Even though the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the fatal fire at the Drop-In Center has recommended that some form of compensation be awarded to the mother of the two boys who died, the Ministry of Social Protection has not yet made contact with the family.
The report produced by the inquiry had found that there were “systemic failures at all levels” and made several recommendations, which included that Sonia George, the mother of Joshua and Antonio George, be compensated.
However, the two boys’ parents have not been contacted and they are frustrated. “We are getting quite agitated. We just want this whole thing to be over with and somebody to talk to us,” Leon George, the boys’ father told Stabroek News yesterday.
At the time, he was waiting to see his remaining three children, who are still in the custody of the state. He said that they are giving the ministry additional time to reach out to them.
However, a source from the ministry explained that it has planned to meet with the family next week to start the discussion about compensation. No specific date has been set.
The report had also recommended that the centre be removed from its current location and relocated to a more suitable environment to cater to the developmental needs of children.
The source pointed out that the ministry has already procured the land. However, while the source was not able to point out the specific location, it was explained that the ministry is currently in the process of designing the building.
The remaining children from the centre are still housed at the Sophia Care Centre and the source explained that there is no plan to move them until the new building is finished.
The fire had started late on July 7, and while 29 other children who were at the facility had escaped, two young brothers, Joshua, 2, and Antonio, 6, perished. The Ministry of Social Protection later took full responsibility and it said it would cover all the expenses of the funeral.
The two boys were among five children who were removed from the custody of their parents after there were reports of abuse and neglect.
