The truth be told; now the ashes are cold

Jul 26, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Permit me space in your newspaper to exhume a burning matter that has been troubling me although the ashes have cooled somewhat. It pertains to the recent fire that took place at the Hadfield Street Drop In Centre wherein two young brothers, Antonio & Joshua George, 4 & 6 years, lost their lives. As a mother I find it heart wrenching to learn of their mother having her children removed from her immediate care, due to reported step-father abuse, and inability to display effective maternal caring capacity.
Trying her level best to come to grips with this evolving emotional insult, she may have felt heartened to know that although absent from her presence, there was the unstated unwritten assurance that their basic needs would be more readily fulfilled than under her care. Simply stated, they would be better looked after.
This now draws me closer to the flames, and let me unhesitatingly state that I am fully aware of the old Guyanese saying, post-mortem don’t bring back dead”. The converse to that is that “dead men tell no tales”, and between those two sayings may lie the truth and the crux of the matter.
The Preliminary Report was recently concluded, but I am, and confessedly may be the only one who is somewhat dissatisfied with the Staff’s recounting of events surrounding the demise of the two brothers. Something’s definitely fishy in Hadfield Street? What is the post-evacuation protocol in place at the Centre? Were the employees on duty at the time aware of the safety sites once evacuated?
The narration of events from the viewpoint of the worker on duty, Sharon Jones, may require the assistance of a lie detector to work along with the smoke detector, in order to get a glimmer of truth even when the smoke clears. Her credibility certainly leaves a lot to be desired, as it is replete with inconsistencies bordering on negligence. Objects were falling amidst a burning building and she seeks refuge by ducking under a bed.
In further recounting, it states that she grabbed the baby with one arm and four year old Antonio with the other arm. How long was she under the bed in this position of quasi safety measure, with outstretched arms and two minors? Was she not interested to know how the other occupants were faring in this unfolding emergency, and how were they affected by the falling objects that she earlier described?
Where was the other worker? Was she calling out for him? Was he calling out for her? The truth be told, her story has too many loose ends and loosing of hands to be neatly wrapped, at least around my mind, let alone my brain. Since becoming aware of the incident, it has and continues to be my firmly held belief, that the story of the four year old losing the hand of the adult, and returning to look for his brother, is a neatly served platter of doubt at best. It is directly intended to tug at the heartstring of any parent especially the mother, being comforted by the fact that even in their ordeal they still thought and cared for each other.
Small solace to the mother having the Government bear funeral expenses etc. What is imperative here, and would provide reassurance to other parents facing similar circumstances is a thorough (no stone left unturned) investigation of this tragedy, preferably by individuals skilled in such cases, especially that of analysis of oral recounting of the incident. Dead men may tell no tales but the truth never fails. As the saying goes: “Fools Talk but it’s not always Fools who Listen. Or is it? Condolences once again to the grieving parents and to their little friends.
Yvonne Sam

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