Following the fatal fire at a school dorm in Guyana, Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling on government to carry out a fire safety and security assessment of all children’s homes.
Her call follows the tragic deaths of eighteen girls and a five-year-old boy who were killed in a fire at a secondary school dormitory in Guyana.
In a statement last evening, Persad-Bissessar said: “Even the most basic emergency and evacuation plan, if well-rehearsed can save your own life and your loved ones. Plans, preparation and practice will save lives and prevent tragedy.”
She reminded citizens of an incident in April 2023, when Kemba Morris and her eight-year-old daughter Zaya were unable to escape a fire at their home.
“The mother and child were trapped inside the kitchen of their home at Quinam Road, which is located in Siparia. However, Kemba Morris had managed to save her sister Dana Phillip and her two older children but died when the flames prevented her from escaping with her little girl.
As a parent myself, I can only imagine the pain and grief that the families of these children and Kemba are feeling. We in Trinidad and Tobago must learn from these tragedies and must move to prevent any similar occurrence.”
Persad-Bissessar said she is calling on the state authorities to immediately:
* Carry out a fire safety and security assessment of all children’s homes, juvenile detention facilities, retirement homes and homes for the elderly.
* Upgrade any state-owned or state-financed facility to meet the necessary fire safety and security standards.
* Cause similar upgrades to be implemented at all similar privately run facilities.
* Conduct fire safety and security assessments for all schools.
* Upgrade all schools to meet necessary fire safety and security standards.
* Develop and implement emergency and evacuation procedures that are specific for all schools, children’s homes, juvenile detention facilities, retirement homes and homes for the elderly.
* Immediately conduct training with all staff at these places to handle emergencies for a limited period until the protective services arrive on site.
* Practice mandatory emergency and evacuation drills in all schools at least twice per school term and at least 3 times per year in the other facilities.
In addition to those, Persad-Bissessar called on private citizens to also develop and implement similar procedures and plans in their businesses and homes.