Stabroek News contacted Director of Medical & Professional Services at the Georgetown Hospital, Dr Madan Rambarran, who is also acting Chief Executive Officer to clarify issues related to Trotman’s case. He declined to answer any questions “right now” but did not say when he would be willing to talk about Trotman.

When Trotman was brought to this newspaper’s office in February he had been found begging on the street. Officials at the Georgetown Public Hospital initially refused to admit him and it was only after much running around by this newspaper, that he was admitted despite it being obvious he was ill and severely malnourished.

Investigations later revealed that the child had been admitted to the hospital on several occasions before but had been sent back to the same home environment that could not help him get better.

Trotman spent over five months at the Georgetown Public Hospital and yet while sources at the hospital related what was wrong with the child he never received any medication for the particular disease.

The child’s stay mainly entailed him being kept in an isolated room, even though he was allowed to roam the children’s ward. He received a stream of visitors all of whom contributed to him being more comfortable at the hospital one way or the other.

Members of the United Women for Special Children became friends of Trotman and he looked forward to their daily visits for the food and care they would provide.

Sources say the child was only seen by a doctor, who could have treated him for the particular illness, days before he died, more than five months after he was admitted at the hospital.

And even though he was eventually seen by the doctor, he was not treated and since that time the doctor has not been available at the hospital.

Meanwhile, officials at the Ministry of Human Services & Social Security feel they did all they could.

A source at the probation and welfare department said that they would not be reviewing the child’s case as they had done everything possible.

According to the source, the first time the ministry came into contact with the seven-year-old child was when he was taken there by this newspaper in February. Since then they had assigned a welfare officer to the child’s case.

The source said they had not been told what illness the child was suffering from but it was obvious that he had been ill. It was related that the hospital had social workers who were responsible for contacting doctors in relation to cases like Trotman’s.

The source said that their officer had visited the child at the hospital regularly and on more than one occasion officials were actually intent on discharging the child.

However, the ministry insisted that he remain there since it was obvious that he was ill.

According to the source, the welfare department’s primary function was that of a court officer where they assist the magistrate or judge in sentencing persons.

They also assist members of the public but these persons have to visit the ministry for help.

It was pointed out that in some cases they did not have the legal jurisdiction to intervene in certain matters.

Also the department does not have the human resources to go out and help all those persons in need, so instead they deal with persons who visit the ministry and investigate cases that are telephoned into them.

“In my opinion we did all we could have done in the case of Akeem...” the source said, adding that they have been working with the boy’s mother and her remaining children.

The source pointed out that Trotman’s case was not unique but that there were several cases, some even worse, and the ministry had been doing its best with limited resources.