Air transportation support
Citizenship Minister, Winston Felix and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, speaking with reporters at the post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday (Samuel Maughn Photo)
Citizenship Minister, Winston Felix and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, speaking with reporters at the post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday (Samuel Maughn Photo)

–Britain provides aircraft to shuttle supplies to Hurricane-hit islands

 

A C-130 aircraft made available by Britain is in Barbados to assist Guyana in transporting 10 shipping containers of relief supplies to hurricane-affected islands Antigua, Sint Maarten, and the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

The containers are filled with food stuff, medical supplies and building materials,
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said at his post-Cabinet media briefing at COI Room, Department of Public Service, Waterloo Street, Georgetown on Thursday.

Harmon said the containers would be taken to Antigua from where the supplies would be distributed via the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to the islands.

The minister of state said initially it was government’s intention to send supplies with a large ship provided by the local private sector but the aircraft made available by Britain will suffice.

“The conversations we are having with the British are that in the event that we require a second aircraft that we can call upon them. That is why the aircraft have been station in the region, specifically for this purpose,” Harmon explained.

Guyana has doubled its contribution in relief for Caribbean territories affected by Hurricane Irma from US$50,000 to US$100,000.

Minister Harmon said the Guyana Government will be assisting with bringing the body of Derrick Ragnauth and two family members of the BVI for his funeral here in Guyana.

Other than Ragnauth, Harmon said there have been no other reports of Guyanese deaths as a result of the hurricane.

He said the government has established a Ministerial Task Force headed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. That body has responsibility of coordinating national effort in offering humanitarian aid and solidarity to the affected Caribbean islands.

Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria have virtually flattened St Maarten, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Dominica.

Some 7,000 Guyanese reside in St Marten, 1,500 in the BVI and 8,500 in Antigua and Bermuda.

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, who also spoke at the press briefing, said he will be in contact with the respective honorary councils in order to keep abreast with the well-being of affected Guyanese.

Following his arrival in Antigua recently, Minister Felix travelled to Tortola, in the BVI, where he met with some of the Guyanese nationals affected by Hurricane Irma.

CHILDREN
“These Guyanese did not express any urge to return to Guyana but they wanted their children to return. That is one situation we have to manage because unaccompanied children on travel is never advisable and we recommend all children, especially those under 12 be accompanied by an adult,” Minister Felix said.

He explained that he and team did not get to maximise their visits to the various islands since curfews were in effect and this stymied their ability to meet with a large number of Guyanese.

“We had to be out of the island and out of the areas affected by curfew,” Minister Felix said.

He said the islands would need serious aid since the rebuilding process will require tremendous effort.

Describing the visits as a positive one, the citizenship minister said whatever assistance is needed, the Guyana government will be favourably disposed to rendering assistance.

“Even in spirit, we need to stand in solidarity with our comrades and it is not a very pleasant experience going to bed without a roof over your head,” Felix said.

LIST
He said a list of Guyanese on various islands is being sanitised to ensure that decisions that are made actually benefit Guyanese citizens.

“What we want to do is to ensure smooth and orderly movement of child or adult back to Guyana,” he said.

Containers are also on their way, by boat, to Antigua with further provisions including building materials which are to be distributed farther afield to BVI and Sint Maarten.

It was explained that the Antiguan Government has given its Guyanese counterpart the assurance that the items will be delivered to its desired locations.

With BVI and Sint Maarten bracing for Hurricane Maria, the regional and international community continues its support to islands affected by Hurricane Irma and Guyana also remains committed in this regard.

As with Sint Maarten, the Category Five hurricane has damaged the island severely, leaving families with limited cellular data and Internet service.

While the island is receiving support from the international community, many Guyanese nationals there are still in need of tarpaulins, insect repellent, and water purification pills.

In face of the devastation left by Hurricane Irma, the Guyanese community is steadfastly unified, especially as they prepare for Hurricane Maria. However, their main concern is schooling and removal of their children from the islands.

In an effort to assist Guyanese nationals living on Tortola, the largest of the islands that make up the BVI, Minister Felix has committed to ensuring that all their damaged documents are replaced and to facilitate registration of children who are not documented.

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