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/