The proprietrix of the daycare centre that allegedly caused the death of seven-month-old Oriya Gravesande was remanded to prison today for the charge of manslaughter. She was arraigned before Magistrate, Alisha Fortune at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on March 21, Denise Benn, of Ogle East Coast Demerara, caused the death of the infant, who was left in her care. The Prosecution however objected to bail on the grounds that the charge is a serious one in nature and that it also carries a heavy penalty.
However, representing the interest of Benn, Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd, in an application for bail outlined that his client does not pose a flight risk and has been cooperating with the police since she was arrested over a week ago.
Todd further noted that the charge was only brought against his client because of public pressure, owing to the fact that she is the owner of the day care.
Guyana Standard was informed by a source close to the investigation that the children’s centre operated for almost 30 years. But what was alarming, according to the source, was that the facility operated under the radar. The proprietors never even applied for a licence to operate.
“There are usually inspections done on daycares maybe once or twice a year. And had it been done, there are certain safety measures that (would have been recommended to be) in place. The circumstances of this infant’s death prove that none of these measures were in place; not even a protocol (for safe treatment of children) was in place. They were clearly not monitoring this infant and that is a lesson for us all, ” The source said.
Seven-month-old Oriyah Gravesande suffocated and died at a private daycare at Ogle on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) last week. Twenty-four hours later, an autopsy revealed that she died of haemorrage and suffocation.
