Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, has assured the residents of Kwakwani that the government will act swiftly to rebuild the Kwakwani Secondary School, which was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning.
In a pre-recorded video shared on his Facebook page, Edghill described the incident as a “regrettable” tragedy but emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that local children and their families are not left disadvantaged. “Whatever is the cause of that fire, it is regrettable. Children need to be served, a community needs to be served,” he stated.
The Minister announced that after discussions with his superiors, he is confident that the President Ali-led PPP administration, both current and post-September 1 elections, will prioritize the swift reconstruction of the school. “This will be done speedily,” Edghill affirmed.
He reassured residents that immediate measures are being taken to facilitate continued learning. “Parents, students, community of Kwakwani, please be assured your pain, your suffering, your loss will be remedied soon,” he said, promising that alternative accommodations will be arranged for students until the new school is ready.
Edghill reiterated the government’s ongoing commitment to the people of Kwakwani and the broader Berbice River area. “Kwakwani, be assured your government will work for you, is working for you, and will continue to engage you. We will overcome every challenge, just like we have done since 2020,” he added.
According to police reports, the fire broke out around 3:40 AM and completely gutted the one-storey concrete building located in Pathville, Upper Berbice River. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A Corporal from the Mackenzie Police Station, who was attending the annual Kwakwani Village Fair nearby, first noticed the flames and alerted the Kwakwani Police Station. Responding officers found the school engulfed in flames. Local auxiliary staff, including driver Julian Martin and assistant Jishan Martin, attempted to contain the fire with a fire pick-up vehicle but were unable to save the structure.
The Kwakwani Secondary School, an essential educational institution serving hundreds of students in the Berbice River community, was powered by electricity from Kwakwani Utility Inc., which had reportedly experienced outages throughout the night. A security guard, who was on duty at the time, discovered smoke emanating from the Headmistress’s office during routine checks and promptly notified his supervisor.
As the community grapples with the loss, the government’s commitment to rebuilding the school aims to restore a vital resource for education in the region.
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