CARICOM Ministers sympathise with Guyana on tragedy that claimed 20 young lives

CARICOM Trade Ministers on Thursday expressed condolences to the government and people of Guyana as the country continues to mourn the deaths of 20 children in a school dorm fire.

The children – 19 girls and one boy – died after a fire consumed the Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory, located in the hinterland location of administrative Region Eight.

The Ministers shared their commiserations and stood for a moment of silence at the beginning of the 56th Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which is being conducted in hybrid format anchored at the CARICOM Secretariat.

The Hon. Keisal Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is chairing the two-day meeting.

“…As Chair of COTED, I extend condolences to the government and people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana at the tragedy which struck at the Mahdia Secondary School (dormitory) which claimed the lives of young ones and left several others injured. It is my fervent prayer and hope that the families who mourn are granted strength to navigate through this understandably time, and may the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace,” she said in her opening remarks.

Guyana’s Ambassador to CARICOM, His Excellency George Talbot, expressed his country’s appreciation for the outpouring of sympathy and support from the Community.

Source: CARICOM TODAY