By Dillon Goring
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, yesterday (March 4, 2019) made a contribution of food supplies, valued in excess of $1.2M, to the Civil Defence Commission, for Venezuelan migrants.

It was the first disbursement of humanitarian aid donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Previously, the CDC received more than 800 hygiene hampers which were distributed in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima / Waini) to assist the afore-mentioned migrants.

According to the Administrative Manager (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission, Odetta Giddings, the body has received humanitarian assistance from other groups, including businesses such as De Sinco Trading. She added that the CDC was also receiving support from the International Organisation of Migrants (IOM) to provide relief hampers.
Church Elders William T. Bohne and his wife Sandra F Bohne said they were very pleased to donate the supplies.

They explained that the church was responsible for six countries, including Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. The church had done projects such as providing prostheses for persons who had lost their limbs. It had also undertaken the completed refurbishment of the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Programme’s dormitory and refurbishing the libraries of schools in Beterverwagting, Vreed-en- Hoop and Goed Fortuin.

Potable water was also provided.
The Civil Defence Commission has received, so far, a total of $2M from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.