IN THE MIDST of the most severe flooding in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) in recent memory, and a tremendous cooperative effort by local, regional and national authorities along with the private sector, businesses, groups and individuals, Brigadier Granger, in his wisdom, has chosen to take the low road – foregoing an opportunity to reach out to residents of Lethem and surrounding communities in the face of adversity. The presidential candidate has chosen his favourite electioneering strategy, opting to politicize the issue while others are engaged untiringly in around-the-clock work to bring relief to desperate flood victims. 
According to confirmed reports, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ronald Harsaywack said that some 40,000 gallons of treated water has been distributed, along with 15,000 meals at the time of writing.  And Head of the Private Sector Commission’s Lethem flood relief effort, Captain Gerry Gouveia, in an update, said that the business community was shuttling in plane loads of supplies destined for remote Region Nine communities.
Having made an obligatory stopover, albeit a brief one, in the region, and having returned safely back to Congress Place, the candidate apparently felt qualified to call these efforts ‘ad hockery’.  
He claimed that the administration was unprepared, and chose to talk instead about unplanned settlements and underdeveloped infrastructure, and called for the paving of the Linden-Lethem Highway (as if this would have prevented the flood, or stopped the rain).
The parallels with Sarah Palin, another aspiring presidential candidate with amazing pronouncements, could not be more astonishing!  Like Palin, he too may have concluded that the Obama administration was unprepared to tackle the recent flooding along the mighty Mississippi River.
Again, the Brigadier has chosen to ignore the big picture.  Region Nine is drained by the Takutu River and the Ireng, forming tributaries that connect with the Rio Branco, and flows into the Amazon River.  Reports out of Brazil put the Rio Branco’s rise at over 33 feet.  The flooding covered 80% of Boa Vista in neighbouring Roraima province, just across the natural border formed by the Takutu River, putting the state highways out of commission.   Flood waters in Lethem rose two (2) to three (3) feet higher than in 2005.
Since the Brigadier wants to put this in a political framework, contrast his actions to that of Donald Ramotar, another Presidential Candidate, who put a team together, travelled to the remote communities and worked with those on the ground, staying engaged – an indication of a different sort of commitment, leadership and compassion.

Ramotar’s actions are reflective of a broader culture in the current administration.  For example, during the floods of 2005 and 2006, President Jagdeo took a personal interest in the welfare of flood victims, visiting affected communities on a daily basis, dispatching members of his Cabinet to various areas, and providing hands-on leadership throughout the crisis.

And the administration’s track record extends to other occurrences when communities were affected in the Corentyne, West Berbice, Mahaicony, Mahaica, Linden and West Demerara, to name a few.

In fact, this culture of caring in government goes back to Dr. Cheddi Jagan (and reflected in his blueprint for a New Global Human Order (NGHO) which has attracted considerable support in the UN).  That culture inevitably spread to others around him, like the late Satyadeow Sawh, who was on a rare vacation in Canada in early 2006.  Hearing of the flood in Guyana and fearing for his people, he immediately returned home, leaving his family behind.  Now, in the Region Nine flood, we see that same culture being displayed by PPP/C presidential candidate Donald Ramotar and his team. 

Moreover, this is a culture that Guyanese value highly in their government, and exemplify in their own lives wherever they are.  The containers of medicines and supplies donated by communities in the UK, the USA and Canada in the aftermath of the 2005/2006 floods could not be unloaded fast enough in Guyana.

Furthermore, this generosity of spirit does not stop on the shorelines of Guyana.  When Hurricane Ivan took out 80% of Grenada’s infrastructure, Guyana was in the forefront, sending 100 soldiers, $40M worth of sugar and providing for a number of high school students in addition to individual, private sector and NGO help.

And again, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake last January in Haiti, Guyana’s generosity was unmatched.  The outpourings from private individuals, NGOs, the private sector, and from grassroot organizations and groups like Red Thread were astounding.  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lauded Guyana’s relief efforts to Haiti – the largest in the world as a percentage of GDP.

These elements of compassion, kindness and consideration for the welfare of others are among the defining characteristics of Guyanese. What a country! What a people!