IN observance of International Women’s Day, Education Minister Priya Manickchand yesterday hosted a luncheon at the Gravity Lounge for women in the education sector.The event began with entertainment showcasing musical renditions and some dancing and comedy which was followed by a scrumptious lunch.

In attendance were staff members of the Ministry; women of the Guyana Teachers Union, and other Ministers of Government. Also gracing the event was the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial candidate, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper.
Speaking briefly at the event, the Education Minister thanked all the women for their presence and congratulated them on all their achievements in life. She also urged them to continue on the path towards success even though that road is not easy.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Harper, during a previous event explained that under this year’s International Women’s Day theme ‘Make It Happen’, it is right for our country “to reflect on the achievements of all women who made it happen in all aspects of their lives.” Ms Harper related that she is proud to have been elected for the Prime Ministerial position by the PPP/C and plans to use her post to empower women.
One of the few men at the luncheon was Assistant Chief Education Officer (Primary) Marcel Hutson who remarked that “it’s amazing what a woman can do,” explaining that many women in today’s world not only take care of their families but they are also the bread winners at times. They can manage work and home but “how they do it, I have no clue.” He noted too that “women should not have to fight for recognition in today’s society; it should be given to them.”

All around the world, International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality. “Make It Happen” is the 2015 theme and that explains the encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women.

Each year International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The first International Women’s Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women’s groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.

Source: https://guyanachronicle.com/2015/03/05/in-observance-of-intl-womens-day-minister-manickchand-hosts-luncheon-in-honour-of-women-in-education-sector

“What we have said very clearly, is that if teachers want to do extra tuition, they can—so the schools are opened for extra tuition, but the teachers cannot charge for it in the school and you cannot run a private business of lessons in a school.”- Manickchand

Minister of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand says that the Ministry of Education (MoE) had put a stop to extra lessons being offered in schools because it was being abused. During an interview recently in Berbice and while addressing the issue of extra lessons, she said that while teachers can indeed hold extra lessons in the school building, they cannot charge students.

“What we have said very clearly is that if teachers want to give extra tuition, they can—so the schools are opened for extra tuition, but the teachers cannot charge for it in the school; you cannot run a private business of lessons in a school.”

Manickchand added that once the instructional hours are used in school to offer instruction, children will learn and there is very little need for lessons.
“I know lots of parents think that having their children go for lessons, will actually make them brighter and do better, and that there is value to extra tuition…but I truly feel that they have started too early—I’ve heard Grade Two students going to lessons,  which is beyond my comprehension.”
She recalled the time when teachers used to give private lessons at the school, “and parents complained that what teachers were doing—well not all teachers—that the teachers were not teaching in the class and keeping the children back, and charging them for lessons.”
Manickchand underscored the importance of parental involvement in the education process of their children. “I am pleading with parents—we would do what we have to do, I promise you that—but you have a role to play, too, as parents.”
Speaking about Universal Education, she said that while Guyana has achieved 90 per cent universal secondary education access, Berbice has achieved 100 per cent universal secondary education.
“We are going to have universal secondary education, once we are elected and during the next term in office,” she asserted. The Minister revealed that three brand new agreements were just signed for the construction of new secondary schools  in La Parfaite Harmonie, to accommodate 1,000 children; one along  Lusignan, and another the East Bank Demerara.

She noted that not only did the government build additional schools, but transportation to and from schools had to be catered for as well. Boats and housing for students, in the form of dormitories, had to be constructed for students coming out of riverain communities, like Orealla.
In 2005, she noted that just under 50 per cent of teachers were trained in the primary schools, whereas today it is over 75 per cent. Also, 58 per cent of secondary school teachers were trained in 2005, whereas today it is over 67 per cent.
“If you have a trained teacher in front of the classroom, it is more than likely your child will have a more sound and solid education.”
“The whole sector has massively improved, but it did not happen by magic,” she added. “It happened first because we (the government) had an ideology and a political will to make it happen and we funded that will—and we have seen how that consistent funding and investment in education, has produced results over the years.”
In the secondary schools, in 2005, she said there were 32,000 in general secondary. In 2014, there were 68,000 students enrolled across the general secondary schools. There is still a two per cent dropout rate, she noted, which needs to change. “But we have moved from 11 per cent to just two per cent—it’s a remarkable gain across the (education) sector.”

Manickchand noted that the curriculum too, has been changed to ensure equity and more variety of education, in that more than 50 of the 110 secondary schools actively pursuing the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP). This would allow students pursuing that programme to have a certificate upon completion, which is accredited for jobs across the Caribbean.
The Minister boasted about how Guyana was able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to ensure that every primary school child receives universal access to education.  “In our little Guyana—every single child can have access to primary education, whether you live here in Berbice, Corentyne, Lethem, Crabwood Creek, Suddie, Pomeroon—wherever you are.”

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/03/05/students-cannot-be-charged-for-extra-lessons-in-schools-manickchand/

As part of its efforts to address a shortage of teachers, the Ministry of Education just recently decided to introduce smart classrooms. With this feature in place, it is expected that a teacher would be able to deliver sessions from a classroom in Georgetown and have it transmitted simultaneously to another classroom in a remote area, providing that internet access is available.

Already benefiting from this technological feature is the North Ruimveldt Secondary School which just last week was elevated to an ‘A’ List school. The interactive feature has the capacity of making just about any wall suitable for delivering lessons with the aid of E-Beam, which has the capacity of making a room a dynamic learning environment. Added to this, whatever is taught can be recorded for subsequent viewing.
The smart classroom feature is also slated to be introduced at the Government Technical Institute and another three will be installed at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

The aim of introducing the smart classroom at the level of CPCE, she revealed, is to ensure that each teacher leaving the training college is capable of using such features in the schools to which they are placed.
“The benefit of this is easy to see…if we have a shortage of trained teachers in various places that can produce a whole host of domino effects on our results…for example, if we don’t have teachers who are trained, it is unlikely that we will have the number of students graduating that we would like to see with five or more CXCs that can go into college and can come back and teach,” explained the Education Minister.

She went on to point out that with the aid of a smart classroom, the education system could take advantage of a Master Teacher who can deliver a specific subject to students in multiple locations. “We can hook up 10 schools and have that Master Teacher teach all 10 at the same time, especially 10 schools in the hinterland that have access to this kind of teaching resource; that’s what we can possibly do with this technology,” said the Education Minister.
According to Terrence Sukhu, Chief Executive of Digital Technology, the smart classroom has the capacity for video conferencing integration whereby persons from a remote location can interact with the Master Teacher who might be located in Georgetown. The smart classroom, according to Sukhu, functions similarly to Skype video conferencing. An added feature is that it can also offer private messaging between the Master Teacher and individual students and even has the capacity for annotation by teacher and/or students.

Speaking of the smart classroom, Yoganand Indarsingh, Head of the Ministry of Education’s Management Information Systems Unit, emphasised the importance of information technology in the school system. Through this means, he noted, students can be easily prepared for the world and further studies and communications, as he emphasised the laudable interactive ability of the smart classroom.
With the introduction of the programme at the North Ruimveldt School, Indarsingh said that this puts them ahead of the other public schools in the country, as this programme has not yet been introduced nationally but is slated to expand.

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/03/03/smart-classrooms-could-address-teacher-shortage-manickchand/

As the fifth week of strike action at the University of Guyana (UG) winds down, workers of the tertiary institution are reiterating their vow to continue industrial action if there is no acceptable offer to their salary increase and other demands.

At the same time, many students of the institution are embracing the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS’) s #UGRevolution initiative which is aimed at improving the deplorable state of the institution, even as efforts are made to return its operation to normalcy
While the workers refuse to work, with some picketing outside the University or simply staying at home on a daily basis, students in recent days have decided to block the entrance of the institution. The latter group have adopted a tactic that embraces “all classes or no classes,” which yesterday, resulted in a confrontation with ranks of the Guyana Police Force who have been closely monitoring the development centred at the front entrance of the University.
Both workers and students have insisted that they will not relent until there is a resolution.
Based on information reaching this publication, no attempts have been made by the University’s Administration in recent days to address the concerns that are being vocalised.
In fact, Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul, said that he too is awaiting a “sign” from either side – the Unions and the University’s Administration – in order to aid a resolution along.

Government support needed
But according to veteran educator, Ms Amna Ally, who also happens to be Chief Whip of A Partnership for

APNU’s Chief Whip,
Ms Amna Ally

National Unity, the onus is on Government to address the situation. In fact, she is adamant that Government should have long responded to the pay increase and other demands of the striking workers.
The workers through their unions – the University of Guyana Workers Union and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association – during negotiations with the University’s Negotiating Team had demanded a 60 per cent across the board increase along with other benefits and improved conditions. The Administration on the other hand, had offered a five per cent increase for this year and 10 per cent for the following two years, an offer that was rejected by workers.
The Unions had since countered that offer by proposing, at the minimum, a 25 per cent increase. But Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Opadeyi, instead made a decision to withdraw the University’s offer insisting that the workers return to work before a resumption of negotiations.
But according to APNU’s Ally a 60 per cent increase for the workers of the University is certainly not too much. This is in light of the fact that the University seems incapable of meeting the financial need Ally said. “I think the Government should respond to the workers’ demand…they (workers) are fair in what they are asking for.”
She continued by sharing her conviction that for too long Government has been plugging sizeable sums into “unimportant projects such as the Marriott and has been neglecting the lone national institution. Instead of doing those they should address their minds to UG,” said Ally of the Government.
Failure to address the situation at UG, she added, is by extension affecting the young people and the future of the nation.

Unfortunate development

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in commenting on the issue yesterday too, said “I think that it is highly unfortunate what’s happening at UG.” As the Minister considered the situation she reflected on the institution’s founding purpose to build capacity for a developing Guyana.
Moreover, she in directing specific attention to the standoff between the Unions and the University’s Administration noted that, “while both sides have arguments, and I find merit in the arguments on both sides, what I would like to see is everybody dropping their egos and what appears to be intractable positions and put the University first.”
“Nobody could tell me that human beings, who are as educated and who have the interest of the University at heart, and I know that both sides do, could not find a way to work out their issues that would bring resolution to the present problem of the University…,” asserted the Minister.
In commenting directly to the question of possible financial support from Government, the Education Minister noted that there are a number of things “that we are going to have to look at as a nation.”
“No University can function with some of the things that are happening there and I don’t want to get into these, because I understand that there are talks…but in terms of Government intervening, we have to remember that the University is run by a Council and that Council is comprised of members who are mandated by law,” said the Minister.
She added too, that since the University’s Council has representation from several factions of society “for Government to insert itself without an invitation would be very, very undemocratic and it would not be in keeping with good governance principles.”
However, the Minister observed that they’ve gone as far as to invite the two disputing sides to engage each other as part of efforts to realising a resolution.  “I have seen the Ministry of Labour almost begging them to allow it to work, and I have seen a refusal so I hope that things work themselves out. I believe they can and I believe we will see a resolution shortly,” said the optimistic Education Minister.

Strike action to continue
Meanwhile, the President of the UGGSA, Dr Mellissa Ifill made it pellucid yesterday that while the workers are prepared to accept a 10 per cent interim salary increase in order to return to work, they are not willing to accept that offer unofficially. She spoke of an unofficial 10 per cent offer being touted but insisted that “we must get this in writing before we return to work and continue negotiations to arrive at an acceptable percentage.”
As such she noted that strike action will continue until an official agreement is met.

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/02/28/prolonged-strike-action-at-ug-gets-political-attention/

The Ministry of Education, yesterday, commissioned North Ruimveldt Secondary School (NRSS) as an A- List School and also launched its first Interactive smart classroom.According to the Education Ministry, there are five National or Senior Secondary Schools in Guyana and now they have added North Ruimveldt Secondary School to that list. There are also Junior Secondary schools in the school system located in all the administrative Regions of Guyana. Schools in Guyana are categorized as List A to List D, based on the performance of that school at the

Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held in the Sylvester Hall, Education Minister Priya Manickchand explained that she is very proud of the performance of North Ruimveldt Secondary School, and it is the only school in Guyana that has worked from a B- List school to A-list one. This is evident in the results at the CSEC examinations and it is only possible through the hard work of the teachers, parents and students.

She reiterated that the Education sector receives the bulk of the national budgetary allocations and this is the reason for the ministry being able to make so many investments into the children’s education. She noted too that the Ministry can now boast that 90% of our children that are of secondary school age can access secondary education. “Within the last five years, the ministry has constructed eight new secondary schools, giving more children the opportunity to access an education,” she explained.

She also re-emphasised that, in 1995, the country had a dropout rate of 11% of the 35,000 students of secondary age. “In 2014 our dropout rate is 2% of the 67,000 students of secondary age; we have been able to almost double the numbers of children attending school and have still been able to reduce the dropout rate”, she said.
According to the Minister, the staff comprises 37 out of the requirement of 38 teachers and the school is also currently offering 24 subjects, and, as an A-List school, it will now be offering an additional 4 subjects. These are Mechanical Engineering, Physical Education and Sport, and Physical and Visual Arts.
She urged all the stakeholders involved to pay attention to the school because, “I am saying to you now, if you are not careful, you will see how the things you have worked for could slide back because progress, whether it’s in a school or a country, is easy to reverse if you don’t have strong leadership that understand what needs to be done.”

Also echoing the Minister’s words and urging the persons involved to continue with the commitment shown to the students and teachers of the school was Chief Education Officer Olato Sam. He said,“A successful school is one which is constantly improving”, as he noted that this school has over the years been able to re-classify itself, moving from a D List school to a B List school and now to an A List School.

Sam paid tribute to former headmistress Dianne Peters, explaining that if it was not for the vision, hard work and determination of this individual, the school would not have achieved this honour. He urged other teachers and heads of schools “to take a page out of Ms Peters’ book” and move their schools forward.

Relating to the persons gathered, former headmistress Dianne Peters, explained that when she decided to take up the challenge at the school, she embraced the school improvement plan that was set out. “I came here and went through the results and the staff information and got to work… I decided that within the next five years this school will see an improvement”, she said. And indeed that was what happened, when in 2011, five years after Peters took up the post, it was awarded the most improved school. She stressed that for this to be a reality all stakeholders had to work together. 

Source: https://guyanachronicle.com/2015/02/27/north-ruimveldt-secondary-now-an-a-list-school

STILL in the Mash spirit, many persons were seen gathering yesterday to ‘gaff’ about Mash Day activities.

After having a ‘whale of a time’ along the parade route in the blazing sun, persons returned to work yesterday all hyped up about the just-concluded festivities.
Costume Bands ‘took to de road’ from 10:00 hrs, each charting the course for hundreds of revellers who proudly displayed uniquely designed costumes in rampant colour, and audacious glitter as they depicted scenarios chosen by individual competing entities, but in keeping with this year’s theme of ‘One People, One Culture, One Celebration.’
As usual, tens of thousands of residents and visiting Guyanese, as well as tourists lined the parade route in true picnic style, their attention captivated by the revelry, especially along upper Church Street and on Irving Street and Vlissengen Road, the hub of the celebrations.

WHILE the line of the Alliance, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), has been to attack the nomination of Elisabeth Harper as the ruling Party’s prime ministerial candidate, there have been many expressions of support for her by way of noticeable outpouring of this on popular social media platforms. Harper herself said yesterday, “I have received so many messages of goodwill and support. Their sincerity is overwhelming and touching. I am deeply bolstered by this support.”

Former President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Gillian Burton, who switched allegiance from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) to the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) in 2011, was one of the many such persons.
Taking to the popular social media site, Facebook, she said, “Yesterday, I embraced with joy the announcement by the PPP/C of the selection of Elisabeth Harper as the prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections. I was overwhelmed by the fact that the PPP/C kept its promise to ALL Guyanese women to ensure there is equality and empowerment of women.”
Burton, however, had a word of advice for those detractors who decried Harper nomination, whom she referred to as “Persons who flaunt themselves as positive leaders” for Guyana’s progress. To them she said: “…it takes a strong, confident, determined, focussed and blessed woman to withstand those negative-minded beings, and forge ahead. I am very confident that the PPP/C has earmarked and endorsed one of the many such women in Guyana today in the person of Mrs Elisabeth Harper, our Prime Minister-in waiting.”

Minister of Education and former Human Services and Social Security Minister, Priya Manickchand, shared similar sentiments, and also took to her Facebook page.
She said, “I woke up happy and light, knowing that we have moved a place in our country’s history with the nomination of a bright, capable woman as the Prime Ministerial Candidate of one of the largest Political Parties in these parts.

“And then I read this: ‘I suspect they (the PPP/C) used a woman because they are looking at the woman-vote. but I think in a country like this, where the system is very tyrannical and authoritarian, people looking for changes are looking to put strong people that could run the next government.’”

According to Minister Manickchand, “Sexism is alive and well! Guyanese women must resolve to crush this under their heels at every turn.”

Guyana Reparations Committee Chairman, Dr Eric Phillips, couldn’t agree more.
He said, “I don’t know why the Combined Opposition would comment negatively on the selection of Mrs Harper as the prime ministerial candidate. Have some class and tell us what you will do; show some dignity.”
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, added his two cents to the debate, saying: “In my considered view, Mrs Harper is an excellent choice. Once again, the PPP has proven to be the pacesetter, giving Guyana, her first female Prime Minister.
“We gave Guyana her first female President in Comrade Janet Jagan. We gave Guyana her first female Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Hon. Desiree Bernard. We ensure that our list of candidates for elections have gender balance. We have led again by example. We do not merely speak about gender equality and women empowerment; we actually support our words by action.”
Such comments reflect the support for Harper as prime ministerial material in most quarters, if not all.

Source: https://guyanachronicle.com/2015/02/23/despite-criticism-in-some-quarters-many-express-support-for-harper-as-pm

President Donald Ramotar says that the loss of seven lives on Friday, including six school children, is truly a national tragedy. The Head of State, along with Minister of Education, Dr. Priya Manickchand, visited the parents of the dead children who perished after the vehicle that their teacher was driving, ended up in a canal at Mahaicony.

President Ramotar, after meeting with and consoling the parents of the children, at their residence yesterday afternoon assured them that the entire nation is mourning their losses. “The whole nation is with them—in their thoughts at this point in time—It’s a very, very tragic situation, and they are not alone.”

Minister Manickchand said that the visit was a follow up to the previous night’s visit at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital. “It’s a real hard hit to the education family; to the Mahaicony community. I know people as far as in the River, who have called expressing horror and shock and sadness.”
She said that the tragedy is a blow to Region Five and a “blow to the nation.” “Six children dying at the same time with a teacher, who is dedicated to making them better—it’s never going to be something that is easy.”
She added that the government stands with the family, “as much as we can during this period.”
“I don’t know what I can do to relieve their pains and loss, but we can certainly help them through this time and that’s why we are here again, to make sure we reiterate our offers for help, and again, to let them know that the country is standing with them.”

The Government, she said, will be staying in touch with the families for a little while more, “definitely to see them through this period of grief in the funeral and even after…to see how they are doing.”
The Minister said that the relatives have enquired about an early post mortem on the bodies and this will be granted by the Commissioner of Police. The post mortem examinations will be performed on the bodies on Tuesday.
The children’s pre-Mashramani event at Mahaicony ended in tragedy after a teacher and six of her pupils died when the car they were in, veered off the Burma road and overturned in a canal at around 15.30 hrs on Friday.

Dead are: Shaundell Duke, a teacher of Husburg Primary: Martina Persaud, seven; siblings Asiyah Abel, 10, Justin Abel, eight and Rayden Abel, seven; Azikia Fraser, six, and Adeshe Woolford, nine. All the children were from Burma, Mahaicony and attended Husburg Primary. They were heading home from a pre-Mashramani event at Calcutta Primary School when the accident occurred.

The pupils were still dressed in their costumes when their bodies were retrieved from the submerged car and taken to the Mahaicony Hospital Mortuary.
Region Five Chairman, Bindraban Bisnauth was with the Presidential party.

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/02/22/mahaicony-accident-a-national-tragedy-ramotar/

In a surprise move,the PPP/C this morning announced Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elisabeth Harper as its prime ministerial candidate for the May 11th general election.

Harper, a career diplomat, had not been mentioned before for the post. Her boss, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett had been tipped for the position. Observers had said that the PPP/C was looking for gender and ethnic balance in replacing long-serving Prime Minister Sam Hinds but Harper’s name had not been mentioned. Relatively unknown outside diplomatic circles and not previously associated with the political platform, the choice of Harper will be seen as a huge gamble for the PPP/C.

THE Guyanese nation is still reeling from news of the shocking accident on the Burma Branch Road in Mahaicony (Region 5) that has left a teacher and six of her students dead.The teacher and six students of the Augsburg Primary School died by apparent drowning yesterday afternoon after the vehicle they were travelling in ended up in a canal along the Burma Road.

Those who perished yesterday are: Eight-year-old grade 3 student Justin Abel, seven-year-old grade 2 student Rayden Abel, 10-year-old grade 5 student Ayesha Abel — all from the same family; together with six-year-old grade 1 student Azidia Fraser, 10-year-old grade 5 student Atesha Woolford, eight-year-old grade 2 student Martina Persaud, and their teacher, Senior Mistress Shondel Duke.

This newspaper has learnt that the children and their teacher had traversed the Burma Road from their school to attend a Mashramani activity that had taken place at the Novar Primary School yesterday morning, and were returning home when disaster struck.

The parents of one of the children who perished in the accident had reportedly loaned the teacher the vehicle to take the children to the Mash activity, since getting transportation from their point of origin is usually difficult.

It is surmised that the teacher lost control of the vehicle on the Burma Road because the road is presently under extensive rehabilitation and features loose pebbles and stones which make it hard for some motorists to control their vehicles.

One relative said they received word that the vehicle was involved in an accident, and when they arrived on the scene, they saw a lot of persons gathered and were greeted with the news that the six children and the teacher had all perished in the accident.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the Mahaicony Hospital late yesterday afternoon, hundreds of villagers and numerous regional officials had gathered at the facility to mourn the loss, while others sought to get a glimpse of the remains of the children and their teacher.

The children, lying in the Mahaicony Hospital mortuary, were still clad in the costumes in which they had performed before leaving the celebration to return to their school.

As news of the tragedy spread, Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Transport Minister Robeson Benn travelled to the community and met with residents and relatives of the deceased at the Mahaicony Hospital, where they were told the people’s concerns about the state of the road and were reminded that, only two weeks ago, residents had called for immediate repairs to be done to critical stretches of the Burma road.

Minister Benn reminded the residents that rehabilitation works were ongoing on the road, and told reporters that he visits the road and supervises the works frequently. He even pointed out that at one point he was accompanied to visit the road by His Excellency President Donald Ramotar.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand was observed embracing and comforting relatives of those who had perished in the accident before she spoke with the media. At one point she was moved to tears as she listened to a relative detail the ordeals leading up to them approving the children to travel out from their school to participate in the Mash events.

Minister Manickchand told reporters that the school from which the children came sports a population of fifteen children and three teachers. She said that one teacher supervising six children was not a breach of the standard operating procedures of the Ministry of Education which governs the teacher/child ratio.

The Minister explained that today, Saturday, Education officials will be visiting the homes of all the persons who had perished in the accident, even as she made commitment to ensure that the school is visited by councillors on Tuesday, so that teachers and students can be guided and assisted in getting over the tragic loss of their colleagues and peers.

It was observed that the Mahaicony Hospital faced a challenge last evening to produce body bags in which to place the remains of the dead. At one point, the sight of the children lying dead in the mortuary became so overwhelming for those who had forced their way into the morgue that Transport Minister Robeson Benn had to order the undertakers and police to cease the activities until the hospital staff could secure sheets to cover the remains of the children before they were placed in a hearse, since there was only one body bag available, and that was used for wrapping the adult. The newspaper also understands that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also visited the Mahaicony area last night.

Source: https://guyanachronicle.com/2015/02/21/the-nation-mourns-as-teacher-6-students-perish-in-burma-accident-died-by-apparent-drowning