Arson suspected as Berbice home goes up in flames Death of baby Daycare facility was uncertified, ordered to close – file sent for legal advice on way forward

Days after seven-monthold Oriyah Gravesande suffocated and died at a private daycare at Ogle on the East Coast Demerara (ECD), Police said the file was compiled and sent to the DPP Chambers for legal advice on the way forward.

The Police stated that it was part of a joint investigation with the Child Care and Protection Agency and the Human Services and Social Security after which it was decided that the file should be sent for legal advice.

However, the owner of the daycare facility was granted cash bail and ordered to report to the Sparendaam Police Station, ECD, on a daily basis. Guyana Times was also informed that the operations at the daycare came to an abrupt halt following the incident.

Officials have also confirmed that the facility was uncertified for years and ought not to have been in operation. This raised questions about how such a facility could operate without proper authorisation.

On Tuesday, the infant’s mother, Shavanie Gravesande, was called to the facility after being informed that her daughter was unresponsive.

“They called me and tell me that our baby was unresponsive when they took her to the health centre, and by the time they reached the Georgetown Hospital, she was pronounced dead…she left home good, smiling and everything,” the child’s parent told the media.

The mother, devastated by the loss of her child, added that she was contacted two hours after the incident, and by the time she arrived at the hospital, she was told that her baby had died. A post-mortem examination performed on the body of the seven-month-old has revealed that the infant died from haemorrhage and compression to the neck.

The post-mortem examination was conducted on Wednesday by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Mortuary.

Alate-night fire on Saturday has left a hire car driver homeless after his Chesney Front, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) home went up in flames.

The fire was reportedly seen shortly after 21:00h. At the time, however, Safraz Mursalin was not at home.

Mursalin said he had gone to his aunt’s home at Number 62 Village, Corentyne, which is about 35 miles away. He said a friend called him and informed him about the fire.

When he arrived at the scene, there were two units from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) outside of his premises and the building was already completely destroyed. He explained that his house was fully furnished.

The only part of the building that was spared by the blaze was the washroom, which was situated in the lower flat.

“I did not even get to check and see what happened and the Police came to me and said that they need a statement and took me to the station. When I go there now, they lock me up till just now they loose me… since last night. Up to now, nobody told me why they lock me up,” Mursalin related on Sunday.

However, a source close to the investigating team told this publication that the fire might have started from the “step area”. The source also said that initial investigations seem to suggest that the fire was deliberately set. The Police and Fire Department are both investigating.

Mursalin said he does not know what his next move is but he would like to rebuild. Persons who wish to assist Mursalin can contact him on telephone number: 629-0143.