President pleads with nation to desist from negative social media posts

In light of much analysis and social commentary regarding the deaths of 19 children, including a fiveyear-old boy, who occupied the female dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School, President Irfaan Ali has pleaded with persons to desist from making malicious and speculative posts.

In an address to the nation broadcast on his Facebook page on Wednesday morning, Ali said that as the country mourns, persons should be more emphatic and share content that is uplifting and positive.

“There is a time and place for everything. Let us focus our use of social media on motivational quotes, prayers, inspirational songs, and uplifting messages, and not an opportunity to come up with our own theories on these beautiful children’s lives,” Ali empathically pleaded in the broadcast.

He noted that while Guyanese are very opinionated and social media is a powerful tool which has its good and bad, posts must be made with compassion. Ali believes at this time given the state of affairs in the country persons should make posts with guidelines and some rules.

“I am urging all Guyanese to desist from self-analysis, from reviewing timeline stories of all these girls, and from analysing the life story of all these girls at this time,” he added.

Furthermore, the President stated that his government is doing everything in consultation with the families and affected students.

“We are putting their wishes and their desires as far as possible in the front seat. I ask all of us to do the same. Let us put our opinions and our desires for once, in the backseat, and put these children and these families in the front seat as the priority of our nation at this time,” he said.