HEART sees more than $75M in support to MV Barima affected families

More than $75 million in financial and material assistance has been provided to families affected by the MV Barima tragedy as the Government continues its recovery and support efforts through the Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust (HEART) Initiative.
Since its official launch in July, the initiative has coordinated assistance for more than 750 affected persons across Regions One through Ten. According to the HEART Secretariat, the assistance has included support for funeral, memorial and wake-related expenses, as well as educational, housing, legal and psychosocial services.
Educational assistance, including backpacks and school supplies, has been provided, while food hampers continue to be distributed to affected households. Housing assistance is also being advanced, with the Ministry of Housing approving 20 families for land and turn-key homes. Targeted relocation plans are also being developed for households displaced by the tragedy. The initiative is also assisting families with replacing important documents lost in the tragedy. Fast-track arrangements are being coordinated with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the replacement of national identification cards, passports and driver’s licences.
As part of its continued coordination of support, the HEART Secretariat is scheduled to meet with representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday, August 26, to finalise additional support frameworks. The initiative’s legal team will also shortly meet with affected families and their representatives in Region Four to provide guidance on legal matters arising from the tragedy. The HEART Initiative, led by Lead Coordinator Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Shepherd, was established to provide sustained support to survivors, bereaved families and affected communities beyond the immediate aftermath of the MV Barima tragedy.