Kanapang residents benefit from stove and nets – after request made to Minister Harmon
Georgetown, Guyana – (May 22, 2017) Residents of Kanapang village, Potaro –Siparuni (Region Eight) will be benefiting from a gas stove as well as a quantity of mosquito nets and footballs, one day after they requested same from Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon.
During a visit to the village on Sunday, Toshao Charles Lewis asked the Minister to provide a stove and other utensils for the school’s kitchen, as everything had been washed away by the floodwaters. He also requested a quantity of mosquito nets and footballs for the children. In response, Minister Harmon pledged to see what could be done to immediately assist the village.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Office of Gaico Construction and General Services Incorporated, Mr. Komal Singh, who is a close partner of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) was contacted and he immediately offered to provide assistance. The gas stove, equipped with all fittings, as well as bottle of gas, will be provided for the community.
In an invited comment, Mr. Singh said that the company strongly believes in corporate social responsibility and, especially at this time, it is even more important that people come together to assist the affected residents.
“For our company, we have always believed in corporate responsibility and since we saw the flooding last week, we immediately contacted CDC and contributed foodstuff and cleaning agents. When we heard about the need for the stove, we thought that it would be a tangible donation because even if it’s one item, it is going to be able to satisfy a mass of children and so we responded,” he said.
The items will be taken to the CDC’s Forward Operations Base at Orinduik, after which it will be shuttled to the village by the end of tomorrow.
In addition to Mr. Singh, the CDC extends gratitude to all the entities, and individuals, that contributed to its relief efforts, namely Food for the Poor Incorporated, Ansa McAl Trading, Mr. Nand Persaud of Nand Persaud Company Limited, the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA), Banks DIH Limited, Ms. Melissa Younge of Dunae Trading, Ms. Thamesha Watson (Miss World Guyana semi-finalist), Mr. Dwayne Brhamdeow, Operations Adviser, Prevention of Teenage Suicide Guyana, Mr. Eddie Doolall, SVC Pharmacy, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the Remote Area Medical and Sterling Products Limited.
The CDC has identified additional needs of the residents in the affected villages and these include water tanks, buckets, water purification tablets, mosquito nets, insect repellent, mattresses, tarpaulin, clothing, rechargeable lamps and sports equipment.
All donations can be made to the CDC at it’s Thomas Lands location and the National Emergency Operations Centre can be contacted at (592) 226-1114, 226-8815, 226-1027 or 225-5847 or (592) 623-1700/600-7500.