US donates $67.5M in supplies to Civil Defence Commission

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) yesterday received $67.5M worth of emergency relief supplies from the United States (U.S) Naval Forces Southern Command. The items were handed over at the CDC’s warehouse, Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri, the Government Information Agency said.

U.S Charge d’ Affaires Thomas Pierce (right) handing over the emergency relief items to Colonel Rtd and Chairman of the CDC, Chabilall Ramsarup at the Commission’s warehouse at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri. (GINA photo)
U.S Charge d’ Affaires Thomas Pierce (right) handing over the emergency relief items to Colonel Rtd and Chairman of the CDC, Chabilall Ramsarup at the Commission’s warehouse at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri. (GINA photo)

Colonel Rtd. and Chairman of the CDC, Chabilall Ramsarup in his brief remarks expressed Government’s appreciation to the Southern Command group in boosting the CDC’s capacity, which to date, does not only include the donation of these items but training and the construction of the Timehri warehouse among others.
According to GINA, Charge d’ Affaires, Thomas Pierce stressed the importance of being able to adapt and respond to disasters, which is a key goal of the US in the Caribbean.
He said that recently, the US Military Liaison Office (MLO), working in consultation with the CDC, determined which items aligned to the needs of Guyana.
GINA said that the items, which amounted to $67.5 M, included refrigerators, televisions sets, bath towels, cots, blankets, gas lanterns, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, bed spreads, generators, cookware, and a forklift among others.
Earlier this year, Guyanese benefitted from medical and other services from the crews aboard the HSV Swift and the USS Iwo Jima.