Latest update August 20th, 2026 12:07 AM
PSC hands over monetary donations, support packages to families of Mahdia fire victims
A bouquet placed in memory of the children who died in the school fire
Kaieteur News – Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Capt. Gerald Gouveia Jr. recently met with the families of affected by the tragic Mahdia fire to hand over financial donations and support packages.
Captain Gouveia was accompanied by PSC Executive Director, Nayteram Ramnarine to distribute the items. This comes after almost $30 million which was raised to assist families affected by the deadly Mahdia School dormitory fire two years ago.
During the visit, Captain Gouveia extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the PSC and its membership, reaffirming the private sector’s compassion and ongoing support for those impacted by the national tragedy.
The chairman and executive director also spent the day engaging with community members and visiting the site of the fire.
The PSC extended sincere gratitude to its members for their generosity and encouraged the wider community to continue offering support in any way possible.
The Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Capt. Gerald Gouveia Jr. recently met with the families affected by the tragic Mahdia fire to hand over financial donations and support packages
The PSC had faced public criticism and questions over their reason for withholding the funds. The chairman revealed that the sum, which amounted to $$29,941,375, was money pooled by members of the commission and not donated by members of the public.
The PSC came in for harsh criticism after a Stabroek News article and outspoken attorney Chris Ram, raised questions about the money collected during former PSC Chair, Mr. Komal Singh’s tenure.
The PSC collected approximately US $144,000 for the families of the 20 Indigenous children who died in a fire in the school’s dormitory located in the complex of the secondary school on May 21, 2023.
Kaieteur News subsequently contacted Valerie Carter, the mother of two of the dead children. Carter explained that she is still grappling with the loss and trauma of losing her precious twin daughters in the horrific fire. She disclosed that she was unaware of the fund established by the PSC.
“I really don’t know what to say because I wasn’t aware of this… I am not sure if many of the other families know about it… But if they collected it for us, why would they not give it to us. Even if it’s a small sum for each person, it could do something in terms of making our situations better,” she said.
The fire which engulfed the Mahdia Secondary School’s female dormitory, killed 19 girls between ages 12 and 14 years and a boy, aged six.
At the time of the blaze, it was reported that 56 children were staying in a dormitory – a concrete and wooden structure with five doors and grilled windows. Officials from the Guyana Fire Service later revealed that the fire had been “maliciously set.”
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