Government committed to long haul financial household support
THE Government has committed to implementing a ‘financial household support initiative’ in its effort to prove that ‘it is in for the long haul’ in providing relief to residents who suffered significant losses in the worst ever flooding of Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
Making the announcement yesterday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon told the media it would bear some similarity to the exercise carried out during the coastal flooding in 2005, when householders and others affected were provided with financial support by the Government.
In 2005, when Guyana experienced calamitous and unprecedented floods in several parts of the country, farmers in Regions 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) and 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne), whose crops were destroyed, received $10,000 relief and an additional $10,000 for each acre lost, up to a maximum of 80 acres.
They got the cash along with one bag of seed paddy for each lost acre.
The Recovery, Planning and Implementation Secretariat had informed farmers in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) that they would each get a $25,000 individual allowance, together with the $10,000 for every acre lost.
The total relief disbursed amounted to $253M received by 1,022 farmers for 19,930 acres of lost rice cultivation.
Speaking at Office of the President, Shiv Chandarpal Drive, Georgetown, Luncheon said the financial aid would, specifically, be for Region 9 and that Cabinet, to which he is Secretary, has also authorised expenditure for the other associated interventions.
He reported that the seasonal flooding had “somewhat” abated in Regions 6, 9 and 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and that the communities within those Regions were visited by Regional Administration, Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and other teams.
Furthermore, Luncheon said the ‘disaster assessment and needs analysis’ was done on the basis of which immediate support was planned and is being provided.
“As earlier committed to by the President, Cabinet, at its most recent meeting, reconfirmed that disaster responses will extend beyond the immediate short term period, ensuring revitalisation of affected communities,” the HPS informed.
Previously, this month, President Bharrat Jagdeo said Government was treating the flood wreaking havoc in Region 9 as a national emergency and no effort or resources would be spared in relieving 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,” President Jagdeo said, then.