Guyanese living in Trinidad and Tobago, have turned to the Guyana government for assistance in light of the recent mass flooding in the twin-island state.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, so far there has been a request for assistance for repatriation as well as three requests for financial assistance.
Greenidge made this disclosure in the National Assembly on Wednesday in response to questions from Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who had queried about measures put in place to help those affected Guyanese living in Trinidad. Teixeira said that the Opposition Leader’s office has received many calls from Guyanese living in the twin-island republic who are complaining of not being able to obtain any advice or assistance from Guyana’s consulate there.
However, the Foreign Affairs Minister rubbishing this claim, says that the Guyanese High Commission in Trinidad is already helping out a few persons who reached out for assistance.
“Let me say that as far as up to [Wednesday] the High Commission has received one request for assistance in repatriating someone to Guyana and three other requests for financial assistance, and those persons are due to go into the High Commission so as to indicate more clearly what their needs are. So I’m very much surprised that it should be suggested that Guyanese are having difficulties [in getting help there],” Greenidge stated.
Guyana established a High Commission in Trinidad back in 2016 and according to the Foreign Affairs Minister, there has been a lot of interface between the High
Severe flooding in Trinidad and Tobago last week
Commissioner and the Guyanese community in the twin-island state.
He went on to remind that the coalition Government stood up to the task and provided transportation for Guyanese, from the various Caribbean countries who were affected during the horrific hurricane season, to return home.
With regard to rendering assistance to the Government of Trinidad, Minister Greenidge posited that Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has already contacted the Trinidadian authorities and indicate its willingness to help.
“As I believe what is normal in such circumstances, between our CDC and the Trinidad authorities, we are determining what specific needs they have. But there is a general agreement that we may be requested to provide assistance by the way of food stuff, fresh food and vegetables but that hasn’t yet been specified,” he stated.
The Minister was referring to existing framework agreements between the two countries that cater for cooperate and assistance requests.
Moreover, he posited that President David Granger in a recent engagement with Trinidad’s Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, also indicated and discussed Guyana’s willingness to assist the twin island nation. He added too that there is an accepted framework in the region in cases of emergencies whereby the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) takes over the relief and assistance aspect. He explained that CDEMA determines what is needed, having consulted with the affected country and those offering assistance, and who is in a better position to provide that.
“So this is not a case of abandonment or neglect of our obligations as a member of Caricom (Caribbean Community) or the failure of the Consular Services of Guyana to deliver assistance to Guyanese. Things are in place and we are monitoring the situation… We will do whatever it takes to render assistance,” asserted Minister Greenidge.
As a result of torrential rain over the past few weeks, massive floods hit sections of the twin-island state rendering thousands homeless.
In fact, the weather conditions are worsening and heavy showers on Tuesday night have resulted in a ‘YELLOW alert’ being put in effect from Wednesday through Friday as the conditions are expected to last, according to local reports.
