Govt prepared to provide extended period of relief
THE flood waters in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) have not receded to any significant degree nor have they kept on rising; and government, having conceded that the region this time faced the worst flooding ever, is prepared to ‘provide an extended period of relief to the communities’ that have been sorely affected. This most recent report was related yesterday by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-cabinet press briefing.
Speaking at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, Luncheon, also Cabinet Secretary, said the situation is somewhat different in some of the villages where flood waters have  continued to rise.
Support has been provided to those areas significantly affected, such as Gunns, Sand Creek, and Karasabai, heading into the Pakaraimas. “The expectation is that this relief effort will be continuing indefinitely,” Luncheon said, adding that the communities have all been communicated with, either by a direct visit or by radio.
He said the disaster in Region 9 has stirred the administration to a full-fledged response to the plight of the affected communities.
According to him, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who led government’s response to the region’s disaster, gave an on-the-ground assessment during his visit to Region 9. That response included mobilization of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the establishment of the regional response mechanism.
Luncheon said Hinds indicated that the situation was dire, particularly over the weekend with rising waters flooding the low-lying areas. Lands, homes, farms, and businesses have been affected and the electricity and telecommunication sectors have also been threatened.
Luncheon reported that the flooding made the road transportation system unserviceable, under many feet of water.
Because the flooding has removed the daily means of transportation, Luncheon said air flights and riverine transportation are the main ways of getting around and implementing disaster responses.
“So we’re looking at sustaining relief by flying in and stockpiling goods, supplies and even services into the main areas…the mobilization of the CDC would ensure that conditions experienced are brought to the attention of decision makers.”
President Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday, declared that government is treating the flood wreaking havoc in Region 9 as a national emergency, and said no effort or resources would be spared in bringing relief to those suffering there.
“We committed to and spent probably close to $50M, but there is no limit to bringing relief to our people. So whatever is necessary to bring relief we will spend it, over the short term and long term,” said President Jagdeo.
Noting that this is not a short-term arrangement, President Jagdeo said the plan is to help people over the long term. “I have also asked that a team visit the Berbice River. I have heard that the water has risen by Kwakwani. Tomorrow (Wednesday) there will be a team going in there to look at Kwakwani and all the other villages along the Berbice River to [ensure] that we are on top of this situation. If people in those areas need some assistance, we will get [that assistance] to them too,” he said.
With six or more days of rainfall expected, government is continuing its focused support, with the major intervention being delivery of  food to the communities.
The president said that while fuel on its way to Lethem has been delayed because of the poor condition of the road, the teams on the ground are making efforts to take that fuel to Lethem by boat.
The President also spoke of the possibility of sourcing fuel from neighbouring Brazil, if necessary.
According to reports, heavy rains have been pushing the basins of the Ireng and Rio Branco rivers on the Guyana-Brazil border to their limits, forcing water into the already swollen tributaries, which then spread to other low-lying areas.
It is the second time in about two weeks that Lethem and its surrounding areas have come under flood waters, which menaced the areas in the third week of May last,also.