One year after the death of fireman Voshaun Manbodh, who was injured while responding to the blaze at Mae’s School, his family says they have received only a $1 million payment from the Guyana Fire Service and are still awaiting a full report into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Manbodh’s mother, Deon Anderson, told Stabroek News that since her son’s passing last year, no state official has maintained contact with the family or provided additional support. “Everything that was done to remember him was done by us. Nobody called us,” Anderson said when contacted by this newspaper.
The young firefighter died days after sustaining injuries when a wall collapsed on him while he was battling the fire at the Subryanville school. His death prompted calls from the family for a full investigation into the medical care he received before his passing.
According to Anderson, the only financial assistance the family received was a $1 million payment which she collected from the Guyana Fire Service headquarters.
“The only thing that was given to us is a million dollars that the Fire Service gave us,” she said, explaining that the payment was made on June 3 last year.
Adding that the family did not receive any direct assistance from the Office of the President. Anderson recalled that the only official visit came from then Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, who met with the family before Manbodh was buried and provided a letter offering condolences.
Beyond that interaction, she said no other government official has contacted the family in the months that followed.
Last Sunday had marked the first anniversary of Manbodh’s death. Anderson said the family privately observed the occasion but had to bear all the costs themselves.
“We did everything ourselves,” she said.
The family also noted that they are still awaiting the findings of an investigation by the Ministry of Labour into the circumstances surrounding the incident and Manbodh’s death. Anderson said that up to now, the family has not received a full report.
Following his death in 2024, Manbodh’s relatives had called for a transparent investigation into both the incident at the fire scene and the medical treatment he received afterwards. They had raised concerns about alleged lapses in care while he was hospitalised.
The family claimed that Manbodh sustained two fractures to his neck along with impaired motor function and an ear injury after the wall collapsed on him during the firefighting operation. They explained that although he was communicating with relatives the following day, his condition later deteriorated rapidly.
Among the issues raised were claims that he was placed in the general Male Surgical Ward despite the severity of his injuries and was not provided with specialised neurological care.
The family also alleged that he suffered a fall from his hospital bed which was not disclosed to them by medical staff but was instead revealed by another patient in the ward.
They further expressed concern about what they described as lapses in basic care, including the removal of his intravenous fluids and urinary catheter without explanation while he was still in a critical condition.
At the time, the Guyana Fire Service described Manbodh as a firefighter who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham had visited the family and said his courage and selflessness would remain part of the service’s history.
Benn had also extended condolences to the family and indicated that an investigation would be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
One year later, the family says they are still waiting for answers.
