WHEN disaster strikes anywhere in the world it reinforces that we’re all in the same boat together and tends to bring people closer together.   It brings out the best qualities in people, selflessness and community solidarity.   People, rich and poor, near and from far around the world reach out to help. The Americans are often the first and so.  This is therefore not a swipe at the US, but a comment, to two things:
    How an administration responds doesn’t rest solely on the resources at its disposal.
    And, that there will always be those, whom when this is past, will attempt to find ways to disparage the response.

The image above speaks to the then President Bush’s and his team’s response to Katrina and the flooding in New Orleans.  Contrast this with the fact that although President Jagdeo was out of the country at the time, he was in close contact with his team.  Prime Minister Sam Hinds who had been sworn in as Acting President was quickly on the ground as a “first responder”, getting a first hand assessment of the situation.

Government Ministers, engineers, technical staff and supporting personnel also quickly joined the vanguard in a coordinated deployment of their areas of expertise along with Regional and Local authorities, the Civil Defence Commission, and others including: Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud  and Presidential Advisor Donald Ramotar. 

Shelters were set up with food and drinking water and affected families moved to them.  Water purifiers, containers, medical supplies and other supplies were distributed to residents.  And the team set out to far flung remote areas to meet the people and to provide and get updates on the situation.

On his return the President announced a $50M relief package and the government’s commitment in the short and long term.  This reassurance and commitment to do what ever is necessary to cushion the impact was relayed and re-affirmed by those on the ground.

The army is flying in supplies and along with the Regional Council are shuttling people away from hard hit areas.  Local radio communications with villages have been set up.  The Red Cross, Remote Area Medical and other volunteers are assisting.  And the private sector has joined in the relief effort.  Many other unnamed organizations, individual citizens, and groups are also involved. 

As of writing the flood waters are yet to subside. The havoc wreaked on the lives and livelihood of residents will be felt for sometime; and this is not the type of thing one wants to bring partisanship into.  Nor is favourable comparison to the Bush low water mark an occasion for joy.  But the response ought to be recognised for what it is.