Following a fire that claimed the lives of two young brothers at the Drop-In Centre on Hadfield Street on Friday, civil society activists and the children’s parents staged a picket outside of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) office yesterday calling for answers over the deaths and the state of the building.
The fire started early Friday morning and while 29 other children who were at the facility escaped, Joshua George, 3, and Anthony George, 6, perished. At a press conference held later that day by the CCPA and the Ministry of Social Protection, it was announced that the ministry was taking full responsibility for the incident and would cover all expenses for the funeral.
Braving the blazing heat, Red Thread Head Karen de Souza and about 10 other activists held their placards yesterday with their views on what transpired almost a week ago. “What we have seen in the last few days from the ministry and CCPA is a very strong attempt to point fingers at the family and to, I guess, present the ministry as though they were perfect and there were no issues with what they were doing,” de Souza stated.
She said the accusations that are being thrown at the family, in relation to the quality of care that was offered to the children, are unprofessional and unfair.
Additionally, de Souza said they were not satisfied by what has been done so far by the ministry and agency. Highlighting that there was a fire in 2010 which was followed by the building being reconstructed, de Souza pointed out, “… The wiring had to be redone. There was construction work being done. How in the name in everything sane and sensible is it possible to have an electrical fire? We are not saying it was an act of God. There was no lightning that hit the building. If we are housing children we have to be more serious about the responsibility so when the ministry talks about taking responsibility our questions are what exactly are you taking responsibility for?”
She pointed out that there are many questions that are unanswered that the ministry and the agency are refusing to address.
The Fire Service had confirmed that the fire was electrical in nature but was unable to say whether the core of the problem was faulty wiring or electrical surges. However, de Souza pointed out that regular checks should have been made by the ministry to ensure that everything was in order and working properly.
When Stabroek News questioned neighbours in the area, they related that the children would often complain about electrical surges and sparks in the building. However, when Head of the CCPA Ann Greene was questioned on Friday, she said no reports were made to her.
When Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence was asked about regular checks on the building, she said it was not under her ministry’s portfolio to do. She highlighted that since she has been in office she has never seen anyone check her building or office to ensure that the electrical wires were functioning properly and it is a countrywide issue.
“What training is given to these persons? There are questions about the building itself that are not being answered. There are so many inconsistencies in the stories offered and it is very clear that the female housemother who was in charge there didn’t have a clue. She panicked. So how could you leave kids in the care of people who have not been trained and who will panic under pressure?” de Souza questioned, stating that from everything that is floating around in the public domain about the sequence of events she believes the children were safer with their parents, who they were removed from.
At the press conference, head of the CCPA Greene had explained that two boys, along with three other siblings, were removed from their parents Leon and Sonia George after there were complaints to the agency that they were victims of abuse and mistreatment.
“I saw pictures [of where the children lived] and I spoke to the mother and as far as I am concerned in the last year or two they have not been taken to the hospital with broken bones or any physical injuries. What is it they are saying? Is the house too old? Well they didn’t burn up in their home. As far as I am concerned, too, they have not killed a single one of their children,” de Souza said, pointing out that even if it was determined that the home was unsafe then avenues should’ve been explored to get them into a safer house or to make the house safer.
Horrendous trauma
Whilst the children are currently being counselled by doctors from the Georgetown Public Hospital, de Souza said she did not think that would be adequate for the children who witnessed “the most horrendous trauma of seeing their siblings die in a fire.” She said that in such a time only the parents would be able to give them suitable counselling and comfort.
Emphasizing that it is the duty and responsibility of the agency to protect the interest of the children and support the families, she said the agency should have sought first to support the family instead of abruptly removing the children from their homes. She opined that child protection officers abuse their power and “bully families.”
Another representative of Red Thread Danuta Radzik questioned whether the proper protocols are followed when it comes to removing children from their homes.
“I really have a concern about how it is and what is the process and the guidelines and protocols for the removal of children from parents. As far as I know there is a law that governs the actions of the director from the CCPA and my understanding is with the removal of a child there needs to be a hearing from a judge or magistrate,” Radzik pointed out, She stated that in order for the best interest of the child to be preserved, it needs to be discussed in front of a competent and neutral party where the views of all sides, including the children, can be heard and discussed.
In addition to the protocols, Radzik highlighted that the role of the visiting committees needs to be assessed as there is a need for them to a play a more vital part in maintaining the standards of the homes around the country. “How often do they visit? They should be active and be able to represent those vulnerable children in the care of the state,” she said.
The distraught parents of the two children, Leon George and Sonia George, expressed their distress at the ordeal and told Stabroek News on the picket lines that they have lost trust in the agency providing care for their children. “I didn’t have a problem with them taking them because of the living conditions and I cooperated with them but they didn’t keep their side that they promised. They didn’t keep them safe,” the visibly distraught Sonia George said. Stating that she has lost trust in the agency keeping her remaining children safe, she said she wants them back.
Sonia George said she was told by the agency that if she wants the children back then she has to get a job and find better living conditions for the children. She said that whilst it cannot be done at the moment, she will be looking into it as soon as possible just so she can have her children back. “I am expecting them to do better. How can they take care of people’s children and these people are not coming forward to speak with us? I feel very distressed because I was with my children all along until the time they took them and now only three are left alive,” she said.
Her husband also echoed similar sentiments and explained that he was frustrated that he is not able to see his children on his terms.
“Who can feel the agony of what I’ve passed through? You can’t take my children from my home and I entrust them with your safety and (they die). The building is still standing there and my kids are not,” he said, stating that the worst part was that the children were only there for a little over a day.
