A 15-year-old girl, who was injured by a vehicle contracted to the Ministry of Public Works, has been refused compensation as the ministry said the driver was not at fault.
Kiana Fredericks, of First Hill, Soesdyke, Linden Highway, was knocked down on January 12 at Church Hill, Soesdyke after she had left school around midday to visit a nearby shop.
Public Works Minister Robeson Benn told Stabroek News last week that an internal investigation was done and it was found that the driver was not at fault and as a result, compensation will not be offered.
Discontented with this response and demanding justice, the child’s mother and grandmother visited Stabroek News last week.
According to Patricia Smith, her granddaughter was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) a few days subsequent to her accident and they approached Benn for compensation but were met with harsh remarks.
“When we went he asked what we want compensation for because the child is go private school,” the woman said angrily, suggesting the minister is of the opinion that the family is “well off”.
When contacted, Benn expressed shock that the family would make such a report after he had a pleasant conversation with Smith only three nights earlier regarding having a meeting arranged with the Human Services Ministry.
“They had said the child had some broken teeth so I was looking to talk to them about that. Not as a liability but as a concerned minister. The grandmother even thanked me for calling,” Benn said.
He further stated that the matter has been left for the police to investigate.
The girl’s mother, Michelle Henry, previously told this newspaper that the child is a student at the Camille Dookie Institute.
She explained that her daughter left school with a friend around midday to get some school supplies. “The friend told me that they was going to the shop to get something for school,” she said.
She reiterated the friend’s recounting of the accident, stating that a red car was approaching as Kiana was crossing the road and the ministry vehicle overtook the car, hitting her in the process.
The driver responsible for the accident transported the injured child to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre from where she was subsequently transferred to the GPH.
Henry had said that the driver of the vehicle had contacted her and expressed regret at the misfortune. “He said sorry… he tried, he pulled brakes but I don’t know,” the woman said.
Henry said she was told by the driver that he had no choice but to hit the girl and explained that if he had attempted to divert, he would have landed in a ditch which may have ended more tragically as the vehicle had passengers at the time.
