Monitor the tide, heed advisories
─ CDC partnering with govt agencies to provide solutions for affected residents
─ disaster relief fund included in regional budgets
─ CDC is working with Guyana’s best interest at heart
─ sensitisation efforts have helped to reduce loss
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Several government agencies have rallied and activated response procedures following the October 27-30 unusually high tide alert.
The agencies comprise the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Sea and River Defence Department, National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) Mahaica Mahaicony Abary – Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Communities. The agencies rallied the respective forces to achieve appropriate and time-sensitive solutions for affected persons.
Apart from temporary emergency response measures, these agencies are working to provide long-term solutions to ensure Guyanese living along the coast are safe. Spearheading the climate resilience and response efforts is the Civil Defense Commission (CDC).
Senior Response Officer, Captain Salim October explained that CDC is working with Guyana’s best interest at heart. “Disaster risk management and emergency response are a highly bipartisan activity, and at the CDC we are very particular about ensuring that our response is people-based and based on the people on the ground,” October said.
To help mitigate the impact of Sunday’s spring tide, the GLDA had assisted farmers in the protection of their livestock by providing veterinary assistance, supplemental feeding, and the transport of animals to higher mounds.
“We have officers in the field in all the affected areas. Our main focus is the Mahaicony area in Region 5, and in that area, we have been doing a lot of work assisting the farmers,” said Colleen Bascom, a representative of GLDA.
According to the Technical Officers present at the meeting at CDC’s Thomas Lands headquarters, the sensitisation efforts have helped to reduce loss as residents have employed measures prescribed by the commission.
Loss assessment and disaster response is being carried out in Regions 3 and 5 today.
Residents living along the coastline in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are advised to take all necessary precautions to minimise damage to property and prevent any health hazard.