Harmon defends CDC’s late response to Region 8 floods

…says it was State resources that had to bring relief

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, yesterday defended criticisms against the Civil Defence Commission’s (CDC’s) response to the flood-hit communities of Region 8 by saying that it was the resources of the State which had allowed for the supplies to reach the affected communities.
Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of a Diaspora Conference held at the Guyana Pegasus on Monday, Harmon was asked to respond to criticisms of the CDC’s response in face of efforts by organisations such as the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), which claimed to have provided assistance to the beleaguered communities at least 24 hours before the Government-backed CDC.
APA representatives had complained that, 48 hours after the initial floods had started this week, the CDC was yet to arrive on the ground to provide any support to communities; but the
APA had been able to dispatch a planeload of supplies, which landed it in the affected region ahead of the CDC’s efforts.
According to the Government’s chief spokesperson, “It is not true to say they (APA) getting into communities.” Harmon declared that communities such as “Itabac and Kanapang were cut off by road, and therefore our visit there was the first visit that had gone in there.”
This statement was made in reference to a Government led delegation headed by Junior Indigenous Peoples Affairs Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe that had gone into the flood affected areas.
He told reporters that the APA and other organisations “would have been able to get support from what we call the forward logistic bases at Orinduik and another base which had already been set up.” From there, according to the Minister of State, the supplies are then ferried into the affected communities using the resource of the state; namely, helicopters and boats.
“So they (were) able to get (their supplies) to those bases; but to actually get (their supplies) to the communities, to the villages that were affected, required something else. And what we did yesterday (was that) we were able to fly in supplies to Orinduik, and from there utilise a helicopter… It was really the resource of the State that had to bring that relief,” Harmon explained.

Minister Harmon examines an area in Itabac, where two houses were washed away

In regard to the CDC asking for public donations to take into flood-hit communities, the Minister told media operatives that the entity does not stockpile perishables. “…so that when these activities come up, they, of their own accord and resources, can actually purchase some of these items; but they are never enough… So we always have to ask; will (always) have to resort to the good nature – the community spirit – of companies in Guyana, so that they can help in this effort,” Harmon explained.

Rebuilt
The Minister announced that those whose homes had been completely washed away would be provided with Government assistance to rebuild. “I had the opportunity to see some people’s homes that were actually completely moved away; washed away by the flood waters… On those occasion, I said to the resident, ‘We will cooperate with (the) community and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs to ensure that those houses are rebuilt in a short space of time’.” Minister Harmon said, “I believe our engagement yesterday was very productive, and the residents were able to see that – irrespective of where they are, where they live – this Government will find them and ensure that the resources of the state are placed at their disposal.”
Hundreds of persons were forced to seek refuge this past week when the banks of the Potaro River overtopped, inundating homes in as much as 15 feet of water.
The CDC, as late as last Friday, was unable to access the villages; and CDC Director, Colonel (rtd) Chabilall Ramsarup, had explained, “We couldn’t touch down on any strip because of the water, and the skyvan could not have touched down on the airstrip because of the size.”