-ExxonMobil donates $2M to flood-relief efforts

CONTRACTORS have been working around the clock to repair parts of the seawall at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD), where high tides and strong waves destroyed the concrete structure.

An excavator operator who was on the site explained that heavy waves destroyed four parts of the seawall.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that they have placed boulders in place of the open spaces to temporarily seal the breach and avoid another overflow.
The worker said that the repairs should be completed within a day or two, providing that there is good weather.

Last Friday, as people across the country celebrated Phagwah, some struggled to stay dry after the Atlantic breached the sea defences in Leonora, Uitvlugt, Zeeburg and Stewartville.
Residents had explained that very little could have been done at the time of the overtopping and breach of the seawall, since it occurred around 3:00am that morning.
Strong waves tore down houses, destroyed fences and even the camp sites of fishermen at Zeeburg.

George, one of the fishermen who suffered because of the breach, said it was chaos since most of the fishermen in that area lost most of their equipment that was stored at campsites next to the seawall.
In addition to losing their equipment and millions of dollars, some of the fishermen were even afraid to head back out to sea, because the high tides that they experienced that day were like no other.

“We don’t know what to do because this never happened… in all me years here I never see something like this yet… we waiting to see what happened, but some of the guys done start build back their camps and gon be ready to head back to sea,” said George.
According to previous reports, residents of the villages of Uitvlugt and Leonora called for improved sea defences and proper drainage and irrigation in their communities.
They contended that many of the drains were filled with debris and this prevented a smooth flow of water off the land.

The Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (Cottage Hospital) was closed due to flooding in the lower flat of the building.
Residents noted that the poorly kept drains and irrigation canal around the hospital resulted in the flooding, pointing out that those surrounding areas of the hospital were not flooded.

On Sunday, affected residents had cleaned up their homes and premises of the debris that the flood deposited, which included mud and other articles captured by the ferocious waves which some estimated to be as high as 15 feet.
Several families were displaced and extensive damage was done to goods and household items.

Over 300 households in Uitvlugt on Saturday received cleaning supplies to safeguard against water-borne diseases and other hazards.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, had distributed bleach and jeyes fluid among other supplies to the residents of the community.

In addition, government recently received a sum of $2 million from ExxonMobil that is geared towards assisting with flood-relief efforts. The BK Group of Companies, Banks DIH, Bakewell Bakery, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and Camex Restaurants also donated to the flood- relief efforts. In a release by the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said that the Government of Guyana welcomes the $2M donation from ExxonMobil Guyana to flood relief for the residents and communities affected by the recent flooding.

Harmon, who holds responsibility for the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), expressed the government’s appreciation to all members of the private sector, including ExxonMobil, who have made resources available to the CDC to support its work. “On behalf of the CDC and the Government of Guyana, we would like to thank ExxonMobil for giving so generously and contributing to the disaster-relief efforts of the Civil Defence Commission.

“We are all aware of the damage and we believe that this is an excellent demonstration of your social corporate responsibility and corporate consciousness that you have come forward without even prodding, to give this generous donation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ms Suzanne De Abreu, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Manager, said that the company considers its community relationships an essential element of its business and added that in times of crisis, it is important that resources are combined.
“We have been continuously impressed by Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission and their ability to respond in real-time to distress caused by natural disasters around the country. ExxonMobil is proud to offer assistance, through the CDC, to the West Demerara residents whose lives have been affected by the flooding. We are glad there was a way we could help,” Ms De Abreu said.

Minister Harmon also extended gratitude to other private sector entities that also contributed to the relief efforts. These organisations include, the BK Group of Companies, which provided assistance to the residents of Sea View, Stewartville, by creating a secondary drain between the sea defence and the housing area to channel the run-off of water from the land, Banks DIH Limited, which donated 300 small boxes of crackers, 75 cases of water (1 litre bottles) and 150 cases of small Aqua Mist water to aid in the provision of food at the emergency shelters.

The Bakewell Bakery donated 300 loaves of bread and tennis rolls for the feeding programme at the shelters, while the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) Uitvlugt Sugar Estate provided the services of its caterers and kitchen to help in the preparation of meals. The estate also offered the CDC the use of its community centre as an emergency shelter.

The Camex Restaurants Incorporated under its Church’s Chicken and Pollo Tropical brands, aided in the provision of meals at the emergency shelters by donating 100 lunches, while the Demerara Charitable Foundation assisted in the mobilisation of donations from the private sector towards the relief effort.

Meanwhile, with regard to the situation on the ground, the water has completely receded and the Minister of State is expected to conduct a visit today to meet residents.