The fire on Sunday claimed one life and severely injured two others.
Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie Griffin informed parliamentarians of the appointment during a special contribution in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
To the Members of Parliament she said, "The past few days have been challenging to all of us, especially as parents. The Williemae Pratt Centre for Girls and the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys require our careful, analytical and prayerful attention more now than ever before. They are home to many of our troubled youth, our children."
The fire department was called at 2:00 a.m. Sunday to extinguish a fire in one of the dormitories, which housed three teenage girls.
Presently, two remain at the Princess Margaret Hospital's Intensive Care Unit, but 15-year-old Anastacia Alexandria succumbed to her injuries the following day.
Police are also still seeking the whereabouts of two others, 15-year-old Minnie Street resident and a 14-year-old resident of Moore Avenue, off Wulff Road, who escaped during the fire.
Meanwhile, the remaining 28 detainees and staff are receiving counselling.
Both the minister and the institution's administrators remain tight-lipped as to whether a security glitch may have hampered rescue efforts and lead to the two girls escape.
Minister Griffin did, however, express her "satisfaction that all arrangements for resident's safety and well-being are being met."
She said that the ministry is now anxious to receive the Committee's report and recommendations "to further enhance the lives of the residents of the Centres."
Other Committee members include: Attorney Jewel Major, Basil Dean, Chairpersons of the Visiting Committee for the Williemae Pratt Centre Charles Morris and Barbara Barnes.
Obviously unsatisfied with the appointments, Member of Parliament for South Andros Whitney Bastian, before Parliament adjourned for the day, requested the immediate appointment of a committee to "look into, evaluate the effectiveness and implement the necessary amendments," including:
* The fire alarm system or lack thereof in every institution owned and/or managed by the Government, particularly institutions providing housing and security of children, youth and the elderly in the capital and Family Islands, including the Early Childhood Development Centre, Elizabeth Estates and Bilney Lane Children's Home, Ranfurly Home for Children, the Children's Emergency Hostel, the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys, the Williemae Pratt Centre for Girls and all senior citizens homes;
* The security measures in place for securing the premises at all times,
* Accessibility to residents in the institutions by security personnel in the event of a disaster,
* A disaster preparedness plan in the event of a natural disaster,
* the infrastructure for the rehabilitation of the residents, including social, psychological, physical and spiritual;
* An established chain of command for employees of each institution and,
* Insurance coverage for each establishment with compensation extended to the residents.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
