MINISTER of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge said that plans are being put in place for Guyana to render assistance to Trinidad and Tobago which was recently hit by floods.

Greenidge, who is currently performing the duties of prime minister, was at the time responding to questions from People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Gail Teixeira at the 98th sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Teixeira had stated that the opposition party has been receiving many calls from Guyanese living in Trinidad and Tobago, stating that they have been unable to obtain any advice or assistance in the midst of the crisis.

In response, Greenidge questioned the certitude of the opposition’s report, stating that government has a very active consulate on the island, along with a high commissioner, with whom Guyanese have been in constant contact since the floods.
Providing an update, he said that since the floods the high commission has received one request for repatriation to Guyana and three other requests for financial assistance from Guyanese residing on the island.

Greenidge stated further that Minister of State Joseph Harmon, through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), is also in communication with authorities on the island and has relayed Guyana’s willingness to assist.
“As is normal in such circumstances, between our CDC and the Trinidad authorities, we are determining what needs they have…having heard of the damage caused by the floods, we were desirous of knowing exactly what assistance they need,” he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that there is a general agreement that the government will be requesting to provide assistance through the provision of food items, which will include fresh fruits and vegetables. This, however, has not yet been specified by the island’s authorities.

Greenidge took the opportunity to remind the opposition that, in the recent past, Guyana did not fail to come to the assistance of its Caribbean neighbours, such as Barbuda and St. Maarten, rocked by natural disasters. In some cases, the government assisted with the transporting of several Guyanese back home.

When the opposition raised contention with the cost this would have incurred, Greenidge stated candidly that the opposition must make up its mind on whether the government should render assistance or not. Further questions were raised regarding the current delay in assistance, to which Greenidge explained is as a result of the process that is required during cases of emergency.

“Let me remind you that we do have a framework governing cooperation between us and Trinidad and Tobago. A framework initially initiated in 1999 by the members on the other side and which we recently renewed” Greenidge said, adding: “In cases of emergency throughout the Caribbean, whether in Trinidad and Tobago or in Antigua and Barbuda, there is an accepted framework.

We don’t wake up one morning and send 500 tubes of toothpaste. CDC contacts the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency [CDEMA] and CDEMA determines the needs in a specific case, having consulted with the national authorities and having consulted with others, they decide on who will be providing what or who is in a best position to provide what in the time.”

He shut down suggestions from the opposition that the island’s plight is being ignored. “This is not a case of abandonment or neglect of our obligations as member of CARICOM or of the failure of the consular services of Guyana to deliver assistance to Guyanese. I’d like to assure you things are in place and we are continuing to monitor the situation,” Greenidge said.

He added that most recently, President David Granger met with T&T’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley, when they discussed areas of further collaboration and assistance. This, he stated, is proof enough that Guyana is ever willing to assist.