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Several questions still to be answered about the Mahdia tragedy 

May 26, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor

Kaieteur News – The nation is in Mourning. The loss of those children at a tender age is a great tragedy. In this case 19, a number of others were seriously injured while those who survived would be traumatised. I suggest a team of personnel be sent in to counsel the children and parents.

I simply cannot imagine the feelings of the parents of those children. One of the hardest things in life is to bury one’s own child. I was dumfounded to learn, if true, that the building had only one door. It makes me wonder what role the fire department plays in approving the construction of buildings. What role the Local authorities play? No officials from the government visited the facility? When it was being opened were the officials not given a tour? Did they not notice there was only one entrance and no exit? If they did, did they not realise that something was wrong? Did any education Officer Visit.?

Where were the caretakers? Is it true there was only one? Was there no security in place?

I am aware that drawings of private buildings are scrutinized to ensure they are in keeping with the respective codes. I am now not sure it takes place with government buildings. This should be a wakeup call and the authorities must exercise even greater scrutiny when it comes to government buildings. Maybe I am wrong but maybe because it is government buildings such scrutiny is overlooked.

I am wont to believe that the authorities do not learn from past tragedies. In fact, I do not believe the Government even listen to or simply care. We have the Department of Public Information but in addition, each Ministry has a PR Department. I am wondering if they read the letter columns to hear what the public is saying and to respond. Recently I called the PR of a Ministry. I pointed out that I wrote a couple of letters highlighting things relevant to the said Ministry. They did not even see my letters much less respond. I wrote a letter discussing the education system. No response.

On the 7th of October 2021 Stabroek News Published my letter captioned, “Position fire extinguishers and smoke alarm in strategic Locations in every government Building”. This was after the Brickdam Police station fire and a number of fires that burnt down schools.

No action was taken. Well, Minister of Education, after seeing one, and another and another school burnt to the ground did it not occur to her to put some measures in place. Where is she living? In the clouds? What about the leadership of the education department? I wrote advising on some things that need to be done to improve our performance in mathematics and English and generally to improve the standard of delivery of education. No response. I have not read anything in the press that suggests she has a strategy to improve same.

What about the President and his advisors? Where is the VP as he seems to be in all and everything? All they are concentrating on is big infrastructure works and fast tracking approvals for EXXON. Maybe they have their reason. You and I know at least one. One of the problem facing this nation is a divided people, kept divided to suit the purpose of the political parties. Our people need to unite at the bottom. Only such unity of action can hold government accountable. They are not concentrating on general governance. The Micro level and needs are not in their sight.

Listen to the people’s voices. The letter column is one way. Be educated by them.

Regards
Rajendra Bisessar
Bsc Sociology, LLB

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