The fire-affected students of President's College are expected to receive from the government today their $25,000 each compensation for losses which include footwear, text books, bags and clothes.
They will each also collect a uniform. And classes at the institution may also resume today following a week-long suspension owing to the devastating fire which ripped through the male dormitory last week Monday.
Following the fire all of the students were sent home, but they along with their parents are expected to attend school this morning. A meeting with the students, parents and teachers will precede regular classes.
The mid-morning fire last week Monday ravaged the male dormitory of the college leaving 103 boys without a place to stay. Losses were estimated at $100M. Meanwhile, it is still unclear what really sparked the fire even though many persons feel it was electrical.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Derrick Jodhan a director of the college's board of directors said classes are expected to resume today barring any last minute hiccup.
He noted that at the moment the college complex was still without electricity after the devastation last week. However, he said contractors from Cummings Electrical have completed work at the school, which included rewiring of certain sections and also replacing damaged fuses among other things.
Jodhan said this morning a team from GPL will carry out another inspection of the complex and the work done by the contractors before it decided whether to re-power the complex.
Jodhan was confident that everything is in place for school to resume today. He said once there was electricity there would be classes as usual.
He told this newspaper that apart from providing lighting, the school depended upon electricity for its sewerage and water systems and among other things.
With regard to accommodation, Jodhan disclosed that it has been decided that some 50 students would be accommodated at the Guyana Women Leadership Institute (GWLI) located at Cove and John, while the others would be fitted into the two other dorms at the college and the pavilion.
He said 50 beds have been made available at GWLI, while they are expecting some more today.
According to Jodhan the college's administration had expressed concerns about the students being too far away from the school and as such the Cyril Potter College of Education at Turkeyen was ruled out.
He said while at GWLI the boys would be supervised by house parents and will also be provided with transportation to and from the college. He said most of the affected boys were sixth and fifth formers.
Jodhan told this newspaper also that they are in the process of examining another place at Enmore which could accommodate about 30 students.
As regards compensation the director mentioned that today students will begin receiving their promised assistance from the government. Last week Permanent Secretary within the Office of the President, Jennifer Webster presented, Principal of the College Stanley Lewis with a cheque worth $2.7M for compensation for those students who were affected.
Jodhan said arrangements are being made for the money to be paid to the students today. Each student is expected to receive some $25,000 along with a uniform.
Further, Minister of Education Dr Henry Jeffrey had disclosed last week that it is estimated that up to $90M would be needed to rebuild the dormitory.