President Granger mourns loss of young lives -Drop-In Centre Fire 

Georgetown, Guyana – (June 8, 2016) President David Granger is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic fire, which took the lives of two young children at the Children’s Drop-in Centre on Hadfield Street in Georgetown on Thursday night.  The President mourns the loss life of these children, who will never have the opportunity to rise above their circumstances.

President David Granger also has in his thoughts the other children, who depended on the Centre, which is administered under the Child Care and Protection Agency, for shelter and support and who are, no doubt, traumatised by that horrific experience.  The Head of State will work with the Ministry of Social Protection to ensure that counselling services are provided to the 28 children, who are now housed at the Sophia Care Centre.

According to initial reports, the fire at the Centre started at approximately 23:30hrs, where thirty children had been housed.  Earlier this year, work was commenced on the centre to improve the conditions under, which vulnerable children were housed.  At the time of the fire, the girl’s dorm had been completely refurbished and works were on-going on the boy’s dorm.

The circumstances of the fire are being investigated.