By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE young girls who are in need of specialised surgery following the fire at Guyana’s Mahdia Secondary School will be sent to Cuba.
This was one of the announcements made by Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali after speaking with affected families on Sunday.
Dr Ali also announced that specialist counsellors from overseas will be brought in to work with the local counsellors and that teachers will travel to the communities where the students live to teach them until efforts are made to construct special facilities in those communities.
Many of the pupils who escaped the tragedy spoke about their desire to return to the school.
In a video posted on Dr Ali’s Facebook page, fourth-form student Serenity Roberts, broke down in tears while singing a tribute song at a dinner hosted by the President for the families at the State house.
While she escaped unhurt, she lost her sister and six cousins in the fire that killed 18 girls and a five-year-old boy and severely injured several others.
Roberts said, “This song encouraged me that even though I feel down. I have to think about this. We have one life to live and whatever comes in my way, I will always live this life and I said I will live my life to God.”
She said when the fire occurred, God was the only one she could call on.
“There is a living God and He saved me,” Roberts said through her tears.
Teen to be charged
A 14-year-old pupil of the school is expected to be charged for allegedly setting the fatal blaze in anger for having her mobile phone confiscated by a school administrator.
AP reported that according to a police statement, “A female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was taken away by the dorm’s mother and a teacher.”
