Family of child crushed by palm tree gets cash assistance

Close to four months after a palm tree crushed a child to death when it fell on her East La Penitence home, Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster gave close to $300,000 to the family on Wednesday.

Webster said despite the tardiness of the assistance, she hopes the money will help with the reconstruction of the family?s home at a different location, which the ministry hopes to get through the Housing Ministry.

Junior Hackette, who received the cheque, thanked the minister for the donation. He said he will use the money to rebuild a home for his family and is hoping that land could be provided for this. Hackette lost his five-year-old daughter, Temeicia Hackette, after a tree fell on their Freeman Street, East La Penitence home. Several family members were also injured during the incident in October last year.

A similar incident occurred in January; a tree fell and destroyed part of a concrete home in North East La Penitence. Shieldston Roberts, 73, said he was going to nap, but decided to go to the barber instead. A few minutes later, he heard the news that a tree fell, destroying his bedroom and bed.

There have been many cases, over the past few years, where trees have destroyed homes. In the case of the Hackettes, their house was illegally built, since it is on government?s reserve.

Source: http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/2012/02/16/family-of-child-crushed-by-palm-tree-gets-cash-assistance/

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