Guyana Seeking Supplementary Budget to Deal With Flood Relief Program

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana government says it will seek approval for a GUY$10 billion (One Guyana dollar=US$0,004 cents) supplementary budget when the National Assembly meets on Thursday as it deals with an on-going flood situation country-wide.

(File Photo)Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, said the supplementary financing will be used to repair infrastructure, specifically roads and bridges that have been damaged by the flooding.  He said support will also be given to farmers, miners and families whose livelihoods were destroyed by the natural disaster.

“We have had unusual levels of rainfall and extreme high tides, and (Tuesday) I am told that the next wave of high tides will start.

“This will further complicate matters… The forecast is iffy. We hope that the rain will subside so that we can return to economic activities,” Jagdeo said.

The Civil Defense Commission (CDC) has established shelters in Lethem and others areas in Region Nine and Kwakwani, Region 10 for persons forced to abandon their homes.  More than 100 people have moved to the shelter in Kwakwani.

“I can understand the level of frustration and concern, but I can assure people that the government will assist,” Jagdeo said, adding if it had not been for the Hope Canal the situation on the East Coast Demerara would have been worse.

He said to bring further relief to East Coast residents, the government is holding discussions on creating bypass canals that would drain directly into the Atlantic Ocean.

The government and the CDC have been handing out hampers and other relief material to persons affected by the floods caused by heavy rains over the past few days.