– temporary housing and other arrangements underway
Following a devastating fire last evening which reduced the Mahdia shopping arcade to ashes, a Cabinet team led by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds (who is performing the duties of the President) and including Ministers Robeson Benn, Kellawan Lall and Dr. Jennifer Westford, flew into the area to conduct a damage assessment and needs analysis in an effort to extend some form of immediate relief and devise long-term solutions in the process of rebuilding. Subsequent to the damage assessment, the team made a number of immediate interventions. These include emergency shelter arrangements at the community’s school dormitory and a few urgently needed items, including drinking water, tents and cots, which were airlifted into the area from the Civil Defence Commission’s (CDC’s) warehouse.
The blaze which began at approximately 18:00hrs, gutted 25 buildings described as ‘residential shops’, despite diligent efforts to contain it, leaving 16 families homeless.
Speaking to the residents at the scene of the fire, Prime Minister Hinds assured that Central Government is in solidarity with them at this tragic time. He commended the residents on their alertness and quick response which negated the loss of lives and even enabled them to salvage some of their possessions.
Over the next few days, tents and sanitary facilities will be set up for the affected families behind the Mahdia Police Station and they will be provided with food hampers, cooking utensils and clothing.
The Prime Minister said that the issue of housing has to be prioritized, particularly for women and children, as they are considered most vulnerable.
Additionally, each family was given $10,000 by Minister Westford in an effort to provide some immediate financial independence and the Prime Minister committed $500,000 on Government’s behalf to be spent on providing immediate relief for the affected residents.
Meanwhile, the CDC is spearheading a coordinated emergency response by Government agencies, and as well as Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as the Guyana Relief Council, Food for the Poor, and the Guyana Red Cross Society. These supplies will be taken into the area today via trucks.
As it relates to long-term arrangements, the Prime Minister said that the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will be visiting the area next week to regularise a previously proposed housing area for the families to be relocated.
During the meeting, the victims lamented that some of the persons who appeared to be assisting them in salvaging items during the blaze turned out to be looters. In this regard, one individual has been arrested and a raid will be conducted by police ranks in the areas where it is suspected that the stolen items are being kept.
Moreover, the Mahdia Holy Family Church where some of the salvaged items were being kept was broken into by looters.