The director’s father was arrested for intentional bodily harm resulting in death, the director herself was charged.
The case has caused a stir in recent days, as the nursery has been the subject of complaints and reports for some time. However, it was never forced to close.
The emotion aroused in Flanders by this death rose on Wednesday in the Flemish parliament.
Within the opposition, various groups have asked the Minister of Well-Being to assume his “political responsibility”. Wouter Beke, for his part, said that the initiatives of recent years seemed to have been insufficient. “We have to act very, very quickly to avoid such situations in the future. This is also the reason why I asked for an audit,” the minister said.
“A child has died, Minister. And this when all the alarm bells should have gone off. The day care center in question was inspected 12 times between 2013 and 2019,” said Flemish MP Groen, Celia Groothedde.
“You have been questioned three times in Parliament in the last two years regarding incidents where the safety and integrity of children have been compromised. Despite all these warnings, you have done nothing to protect the safety of children (. ..) We must put an end to indifference, and to your politics”, added Hannelore Goeman (Vooruit).
The Vlaams Belang and the PVDA (PTB) were not softer.
The majority was also critical of the minister. Freya Saeys (Open Vld) and Koen Daniëls (N-VA) also insisted on the numerous inspections and the various parliamentary questions. “It also raises a lot of questions for us. How might this have happened? How might we have avoided this?” said Katrien Schryvers (CD&V). “It creates a feeling of disbelief. Parents need to be able to be sure that their child will receive good care. Although a lot has already been done, there is still a lot of work to be done.”
“I haven’t slept from it for nights,” Wouter Beke said in his response. Without convincing the opposition, the minister also put forward figures.
For example, according to Minister Beke, in 2019 measures were taken in six crèches. In 2020, there were 79 interventions. The nursery in question in Mariakerke was not one of them. “I too have wondered why no action has been taken. How is this happening? This is what the audit I announced must clarify, as well as the lessons that can be drawn from it. , and the assessment tools that one can use, added Minister Beke, adding that in the future, it will be necessary to act more quickly to avoid this.