$10M to support construction of new homes for Kaibarupai, Chenapau residents

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, February 1, 2018

The government has set aside the sum of $10M to support the reconstruction of homes for residents of Kaibarupai and Chenapau, Region Eight. These communities were severely affected by floods during heavy rainfall in May 2017.

Late last year, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe visited Kaibarupai village to discuss details of the project. The community is expected to receive the sum of $5M towards this venture.

Minister Garrido-Lowe told the Department of Public Information (DPI) in a recent interview, that the monies will be spent to purchase generators, power saws and zinc sheets for the residents. She encouraged them to establish ‘uniform housing’ where persons would be able to access electricity, internet service, water among other amenities.

The Minister said that the plan is to rebuild the homes in a ‘safe zone’ where the houses will be constructed one particular design, to be agreed upon by the residents.

In the case of the Chenapau Village who will also receive $5M, the minister said she is yet to visit the community and engage the residents in discussions on the project.

In 2017, several farmlands and homes at Kaibarupai, Waipa, Chenapau, Itabac, Kanapang, Kopinang and Sand Hill Settlement, Region Eight were flooded to a depth of 10 to 25 feet. A total of 521 households and 266 farmlands were affected during the flood while 61 houses were damaged and 56 were washed away.

Millions of dollars were expended to provide support to those communities in the form of food items, detergents, water tanks among others.

 

By: Synieka Thorne

 

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