Amb. To UK Urges Liberians To Offer Prayers For Fire Victims

By: Douglas Farngalo

Freelance Journalist, Birmingham, UK

Liberia’s Ambassador to the Court of St. James,  Gurley Gibson – Schwarz  has called on all residing in United Kingdom, their relatives and friends  as well as all Liberians in the Diaspora  to offer prayers of sympathy for the bereaved family and the country on this solemn occasion of the tragic loss of 26 students, mostly children, in a fire disaster which engulfed their school on the night of Tuesday, 17 September 2019.

The Liberia Diplomat described the victims as some of our most treasured future leaders who had set out to advance themselves in the spiritual teachings of Arabic at the Bassa Town Quranic Recitation Centre, located in Paynesville City, Liberia.

In a statement issued on the Embassy’s website, the Liberian envoy declared, “We Liberians and our friends around the World, all come together to mourn the loss of these beloved lives. We deeply sympathize with the bereaved families and the Islamic Community for such a loss. It is very difficult for all of us to face the death of such young people and no parent must have to bury a child at such a tender age.

On behalf of the staff and officers of my Embassy, she conveyed her sincere condolences to relatives and friends of the victims and prayed that God almighty bless and console them.  

“I call upon all Liberians to join members of the Islamic Community to pray for the departed souls. We offer prayers for the survivors and wish them a quick recovery, her statement concluded.”

A book of condolences has main while been opened at the Embassy of Liberia in London as a mark respect for the victims on this pungent occasion.

Excerpt of a letter addressed to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office reads,  

“The Embassy of the Republic of Liberia presents it compliments to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, all Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Court of St. James and all International Organizations.

We have the duty to solemnly inform you that following the tragic fire incident involving a school during the early morning of Tuesday night 17 September 2019, 26 students, mostly children lost their lives at their boarding school in Bassa Town, Paynesville near Liberia’s Capital of Monrovia.

The Republic of Liberia wishes to inform those wishing to convey their condolences and sympathy for the passing of our young future leaders, a book of condolences will be opened at the Embassy, 23 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6EW from 2:00 PM to 4:00PM from Thursday 19th September to Monday 23rd September 2019.

The Embassy of the Republic of Liberia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, all Diplomatic Missions accredited to the court of St. James and all International Organizations the assurance of its highest consideration”.

A presidential proclamation has been issued by the President of Liberia His Excellency Dr George Manneh Weah declaring Thursday, September 19, 2019 a National Day of Mourning in remembrance of 26 Islamic school children and their two teachers who died during Tuesday night fire disaster in Paynesville. The President has ordered the National Ensign to be flown at half-mast.

According to the proclamation, while the day is to be observed as a working holiday in Liberia, President Weah calls on all Liberians and foreign residents alike, irrespective of their religious beliefs and ethnicities, to conduct themselves in solidarity with the Muslim Community and families of the dead in their difficult times.