Opposition Leader makes donation to hinterland flood victims
As residents in several hinterland communities are working to rebuild their lives following last month’s severe floods, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has donated a substantive quantity of rice to the victims.
Heavy rainfall two weeks ago resulted in the overflowing of the Chenapau and Ireng rivers, causing severe flooding in the villages of Chenapau, Kaibarupai, Waipa, Sand Hills, Itabac and Kanapang all located in Region Eight (Potaro-Sipuruni). Additionally, villages in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) such as Kako, Wowetta, Jawalla, Waramadong, Imbaimadai, Phillipai, Amakokopai, Quebenang and Purima, were also affected by the heavy rainfall.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo handing over the rice to CDC Director General Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup with Opposition parliamentarians Nigel Dharamlall, Pauline Sukhai and Collin Croal watching on
The floods resulted in the destruction of personal property and belongings, crops and farms, community and public infrastructure affecting more than 3000 residents in the flooded villages.
In this regard, donation has been pouring from sections of the Guyanese society with the latest being the former Head of State. Jagdeo, on Saturday, handed over several bags of rice to Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel (Retired) Chabilall Ramsarup to assist in the relief efforts currently on going in the flood-affected areas in the two regions.
A statement from the Opposition Leader’s Office outlined that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Opposition is committed to ensuring that the affected villages return to a life of normalcy and indicated its support to the CDC efforts in these regions.
To this end, during the simple donation ceremony, Jagdeo committed that the parliamentary Opposition will encourage the Government to seek additional budgetary support to effect the on-going relief and recovery phases of this disaster.
Two weeks ago, two engineers from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) as well as technical staff from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) were deployed to conduct an assessment of the damaged roads and buildings and to facilitate water quality testing and set up purification systems, with a view to determining the long-term response that will be required from the State.
The team have since completed the assessment and are in the process of preparing their reports for actions to be taken. This was done even as the residents have expressed their satisfaction with the response by the Government to their needs after last week’s devastating flash floods.
Nevertheless, calls are being made for the CDC to extend its disaster preparedness master plan and operational mechanisms to all the regions, and to respond more effectively to natural disasters such as this, especially in light of the fact that climate change and more unpredictable and intense weather patterns will make many communities in Guyana more vulnerable.
