From Doha News
Perhaps this can answer a few questions about licensure:
A close relative of Gympanzee owner Iman Al Kuwari has spoken to Doha News on condition of anonymity to address some of the questions being asked about her and the center.
He said Kuwari continues to be detained for questioning - but not arrested - along with four Villaggio executives.
He added that the reason Gympanzee was not licensed through the Ministry of Social Affairs is because it is not a nursery.
“It’s always been an activity center,” he said. “A nursery involves school. ..(this) is like a baby-sitting thing.”
In that regard, Gympanzee held all the commercial permits it needed, he said, including approval from the Civil Defense Department three weeks ago.
The relative also called attention to the various obstacles firefighters encountered during the rescue effort, including malfunctioning sprinkler systems, lack of emergency lighting and the unavailability of floor plans.
“We know there is an investigation going on and we don’t want to undermine it…(but) this is to give a full picture,” he said.
Mandi
Wow, these are strange times. Flor, I agree with you! Toilets and prayer rooms are isolated and often the place for a secretive smoker to stash a butt. If you see, hear or smell something, say something!
Mandi
it's just unfortunate that it was transformed to such activity center or daycare or nursery. If the management of Villagio are just familiar with the word fire trap, they would not lease that place as such. And there are such many areas on commercial establishment. Watch out for toilets or prayer room which are very far from fire exits or doors for many of these areas are placed on secluded portion of malls. Don't stay too long as alarm are not usually heard from these places.
Qatarisun, what are the "strict H&S rules" (Qatarisun, 2012)?
daycare and nursery are two different things.
Daycare is a babysitting, nursery is a school. Another thing, in terms of safety, it shouldn't make any difference whether it's a school, or kids' playground, or kids' entertainment centre . They should have followed same strict H&S rules on the highest standards, as long as KIDS are involved
Did the parents have full disclosure that this place was not a nursery/daycare but a kid's entertainment centre? Sounds like the minister's kid is going to get off scott-free for murdering 19 people. What a shame.
But they were acting as a daycare/nursery, because this was the first place I have visited when I first came to Doha and that is exactly what they were offering.
From a tweet on Dohanews:
Gympanzee play area #Villagiofire was lawfully registered as "centre for children's amusement."
Mandi
so now the teachers were clowns/entertainers?
Its a lapse of the full system, the licensing, the security systems, the mall....everyone!!!dont try to put blame on one person and escape...all shud be punished!!!only then such things wont happen in future....
Then u shud blame the people who gave permission or gave license!!!......@moza@sana
No, it was not an educational institution.
Mandi
did it have SEC permission?
Familiar with UBBL & CF...ermmm
Yes, baby sittings, day care centers and nurseries are instructed to manage/accommodate on ground floor by SEC.
in qatar u r not allowed to accommodate nursery chil
drens on first floor,,,,,its must b on g floor
It doesn't seem to make sense but I believe she had all the necessary permits. Obviously they weren't sufficient for safety.
Mandi
i am agree with moza plus how they allow ** ACTIVITY CENTER** on 2nd floor??????
He added that the reason Gympanzee was not licensed through the Ministry of Social Affairs is because it is not a nursery.
“It’s always been an activity center,” he said. “A nursery involves school. ..(this) is like a baby-sitting thing.”
No Comment. OK, just one.
I don't run a bar, I just run a place where people can sit and have a drink.....
attempting to rescue they did the best they can with the limitations they had
I think they did a great job