Following the crushing to death of an eight-year-old girl at the Alpha Children’s Home located at 34 Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam on Christmas Eve, a 17-year-old boy is to be charged with manslaughter.
On Christmas Eve, Neena Blaire formally of Edingburg Village, East Bank Berbice, was an occupant of the Alpha Children’s Home and was crushed to death at the orphanage where she was supposed to be kept safely until her mother serves her
Dead: Neena Blaire
sentence.
According to reports, Blaire was playing in the front yard on Christmas Eve Day when a male teenager who resides at the home since birth, decided to get behind the wheel of one of the two cars parked in the facility’s compound and take it for a drive in the yard.
The teen drove the car around in the yard and when he put the vehicle in reverse, he pressed the escalator instead of the brake. Reports indicate the vehicle hit Blaire. Nevertheless, she got up with little injuries but as the car continued to reverse, crashing into the banisters of the stairs. As a result of the impact, one of the spindles became dislodged and struck the eight-year-old, causing her to fall to the ground. The banister then collapsed on top of her. By the time she was picked up and taken to hospital, it was too late.
On Wednesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended that the teen driver be charged with manslaughter.
An autopsy conducted on the child gave her cause of death as brain
The dead child’s mother, Venus Lalloo
haemorrhaging.
The dead girl’s mother, Venus Lalloo, also called “Anita” was charged and fined $350,000 for child neglect. She was imprisoned for three weeks until the fine was paid.
Four of the children were taken away including a baby when she was taken to prison.
The mother of 13 is questioning the safety of the Alpha Home and is seeking the intervention of the authorities so she can be reunited with her two daughters who remain at the orphanage and the baby that is currently at a private home. (Andrew Carmichael)
