The nine-year-old girl who fell into a pit latrine at Moruca and drowned on Monday was laid to rest yesterday, following a simple ceremony at the Santa Rosa Catholic Mission Church, which was attended by fellow students, teachers and villagers.
Tanesha De Souza had gone to use the latrine at her school on Monday, the first day of her school life, when she fell inside. Despite the efforts of the residents who used an axe to expand the seating area so that a parent could squeeze through to pull her body from the filth, she died shortly after reaching the Kumaka District Hospital.
The headmaster of the school, Lloyd Savory told Stabroek News yesterday that the latrine has since been sealed. He explained that shortly after the incident, once the police had completed their investigations, boards were nailed across the entrance.
Savory said that latrine, one of four used by the more than 730 children and 24 teachers at the school, will no longer be used.
Asked about the mood in the community, he said there was some anger toward the teaching staff over the incident, but many parents are being supportive.
To facilitate those students and teachers who wanted to attend the funeral, the Santa Rosa Primary School was dismissed at 2 pm instead of 3 pm, which is the scheduled time for school to end. The funeral service was set for 3 pm.
De Souza was involved in a serious accident years ago that robbed her of her speech and because of her condition, she was never sent to school. Her parents were however encouraged to do so and on the first day of the school term – Monday, she was taken to the school by her mother.
Admission was not being done at that time, so her mother who is a teacher asked permission for her to stay at the school.
De Souza was left in the care of another teacher who was unaware of her situation and she subsequently indicated that she wanted to use the washroom. Because the teacher was engaged in a conversation with other parents, she was sent to the outhouse in the company of another student.
While there she encountered difficulties and fell into the pit.
Savory had told this newspaper that they were unaware that the child could not use a latrine unaided until after the incident had occurred.
Tanesha De Souza leaves to mourn her parents Vanessa and Marlon and three brothers.
i dont get some of these parents , why will they be upset of the teacher s ,dost the teachers build the latrine ,in these school ,why they did not tell the education minister an government that they dont need these pit toilet , in all the school in guyana ,an school should close until all toilet are put in place with flash ones, our contry of guyana make millions on the poor an hard working people of guyana each day , on the vat , why dont spend our money on our chrildren ,they are the ones it shoulld be spend on ,an stop put the money in some of them pocket.,,,,,,,,, MAY THAT CHILD LIFE REST IN PEACE ., THEN THE HEAD MASTER SAYING ABOUT CLOSEING UP THE PIT LATRINE KNOCK IT DOWN, AN FULL.THE PIT UP AN DONT LEAVE IT STANDING
I agree with you all the taxes being collected by the government and in this day and age schools of all places with children so young have to use a latrine…..shame on all responsibile…..with a speech problem the poor child probably never even got the chance to cry for help my prayers are with the family.
WHY ARE THEY STILL USING PIT LATRINE IN THIS TIME AND AGE IN THE SCHOOL???? SHAME SHAME . THIS IS SUCH A SAD STORY…..MAY SHE R.I.P
So sad, So sad, who to blame?
In the 21 century pit latrine, in a school with 750 students and our honoured School Teachers. So shameful, but remember that we are 26 years behind.
Heart felt sympathy to the FAMILY andFRIENDS.
REST IN PEACE
That’s right,Guyana can afford a chopper,but not flush toilets. Yesssss welcome to the 21 CENTURY. I attend school in Guyana about 20 years ago and they had pit latrines then. Gosh man, I am ashamed of how Guyanese get treated in their own country….hmph and children too
maybe our minister of education as one in is yard so he must say that the public can have it 2,why spend million on new school an u an put in flush tolilet in the school an pay some one, an salary to keep them clean , the world did not, have to see what an shame it was that our school in guyana still use pits latrine, i hope that the parents assocation will meet with the education department, an discuss this urgent matter an hope they ride all school in guyana that as pit latrine an put proper toilet in them ,shame on the government ,where all the money collect from vat,added taxs go ,where the money from latto go mr finance minister we want to no we have the right to no also is our contry an not yours ,stop drive around with them fancy vehicles an fix our problem
Another child dies because Jagdeo and his PPP cronies continue to mismanage precious dollars that should have been used to protect our children and provide a safe education environment for them.
Who would have think this is how a child would die in the 21st century at a school.
Well done Jagdeo and the PPP
Amen to that. These types of tragedies should NEVER EVER happen. SHame! Shame! Shame!
It will cost about $250,000 local dollars to build a septic tank, overhead tank and install 4 toilet sets. A measly $1250 US when the Govt spend $2.5 million US on Carifesta – wine, sing and dance.
Talk about democracy. That’s democracy for you pardna!!! Misplaced priorities and misguided projects!!!!!!!!
Very sad story that little girl died because of negligence by the school officials, they were the one’s who should have seen to it that before school reopened the government spend some money on neccessary things like restrooms for their student and staffs. Please people of beautiful Guyana talk to the government you must use your voices.
…….so my list of square pegs ,, grows a bit longer ,, with the name of the Min. of edimificashun as another misfit in a roun hole ! i’m ashamed to even leave a comment here ,, i am so ashamed,,, i am hardly able to find words to describe this ,, i remember a few years back a child fell through a rail in the top corridor of a school in B/bush ,, i think she broke her back and succumbed sometime after ,, and i’m sure if we do archival research we will find many more with the same disregard for kids who r supposed to be the future of GY ,, an juss suh y’all know dis bin ah happn since lang back den ,, y’all know back wen ah talkin bout ,,,,, rite ???????????????
Stabroek news, please try to get the comments of the President Mr. Jagdeo, The Education Minister and the Amerindian Affairs Minister – on these recent tragedies and the conditions which brought them about.
Will be very interesting to learn what they have to say after the fact !
it’s sad that pit latrines are still in use in guyana today, my deepest sympathy goes out the the bereaved families.