Treasurer of the Guyana Relief Council (GRC), Barbara Walrond (left) presents President's College Principal, Stanley Lewis with ten double-bunks to accommodate some of the fire-affected students. Also in picture behind Lewis from left are: Principal Assis
Donations in cash and kind poured in at President's College yesterday in the aftermath of a devastating fire which ripped through the male dormitory just over a week ago.
The fire-affected students also uplifted their $25,000 compensation each for losses which include footwear, textbooks, bags and clothes. And classes will now officially resume tomorrow.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Deputy Principal, Evadney Holder said that at a meeting held yesterday morning with parents and students, Principal Stanley Lewis called on organisations to assist the school. She said there were responses from the Indian High Commission, which made a cash donation; the Guyana Relief Council (GRC) which provided ten double-bunk beds and a women's organisation which supplied 50 pillows with cases, 15 sheets and 12 mattresses. Up to late yesterday afternoon, the school was expecting more donations some of which were pledged.
Holder said arrangements would have been made by yesterday afternoon to house the 103 boys who were displaced after the fire. She said the third and fourth form boys would be housed at the Guyana Women's Leadership Institute, located at Cove and John, while the first, second, fifth and sixth formers would be housed at the college in the remaining two dorms.
With regard to electricity, Holder said the electrical works done at the school had to be certified. Cummings Electrical Company rewired some sections of the complex affected by the fire. They also disconnected all the electrical connections from the burnt- out dormitory.
Compensation: A President's College clerk (left) hands over the $25,000 compensation to the parent of one of the fire-affected boys yesterday. (Ken Moore photo)
Holder said once the certificate was presented to the school the Guyana Power and Light will do the necessary work. Since the fire last Monday the entire complex has been without power and this meant that both the water and sewerage systems have been out of operation.
From as early as 8 am yesterday students and their parents began assembling at the school. A general meeting with parents, students and teachers preceded the handing over of the $25,000 compensation. Following this some of the students accompanied by their parents left for home, while those who had travelled from afar remained at the college. She asserted that everything was in place to take care of those students who would be staying at the school.
Lewis urged the Parent Teachers Association to start thinking of holding fund- raisers to offset some of the expenses the school now faces.
Holder said among some of things they are in dire need of are irons and ironing boards, more beds and sheets, furniture, a television and a VCR and stocks to replenish the school's laundry.
Asked about the students' School-Based Assignments (SBAs) which went up in flames, Holder said the Caribbean Examinations Council has agreed to extend the closing date for submission of these. Holder said the teaching staff will assist the students in getting themselves organised so that they can complete the assignments. The boys are also to benefit from free uniforms. Holder said the uniforms would be provided by the Regional Education Office of Region Four and yesterday a tailor visited the school and took the measurements for the boys. Moreover, the Regional Education Office through the Ministry of Education will replace some of the students' text books that were burnt.
Meanwhile, Barbara Walrond, Treasurer of the GRC in presenting the ten beds to the school said her organisation responded to the disaster with funds from a fund-raiser held over the weekend.
The mid-morning fire last Monday ravaged the male dormitory of the college leaving 103 boys without a place to stay. Losses were estimated at $100M. There has been no official word on what really sparked the fire even though many persons feel it was electrical.