Owners to be arrested

mall is the work of the mall leasing department. I am not sure if all potential leassee are ask to get Civil Defence clearance and if in the business permit clearance it is specified to get also CD clearance. But the mall as a whole is required before opening to pass CD scrutiny.

Somewhere, somehow, there were lapses in the procedures. That is what to be identified and solutions be set.

Now if the nursery had no license to operate that kind of explain why the Civil defence had no ideal of its existence, which rises the other question how the *** did that happen, 19 lives families are in agony, can some body explain to them and me how that nursery was opened for such a long time without anybody noticing that….

I remember going there in 2010 and thinking are we there yet “coz the corridors was soo long and when we got there I was already put-off as it seemed like it’s the only way in and out and don’t get me started at how much they charged……

I work at a nursery where it has turned into a nightmare coz we have routine check for every ministry possible “got to a point we think it’s a plot to close the nursery and maybe it is” and to their surprise the owner of the nursery well 49% of it makes sure all is in order (a very nice Indian woman)…. My point been who is going to bother a nursery that no one knows it’s there plus have you checked who her father is “now here is a scenario…..an Indian guy comes claiming he’s from so and so ministry wanting to inspect this or that and what does he get as a reply……… “do you know who the owner is????” he who has no ideal is off-course filled in about the ownership……and since he has a family to feed so all he does is forge whatever needs to be forged and off he goes….

Thanks Mandi, you are a gem for passing this news before we read newspaper :)

After an exhausting day, Doha News came back on-line last night at 1 am to break this news.

Mandi

This information is published in Peninsula and Gulf News today.

@Ingeni-they are not sole responsible for the mishap; several other factors also got combined.

they should arrest Civil Defense & Municipality officials also!

Thanks Mandi for the information!

Right, the authorities sanctioned a potential fire-trap, knowingly or unknowingly. Let's be fair and say, they don't know what they're doing.

it is still a fire trap. So the issue really was to avoid this fire trap areas! It can be a beauty saloon or a barber shop or a specialty boutique, whatever it is, the fact remains that area was a fire trap. It's just too unfortunate that it was occupied by a nursery.

and even big schools operating under probationary license only. Check with SEC!

When it comes to the cleanleness of beauty salons, they do check every week... and ladies from the authorities get very angry if they find one brush not on it's place... But when it comes to safety of the nursery - some how the owner manage to operate it for years (!) without license and so - without any safety checks? How it that possible?! The ones who are responsible must be locked for LIFE!

Gympanzee initially was only opened to be a drop off area and play area which later became a full fledged Nursery. They are play areas in Malls all over the Middleast where you leave you kids and go for shopping for a few hours.

But as their Website suggests, Gympanzee was operating as a Nursery catering for kids from 6 months to 4 years. They also offered potting training etc. Even birthday parties were organised at that place.

This shows that there is one rule for the ordinary folk and another for those with connections..

Let us wait and see.

a law for protecting whistle blowers of safety issues is what the MoI needs. Many afraid to speak up and loose their jobs, and many agree to accept half done projects afraid being replaced by others who will accept anything.

not really good to lose face on matters such as security and safety issues, especially when lives are involved.

i agree with translator... too... that is the original problem.

Speaking up and whilstle blowing is must; should start at right levels with authority, i agree with translator.

obviously, the system as a whole may have had lapsus, and faults (wasta, bribery, ...). and maybe not all the truth will prevail, but if from now on everything changes, it's still a good achievemnet.

Lets watch, all high hands involved in running a commercial Nursery and how justice takes place in Qatar.

Nobody is above the law

Perhaps corruption has prevailed and will now be exposed.

every month we have checks and control popping out at my workplace. from health controlers, to work ministry (check the work permits ofpersonel), to environement ministry (medical wastes and X-rays radiations) even commerce ministry (checking the price lists)...

did these inpestors visit the nursery? who forbid these inspectors from inspecting the nursery and closing it down?

and who checks if the nursery has a license must be questioned: why didn't he/them check for licence before?

if they did, who forbid u from carrying on ur job, and closing it down?

They should be arresting the ones who issued the licence to these establishments, yes the same morons who torture the small kiosk and groceries while giving their permits.

they should take under custody those authorized to approve the safety standards of the Mall in the first place... as far as i know, you cannot inaugurate a commercial premises until you pass the fire safety standards that is inspected by government officials...

so the appointed investigators must re analyze the situation and reach the root culprits...IMO

If gympanzee did not have a liscence to operate as a nursery, which your link confirms, then justice must be served at the very highest levels including the owner, the mall operator, QCDD and the MOI.

Somehow though I doubt this very much. Shame on all involved in allowing this horendous nightmare to unfold, I hope you you remember each and everyone of the victims every time you look in the mirror and that you carry the burden of guilt with you to your grave

A good move? That is just one side, are they going to arrest the other side or they are just going to use these five as scapegoats?

What about the authority that approved the mall? Are there no periodic checks for safety installations etc?

According to Alraya newspaper today , An official at the social affairs ministry confirms that Gympanzee has no license

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A//www.raya.com/site/topics/article.asp%3Fcu_no%3D2%26item_no%3D646797%26version%3D1%26template_id%3D20%26parent_id%3D19

That's shocking Genesis.

As per the roads, no smoking and other laws in Qatar many see them as just recommendations or suggestions. Hopefully the culture will change.

well if that's the case MN- very bad indeed.

Well I just learnt the nursery was not licensed.

Great move !

This is definitely going to turn out ugly for some folks

I would like to know how this is the owner of Gympanzee fault. If she had all the approval from the ministries to open, and complied with all the regulations how can she be blamed? Shouldn't then the inspectors and those who approved her business as well be arrested?? She leased/rented her space from Villaggio, so how can she be responsible for the fact that the owners/managers of the mall cut corners and didn't ensure building safety?

Now for the others I completely agree- and hope that the owners of the mall are arrested as they are ultimately in charge of making sure all safety regulations and procedures are followed instead of just profiting from the shortcuts taken.

Let us wait and see.

A good first step, let's wait for the outcome

I know the Assist Manager Rema): She was one of our good clients.

"business as usual" in Qatar whereby those with money and power are let off scot free. Justice for the children!

well let us wait and see what would be the outcome of several arrests and investigations and maybe after sometime this tragic event will be forgotten and only sorry to all the victims..

kindly provide the source

Not trying to sweep this under the carpet.

My friend 19 people have been reported dead, 11 out of them were children.

Lets hope they get more than a slap on the wrist. But they also need to look into the Ministry to see how they were able to get away with ignoring the safety laws. Money no doubt changed hands somewhere.

They should also arrest the persons responsible for the training of the fire fighters that died in this tragedy, cause if they were trained correctly we would have not lost those brave souls tht will put their lives at risk for others.

a good move indeed. But for the amount of culpability, let's hope there would be a fair assessment.

Alhumdolillah, atleast hope for the justice now...The people who are responsible for this should be punished accordingly so that these kind of accidents never happen again!!

I am pleased to see action taking place

In most areas of development it is unfair to critize as the country is still in a rapid pace of development, however in the case of an unlawful killing that cannot be the excuse.

WELL DONE

The investigation report, or a suitable version of it, should be publicly available when it is completed, and hopefully in multiple languages. A wake-up shock wave should start among people living in this country teaching that safety is not a luxury option. I trust that H.E the Minister of Interior will not let this tragedy pass easily.

finally! Honestly among all the things I am grieving for is the frightening possibility of those responsible(or should I say irresponsible) getting off the hook. No one should be above the law..the time has come for Qatar to prove this both to their own citizens and to the rest of the world!

Good move but I thought an Al Thani owned the mall so is ultimately responsible. Innocent until proven guilty but there role must be investigated.

tfs

It's a start. Let's see if they can finish.

azi, 100% Agree with you & Blood Money would be kept as an Open Option as well, as it has happened before as well in Qatar...

and I am afraid those in the lower ranks or those in the bottom of the food chain will be taking the blame.

If they were responsible in any way for the fire then they should be punished appropriately...

But remember they are innocent until proven guilty...

It's good to see the Government taking action and not trying to sweep this under the carpet!

Great move...

Well done Qatar..

More complete information:

Qatar’s attorney general has ordered the arrest of some five people associated with Monday’s tragedy, including Villaggio mall’s owner and the owner of Gympanzee, QNA reports.

Dr. Ali Bin Al-Marri Fetais also ordered that the mall manager, the assistant manager and the assistant director of security be detained as part of the investigation.

The owner of Gympanzee is Iman Al Kuwari, whose father is Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

According to Villagio’s website, the chairman is Abdul Aziz Mohammed Al-Rabban.

The mall’s manager is Tzoulios Tzouliou and the assistant manager is Rima Itani.

Doha News had received reports that Tzouliou and Itani have been in custody since Monday, but could not confirm them.

The AG has also ordered the seizure of documentation critical to the investigation, including operating licenses.

Mandi

I must say I am shocked.

Mandi