Gov’t stands ready to assist flood victims – Min. of State

DPI, Guyana, Monday, September 30, 2019

“We are in a state of readiness,” proclaimed Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams after visiting Anna Catherina, one of the previously flooded communities in Region 3 on Monday. The minister was at the time assessing the damage and needs of the residents in many neighbourhoods affected by the recent spring tides.

Working side by side with the Civil Defence Commission’s (CDC) Director-General Lt. Col. Kester Craig, the State Minister noted the government is committed to bringing aid to the affected residents.

“We have been distributing drinking water to the families that are affected. We have already distributed cleaning supplies and we will continue to assist. We are now looking at procuring some food items because of course, they will need some food items to maintain their families,” said the State Minister.

Representative of DeSinco Limited hands over relief supplies to Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lt. Col. Kester Craig.

A resident of Anna Catherina, Chandrashekar Samlall.

Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams distributing water to residents of Zeelugt in Region 3.

Minister of State, Hon. Dawn Hastings-Williams and Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lt. Col. Kester Craig assesses households in Zeelugt.

Chandrashekar Samlall, a resident of Anna Catherina, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that he was pleased with government’s response mitigating the impacts of the flood.

According to the resident, “it was a very good of them to come and visit us in this type of situation… they were very brisk getting about their business.”

Neighbourhoods along the coast of Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been affected by the recent spring tides. In a press release, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure clarified that there have been no major breaches of the country’s sea and river defences. Mahaicony is the only exception since the earthen embankment is already vulnerable and has ongoing riprap sea defence works.

Earlier on Monday, DeSinco Limited handed over 45 cases of antibacterial soap to the CDC as part of its corporate social responsibility that will be distributed to the affected communities. The company plans to lend its support to 60 families affected by droughts in Kamana and Kanapang.

The CDC, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and other agencies are monitoring and evaluating the spring tide phenomenon. An aerial assessment exercise, aboard a GDF helicopter, of flood-hit Mahaicony was done Monday afternoon by Lt. Col. Craig along with the Public Infrastructure’s Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Kevin Samad.

The Springtide period will end on Wednesday, October 2.