SINCE  the commencement of El Nino in Guyana last year, Government has been directing resources across the country to cushion the effects. Irrigating lands and providing water for domestic consumption have been a priority of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government.
Owing to requests made by Amerindian villages in the South and South Central to assist with the impact of El Nino, Government had allocated resources, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline  Sukhai highlighted at a recent community meeting at Karaudarnau, Region Nine.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that the Ministry of Agriculture was last year provided $9.4M to deal with some of the initial requests.
Minister Sukhai noted that President Bharrat Jagdeo recently held discussions with Toshaos in the Rupununi where several requests were made for further support to combat the effects of the dry spell and other challenges were raised.
During that meeting the President made several commitments to the Toshaos and has since then directed a combined and coordinated support approach to abate the difficulties communities have been faced with.
“Upon returning to Georgetown we had sent issues to the relevant Ministries and immediately they began to acquire the type of resources that were committed at the meeting for distribution. The Ministry of Agriculture has sent up some items.”
The Ministry has sent water tanks, spray cans, a quantity of ant bait to control and eliminate acoushi ants, mobile pump with hose and planting materials.
It was noted that the President had also committed to provide some communities that were more desperate than others with cement and bricks to facilitate the expansion of community wells.
The Ministry of Housing and Water has taken up the challenge and has begun to provide the kind of support that will enable the provision of water for domestic purposes. The Minister added that the Community Development Officers have indicated that they are busy supporting the initiatives by Government.
Additionally, the Administration has been faced with allocating resources including chemicals to rid Amerindian communities of acoushi ants which have breeding grounds in many farms because of the dry conditions.
Residents of Karaudarnau have expressed that they are very appreciative of Government’s support during the El Nino crisis. They noted that the resources allocated have been assisting them to continue production.