Drop-in-Centre blaze… Burnt brothers laid to rest

Jul 21, 2016 News

Ministers Lawrence and Scott and other officials from the Ministry pay their last respects to the brothers

Ministers Lawrence, Scott and other officials from the Ministry pay their last respects to the brothers

Joshua and Antonio George, the two brothers who were burnt to death in a fire at the Children’s Drop in Centre on Hadfield Street, Georgetown two Fridays ago, were laid to rest on Tuesday following a funeral service at the New Covenant Ministries Church in Lodge.

Present at the funeral service were Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, officials of the Child Care and Protection Agency and the parents and relatives of the boys.

The remains of six-year-old Joshua George and four-year-old Antonio George were found among the debris shortly after fire fighters extinguished the blaze at the Drop-in-Centre which housed 34 children at the time.
Kaieteur News was told that the two brothers and three other siblings were taken into the Drop-in Centre less than two days before the fire.
Medical examinations done at the Diamond Hospital confirmed that the five siblings were victims of neglect and maltreatment. They were temporarily placed at the Home until further investigations could have been done.

Following the deaths of the brothers, President David Granger ordered an inquiry. Last Friday, retired Guyana Defence Force (GDF) woman Colonel Windee Algernon was sworn in as the sole Commissioner to probe the deaths of the two young brothers among other issues.

A preliminary report is to be presented by July 22 and the full report by August 15.