Former Senior Guyana Defence Force Officer To Probe Deaths Of Brothers

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, July 15, (CMC) – A retired senior official of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has been named as the sole commissioner, probing the circumstances that led to the deaths of two brothers, during a fire at a state facility, earlier this month.

Retired Colonel Windee Algernon was sworn in, today, and the Guyana government said it would await her report, before deciding on any compensation for the family of two-year-old Joshua George and his six-year-old brother, Antonio.

The government has already taken “full responsibility” for the incident that led to the deaths of two brothers during an early morning fire, last Friday, with the Ministry of Social Protection indicating that the two brothers and their other three siblings were taken into care, last Wednesday evening, by the Child Protection Agency (CPA) “pending investigation into alleged neglect and abuse.

“The Ministry of Social Protection takes full responsibility for this incident and ….in the long term, the Childcare and Protection Agency will work with this family to ensure the other three siblings, and their ailing mother, receive all the support and help they need,” it said in a statement.

The Commissioner is being asked to investigate and examine the causes, conditions and surrounding circumstances that led to the death of the two boys, and also determine the nature of injuries sustained by all children at the center and the dangers to which the children and staff were exposed.

Additionally, she is being asked to determine whether the conduct of the staff at the drop in center was in conformity with the required obligation of the state and standard operating procedures.

Algernon will also have to decide on blame worthiness of individuals and report on whether there was failure on the part of state officials to deal with matters that gave rise to the loss of lives, and whether there were unsafe or improper arrangements for care, custody and welfare of the children.

She is expected to submit a preliminary report on July 22 with a full report by August 15.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who was present at the swearing-in ceremony, told reporters that government would await the report of the enquiry to decide on compensation for the parents and that the Commissioner will be asked to make recommendations in that regard.