After death of youngest child, mother hopes to reunite with other kids at orphanage

After her youngest child died on Thursday last from injuries she sustained in a vehicular accident, 31-year-old Melissa Samantha Ragnauth of Adventure, Essequibo Coast is hoping to reunite with her two other children who were placed in an orphanage eight years ago.

Revattie Pooran, 12, died in the intensive care unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital on June 9, some eight weeks after she was struck down by a car while crossing the Railway Embankment Public Road at Industry, East Coast Demerara.

She suffered a fractured skull, punctured lungs, among other injuries. She was laid to rest on Wednesday.

The girl’s mother told the News Room that due to a domestic issue with her ex-husband, the kids were placed at the orphanage in 2014. At the time, they were ages 4, 7, and 8.

Ragnauth claimed that she has been visiting her children over the years but it is difficult since she resides in Essequibo.

“I would be glad to get back my other children,” Ragnauth said at her daughter’s funeral service held at the Sandy’s Funeral Home in Georgetown.

Ragnauth has two sons remaining at the orphanage.

Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene told the News Room on Wednesday that the agency is always willing to reunite children placed into the system with their families.

And according to Greene, in the case of these children, the agency has been trying to reunite them with their parents for a while.

“Anybody who [has] a child in a home and they [the family has] a place for them…we will put the children with them but we [have] to be sure that the children will be safe,” the director emphasised.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Regional Commander Simon McBean told the News Room that the file into the accident is being prepared to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. The driver of the car was initially arrested and released on station bail.

Commander McBean said given the fact that the child has died, further investigations will be conducted.