Servant leadership

THE floods, due to heavy rains, have brought new challenges to the ordinary man in the various communities across the country, the vast majority of whom are still struggling financially due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic activities.
In situations like these, the call for everyone to be their brothers’ keepers cannot be overemphasized, as many have suffered immense loss of property, including crops and livestock.
A large number of those affected depend on their farms and their livestock for their livelihoods, and, understandably, the loss of income during this period is an additional weight on their shoulders. But, thankfully, all is not lost, as their government has responded to their plight with alacrity, adopting a two-pronged approach in bringing them relief in their critical time of need.
The first step has seen the deployment of machinery, pumps and tubes to affected communities across the country to enhance drainage, thereby speeding up the discharge of excess water on farmlands and in housing areas.

These efforts have so far yielded dividends in some of the flood-affected communities, as the buildup of water on the land have begun to recede. However, drainage in some areas has thus far proven to be a challenge, with the intermittent, heavy burst of intense rain.
This pattern of downpour has made it difficult for the regional authorities to drain the accumulated water off the land, because as soon as the water begins to recede, it builds up again, due to the heavy rains. Thankfully, though, the sluices and pumps in the critical areas affected by the floods have been in full operation, and this is a positive indicator that despite the rains, the extent of the flooding is expected to be considerably less than what obtained before, and once the weather holds, the water will quickly drain off the land.
Aside from the pumps and sluices being put into high gear, excavators have been deployed across the country, and they have been busy clearing blocked waterways. This has enabled greater efficiency in drainage in the flood-affected areas.

Meanwhile, while the pumps, sluices and excavators have been switched into high gear, teams led by government ministers have fanned out across the country, and have been into the heart of the flooded communities, distributing food and sanitisation hampers to the affected.
This is the first time in five years ministers of the government are seen in flood-affected areas offering comfort and help to the grassroots from every ethnic background. This level of servant leadership is a translation of words into action from a commitment made to the people of Guyana by President Dr. Irfaan Ali to make the safety and well-being of Guyanese affected a priority.
Notably, too, the distribution of relief hampers has been done without discrimination, as while efforts continue to be made to bring relief to the close to 3,000 people in Region Six affected by the floods, a region viewed as a PPP heartland, similar efforts have been extended to Region 10, a known APNU+AFC stronghold. In the same vein, and in keeping with the president’s commitment to treat the safety and well-being of those affected as a priority, the same spirit of the relief exercises have been extended to all the other regions affected by the flooding.

It is commendable that at a time when a swift response to the flooding was required, the government did not fail, and has mobilised all relevant government agencies as well as community-based organisations to bring relief to those affected.
Quite understandably too, it is never an easy task to tackle a countrywide flood in the middle of a raging pandemic, but the Dr. Irfaan Ali administration has been shouldering their responsibilities most admirably.
The floods, no doubt, have caused discomfort to many citizens, and despite the arising challenges, the fight against the pandemic continues. Heightened efforts continue to be made to get as many persons vaccinated against the deadly virus, even as health officials ramp up surveillance to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases.
At this critical time, the importance of all Guyanese putting aside their differences and working collectively to bring relief to those who need help, cannot be overemphasised; together we are in this battle against the floods and the pandemic and together, united and stronger, we must emerge.

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