Fire gutted the eastern wing of the Charlieville Presbyterian School yesterday. Fire officers on the scene said the blaze started around 1pm, and by the time fire appliances arrived, the building, which had housed 90 students from the standards three, four and five classes had been totally destroyed.
Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh, who arrived shortly after, said arrangements had been made with the Anjuman Sunnat ul-Jamaat (ASJA) to use the auditorium of the nearby ASJA Girls College temporarily to house the students who were displaced. He said he had also spoken with the principal, who had assured that SEA exam material for the Standards 4 and 5 classes was not damaged. Gopeesingh said as soon as the fire services gave the go-ahead, the structure would be demolished and a new one put up.
Chaguanas mayor Gopaul Boodhan and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner also visited. Boodhan pledged the support of the borough corporation.