Cabinet approves US$175,000 for Eastern Caribbean recovery efforts
IN response to President Donald Ramotar’s pledge of support made to sister CARICOM states St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia, Cabinet has approved the transfer of some US$175,000 to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which recently completed and publicised a needs analysis addressing the situation of the two Eastern Caribbean countries that were hard hit by torrential rains and high winds which caused deaths and severe damage to property and infrastructure over the period December 23/25.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, made this announcement at a press briefing held yesterday at the Office of the President in Georgetown. He added that a public fund will be launched, in partnership with the private sector, to allow civil society to make a contribution to those in dire need of aid. A statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry said: “The Government of Guyana will continue to monitor the situation reports from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency with a view to supporting the recovery efforts of the affected Member States of the Eastern Caribbean.” On December 26, President Ramotar also telephoned his fellow CARICOM Head of State, Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, Prime Minister of St. Lucia, to extend his Government’s sympathies on the loss of lives and damage to property and infrastructure caused by the severe rains and heavy winds which swept over the Eastern Caribbean. St Vincent and the Grenadines has also been severely affected by that adverse weather. Lives there have also reportedly been lost, and several communities across that country have been affected by power outages and have been cut off by damaged bridges and blocked roads. However, because of communication challenges, Guyana’s Head of State was unable to contact authorities in that country. Having contributed to the recovery efforts, Guyana joins several other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states that have stepped up their efforts to assist the recovery process of the two CARICOM sister nations.
(By Vanessa Narine)