Latest update June 1st, 2026 12:37 AM
Our First People must tell the Ali-Government they are not for sale
Dear Editor,
I expect the sum announced by the Government to the families who suffered in the Mahdia Dorm fire to be a token presentation of the compensatory package to come, for G$5 million (or US $25,000) for death, and G$3 million (or US$15, 000) for the lifetime of trauma and injuries the children and families must endure is no compensation.
I categorically condemn the preemptive posture of the Government and hope it is not their intention to by-pass a credible and independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disaster that took 20 young lives, and any acceptable monetary compensation that must also form part of the Terms of Reference.
The miserly sum announced cannot compensate for the years those children lived, the potential value for the investment in those years, and the potential value of each life. Government must therefore make public what formula they used to price the grief, because it appears as though they just plucked a number from the sky.
The sum offered reeks of Government manipulation to circumvent the arms of justice from holding the Government accountable for their failure to provide safe and secure dwelling for the nation’s children held in their protection.
The parents of Mahdia must not accept this undervaluing of their children’s priceless life. Whilst no amount of money can meet the value for each single life, each family’s loss and trauma, at least some decent effort should be made to show that in this oil rich country, the fastest growing economy in the world, human life is not cheapened and has value.
The agreement the Government had the family or guardian sign for $5 million or $3 million as a form of financial aid to constitute a settlement of all claims and actions in relation to injuries resulting in death or not, that stemmed from the fire on 21st May, 2023 is unacceptable. We need to address our minds to whether these persons were coerced to sign without full understanding of the ramifications.
I am inclined to believe the manner in which the Ali-Government sought to sequester and isolate the families, immediately after the tragedy, was guided not by care nor compassion but sinister motive, now made clear by a document families signed absolving the government for any future potential claims for liability and injury. This must be rejected.
This is an insult to our Indigenous community and reinforces my belief the Government does not care about our First People. All the talk about the Indigenous people is only talk because their rights are being eroded under this Government every day. They are continuously being insulted and exploited by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, as a political organisation and Government. The miserly compensation only adds to the growing disrespect.
Our Amerindian women and children are being mentally, physically, sexually, economically and socially abused by a political leadership that see others’ lives as cheap, more comfortable doing their dirty deeds and ignoring the safety and security of the people, after which they seek to buy their dignity rather than accept dignity is priceless, God given, and should be respected every day!” Our First People must tell the Irfaan-Ali Government they are not for sale.
Regards,
Roysdale Forde SC, MP
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