Drought affected Residents in Region 9 receive assistance
Georgetown GINA, June 1, 2016
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in collaboration with PKF, Barcellos, Narine & Company, handed over a quantity of food supplies to help residents who were affected by the prolonged drought in sections of Region Nine. The items were handed over to the Regional Chairman, Bryan Allicock.
The Regional Chairman expressed gratitude to the two bodies, noting that the gesture will go a long way towards assisting the residents. “We must thank the company for generously donating these items…This came in at the most appropriate time because some of our smaller communities are experiencing some difficulties in harvesting their crops,” he said.
According to the Regional Chairman, the drought has had a severe impact on the cassava crop. “It was so dry that only about three millimeters of cassava on the tubers itself could be harvested and it would take about 5-6 bags of cassava tubers harvested in order to get one to make ferine or cassava bread…I know the people will be very happy to have some food coming in,” Allicock said.
The Chairman sincerely hopes that other companies embark on similar gestures to aid the people of the affected areas.
Meanwhile PKF, Barcellos, Narine & Company’s Administrative Assistant, Sabrena Dwarkha said that she also hopes that the undertaking will serve as an example to other companies and inspire them to assist in the situation.
Additionally, Deputy Director General of the CDC, Major Kester Craig, thanked the company for lending a helping hand. He said that the company reached out to CDC offering their assistance.
The prolonged El Nino dry weather condition had led to an intensified drought especially in the Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu, (Region Nine) since 2015. This brought numerous hardships to farmers and residents in the area.
Government officials made several visits to the affected communities, resulting in meetings with residents and assistance being provided. This included the distribution of 220 buckets and filters along with thirty five – 450 gallon water tanks and fifteen water pumps.
Regions One (Barima-Waini); Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), were also affected by El Nino and government made necessary interventions .