HPS announces…
HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon announced yesterday that the Government has allocated an additional $300M towards relief from El Nino drought conditions.
He told the weekly media briefing, at Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, that El Nino is expected to prevail until the May/June period.
Luncheon said Government is funding wells and pumps to revive the livelihood of affected persons because the current situation is also exacting a heavy toll on coastal farmers and householders.
He acknowledged, as well, the hardship caused by a lack of a potable water supply to people in hinterland communities.
According to him, the latest allocation is to facilitate the operation of 23 pumps in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
Luncheon said the sum is in addition to a previous $258M that was provided to operate pumps in several regions on a 20-hour basis, costing $3.2M daily, to address the lower water levels,
In light of El Nino, he said the Administration has also made financing available to several other Regions to fulfill farmers’ irrigation needs.