring the implementation and execution of projects in local government organs. MLGRD mission is to supervise and maintain the legal and regulatory framework of the system of local and regional administration, encourage and facilitate development of the regions and local organs and the integration of the hinterland communities.
A 2012 “Population by Village” report underscored Mahdia population to be 2,563 people of which, The Patamonas, an Indigenous Amerindian Tribe.
Who Are The Patamonas
The Patamonas, People Of The Heavens, are native to the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana and northern Brazil. Their culture has survived in Paramakatoi and Kaieteur Falls. According to a Patamona legend, Kaieteur Falls was named for Kai, a chief who acted to save his people by paddling over the falls to Makonaima, the Great Spirit. Kaieteur Falls sits on the Potaro River which runs from Mount Ayanganna area of the Pakaraima Mountains and flows into the Essequibo River. Paramakatoi is the most developed Amerindian community in the Pakaraima Mountains; a regional center for the catchment area.
Mahdia Secondary School is a government boarding school with the dormitory housing 59 girls age 12- 18 years old. The secondary school serves remote mostly Indigenous villages; an interest of Guyana’s government to “bridge the gaps of hinterland and coastal areas”. Mark Ramotar, the Director of the Police Communication Department said most of the victims were Indigenous. The school housed girls from Campbelltown, Micobie, El Paso, and several other villages in northern Pakaraima.
Amerindians make up 11% of Guyana population. Patamonas speak a Cariban language Kapong often referred to interchangeably as Ingariko. Ingariko refers to 3 closely related tribes, The Akawaio people, The Pemon people and The Patamona people.
Government Administration of Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory
Mahdia Secondary School is a government administered secondary school and one of three in Region 8- Potaro-Siparuni. Dormitories were established and said to exhibit a plethora of issues said to come with dormitories across the country. Reports in 2022 from a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) assessed 24 school dormitories across the country highlighting deficiencies to the Ministry of Education.
“All the school dormitory facilities have systemic and similar issues related to management system inadequacies, lack of resources and inadequate functional spaces, major shortage of staff and behavioral issues with students,” from the report titled ‘Assessment Report – Field Study of Dormitory Plants…Development of Gender Sensitive Standards for Dormitory Schools in Guyana’, reported by the Stabroek News (Read here, here, and here).
The UNICEF recommendation report “Development of Gender Sensitive Standards for Dormitory Schools in Guyana” highlighted fire protection including smoke detectors be installed and drills conducted regularly. Acting Fire Chief Dwayne Scotland said fire prevention and preparedness assessments began a month ago and is ongoing and majority of inspections at the schools have been completed. The male dormitory at Mahdia was inspected, however the report allegedly has not reached Georgetown, Guyana’s capital (Read here, here, and here).
Kaieteur News reported students were previously made to fetch water for bathing and washing and forced to fetch firewood for cooking. A teacher was caught semi-nude with a student in their living quarter. Complains were made about sanitary issues in the building a headmistress was designated to live in, she was relocated to a guestroom with similar issues. Complaints were made by teachers and students of the lighting in the compound with concerns about security threats. The dorms are said to lack adequate rooms and lodge for students, with the lack of privacy students do not have their own rooms or shared rooms with other students (Read here).
With this tragedy, RDC and Ministry of Education should be called to discuss the conditions of Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory and the administrations role in fire safety, prevention and security. Grills have been cited as one of the major problems of this tragedy; some say grills at Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory was flagged by Guyana Fire Services as a hazard in November of 2022 and February of 2023. Twenty-six (26) windows were heavily grilled and five (5) doors of the building locked with keys when this tragedy happened.
Dwayne Scotland says there’s limited evidence to show fire prevention measures were in place. Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn says efforts were being made to upgrade the fire prevention system and looking at ways Guyana Fire Services can enhance fire prevention measures. David Adams, Mahdia’s mayor says students were not exposed to fire drills and the building was not equipped with extinguishers and escapes.
Sources say, recommendations made to the Ministry of Education have not been implemented in any government building. Regional Executive Officer (REO) Peter Ramotar confirmed there was a fire inspection a few months back but could not confirm recommendations were implemented stating, “ I don’t know what you would determine as adequate, but no, we don’t have sprinkler systems, alarms or fire buckets but there are some fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers found at Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory were empty and unknown if they were used to fight the fire.
Government bodies responsible for this schools administration needs to take responsibility for their role and speak publicly with transparency. This is not the first dorm fire that has taken lives; August 8, 2008 at Waramadong Secondary School from Region 7 took three (3) students lives and Bartica Secondary school also in Region 7 was destroyed in December 2007 (Read here).
Lenox R. Shuman, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and an indigenous MP of Guyana started a gofundme page here to alleviate some degree of financial burden from the families. You can learn more about him here and here.
Learn More:
Ameridian Peoples Association : Facebook here & website here Email: apaguy@networksgy.com
Lenox R. Shuman, Deputy Speaker of Parliament: Visit here & donate here
References:
Kaieteur News. (2023, May 23). The mahdia secondary school has had its problems in the past. https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2023/05/24/the-mahdia-secondary-school-has-had-its-problems-in-the-past/
Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. (n.d.). Local government. https://mlgrd.gov.gy/local-government/
News Room Guyana. (2021). Region 8 rdc yet to be sworn in. https://newsroom.gy/2021/01/19/region-8-rdc-yet-to-be-sworn-in/
Regional Observatory on Planning for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. (n.d.). The regional democratic council of guyana. https://observatorioplanificacion.cepal.org/en/institutions/regional-democratic-council-guyana
Stabroek News. (2018). Mahdia declared guyana’s 10th town. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2018/10/26/news/guyana/mahdia-declared-guyanas-10th-town/