President Irfaan Ali on Thursday said government would hold separate talks with families of the 19 children who were burnt to death in the dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School earlier this week, even as government was expecting foreign psychologists to join their Guyanese counterparts at a time of severe mental stress. “We have made a commitment that when we ...
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Politicians must reach consensus on voters list – EU Election Observer Mission
Guyana’s political parties first have to decide on the method of cleaning the voters list before deciding on the use of biometric verification of voters at polling stations , a three-member European Union (EU) follow-up 2020 Election Observer Mission said Wednesday. “First, what needs to be agreed upon by the stakeholders is how to see which of the two options ...
Read More »Mahdia fire: Firefighters received call late but helped rescue many students
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Wednesday said fighting the fire at the dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School was not hampered by water shortage but firefighters received the report late from someone who drove to the fire station there. He said the late notification of the fire department was compounded by the fact that the fire quickly ripped through ...
Read More »Rights of the Child on standby to assess, prevent repeat of Mahdia fire
Guyana’s constitutional body, Rights of the Child Commission (RCC), on Wednesday indicated that it was on standby to participate in efforts to ensure that another fire similar to the one that burnt to death 19 children at the dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School. “As more information becomes available, we shall endeavour to do our part in the assessment of ...
Read More »Guyana should adopt international conventions on corruption- EU Electoral Observation Mission
The European Union Election Observation follow-up mission on Wednesday stressed the need for Guyana to adopt two international anti-corruption conventions as part of local laws to help combat corruption in the oil sector and election campaign financing. Chief of Mission Javier Nart said there was urgent need to entrench the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). “Very much important is ...
Read More »Teenager allegedly ignited deadly Mahdia fire with insecticide after phone confiscated
Police on Tuesday said a schoolgirl allegedly set fire to the female dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School on Sunday night, resulting in the death of 19 persons. Investigators said they would Wednesday seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). “AÂ female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was taken away ...
Read More »International help to deal with fallout from deadly Mahdia fire
President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday announced that Cuba, the Caribbean and the United States (US) have offered to assist Guyana with treatment of a number of schoolgirls who were severely burnt by fire in the dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School, even as horrific details about the reason for the inferno emerge. “We cannot also not remember the generous offer ...
Read More »Mahdia fire that killed 19 children was “maliciously set”; survivors, others being counselled
The devastating fire that killed 18 girls and one boy at the dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School was “maliciously set”, but further details were not immediately available. President Irfaan Ali announced Monday afternoon that government was seeking regional and international assistance to conduct DNA tests on several of the bodies to confirm their identities by matching their remains with ...
Read More »University of Guyana deploys specialist teams to support ministry, students and families of those on Mahdia fire
The University of Guyana says it shares the grief and extends deep and sincere condolences on the loss of lives, property and trauma experienced in the Mahdia fire in the wee hours of Monday morning. Institutionally, the University has immediately activated several mechanisms internally and externally aimed at  ascertaining any students and staff who may be directly affected. Several students ...
Read More »Indigenous Indians in Chenapau demand compensation for lives lost, injuries in Mahdia fire; Opposition wants Independence Day activities cancelled
Indigenous Amerindians in Chenapau Village on Monday morning demanded compensation from the government for the fiery death of 19 students of the Mahdia Secondary School students. “We need compensation,” “We need justice”, were among the chants and slogans on placards. Meanwhile, the opposition A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) called on government to cancel all 57th Independence Day ...
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