– says RCCI President
AS flood hit Region 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) recovers, the business community is doing its best to cope, according to the President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Mr. Alfred Ramsaran.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that supplies are running low and trading with Brazil is costly, mainly because of the flood conditions.
The neighbouring country recorded similar patterns of rainfall as in the Rupununi, particularly in the State of Roraima, which resulted in a massive relocation of Brazilians, damage to crops and livestock and infrastructure. The Brazilian authorities declared a state of emergency.
The RCCI President noted that the road from Lethem leading to Georgetown is still in a bad state, some parts worse than others.
Ramsaran said, “We are short on supplies and since getting to Georgetown is very difficult, the next option is Brazil, but that is a costly move.”
He noted that businesses are running short of food supplies and animal feed, along with other commercial goods.
“We don’t have things like paper for printing. The schools have examinations and they need the paper, but we don’t have,” Ramsaran said.
He stated that arrangements have been made to have the printing paper brought in by air.
According to him, the business community is being forced to make alternative arrangements to ensure the availability of supplies.
“We have to make other arrangements. Things are expensive in Brazil, but we have to resort to this option,” Ramsaran said.
He pointed out that fuel is one example of how the prices for commodities have skyrocketed.
He said fuel prices are now touching $2,000 per gallon.

Electricity Supply
Another example of the struggle in the region is the limited supply of electricity.
“The fuel is being rationed to ensure we have a supply of energy,” he said.
He said that electricity is now supplied from 7:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs each day by the Lethem Power Company.
Following the floods and a power interruption, power was restored by LPC and several barrels of fuel were shuttled into the region to maintain a reduced supply.
“We are coping as best we can, but it is not easy,” Ramsaran said.
Approximately 40 business places were inundated and most others were closed when the heavy rains brought on the floods; but through public/ private collaborations, support for the region has been and continues to be mobilized as the region recovers.