With several communities in the region still under water, the Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 has activated its Disaster Preparedness and Relief Committee in an attempt to co-ordinate a more efficient response.
“Kwakwani and surrounding areas are still under water so it was extremely important that this Disaster Preparedness and Relief Committee be activated as early as possible. All information and decisions will be channelled through this structure or chaos would result,” Regional Chair Deron Adams told Sunday Stabroek. He added that it is also important that a direct reporting relationship be established with the Civil Defence Commission and the National Relief Centre.
Adams stressed that with so many affected it would be unfortunate if different persons issued different instructions to those actually providing the services on the ground.
The Committee, which includes representatives from 15 organisations, met for the first time yesterday and decided that the regional chairman’s office and numbers will be the central place of communication with respective individuals and organisations desirous of making a donation.
The Committee can be reached either at 444-6121 or 680-0022.
While plans are underway to issue an advertisement advising citizens of the Committee’s existence and a proposal made to establish a bank account, Adams is cautioning those who wish to donate.
He explained that he has been informed of at least one fundraising campaign opened on the site GoFundMe for Region 10 but noted that the Region nor its representatives have not been contacted by the individuals operating the campaign.
“Please be careful and don’t make donations to private accounts of any sort. Choose an agency and make your donations through that agency,” he cautioned well wishers.
The Chair further explained that the Amelia’s ward community centre was identified as the place for storage of collected resources while the workers club was identified for the establishment of a community kitchen to service the residents affected and the storage of items.
Region 10 Member of Parliament Jermaine Figuriea, who also sits on the Committee, explained to Sunday Stabroek that the community kitchen is a truly essential service.
“The donation of raw foodstuff is of course welcomed but for many residents they don’t have a kitchen. The water is roof height in some places so they definitely can’t cook. Those in the shelters are not dealing well with the limited kitchen and bathroom facilites especially in the midst of COVID-19 so actually providing them with the meals removes one other area of stress,” he said.
Other members of the Committee include the Chair and Vice-Chair of the RDC, who will act as alternate heads. Also included is the Regional Executive Officer(REO), who would be responsible for bringing to bear all of the government’s assets to assist affected persons.
The Linden Mayor and Town Council and Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council will be represented by Mayor Waneka Arrindell and Chairperson Elsie McPherson.
The Regional Health Officer, Dr Gregory Harris; the Guyana Police Force Regional Commander Hugh Winter; the Regional Agricultural Officer, Derrick Collins; and Guyana Water Incorporated representative, Rawle Friday will also sit on the committee as well as representatives of the electricity supply agencies, the Linden Chamber of Commerce, religious leaders, welfare and social workers, and a representative of the Civil Defence Commission.
Adams explained that the region is working to offer psycosocial support to those displaced, while noting that specifically trained shelter management officials such as persons who usually operate hostel type arrangements are invaluable, since they would be accustomed to dealing with different individuals living in close quarters. They will be supported by security personnel and the welfare personnel to make the new living arrangements as comfortable as possible beyond just providing food and shelter.
So far the Committee has been able to secure donations of 200 cases of bottled water and biscuits from Banks DIH for distribution in the Morakabra area, where there have been reports of children suffering from diarrhea.
“We believe the water has become contaminated so we are hoping to provide drinking water so that they don’t have to use the water from the river or the tap,” the RDC Chair explained, adding that a request will be made for government to provide portable water filtration and storage systems such as the LifeSaver Jerrycan with built-in filtration.
Another request is that Russian Aluminum (RUSAL) be approached to make available some 15 buidlings formerly used for staff housing to affected residents at least on a temporary basis.
“I’ve signed a letter making this request, not sure if it has been dispatched as yet but yes we would like to be able to use those spaces,” Adams revealed.
He also noted that a truckload of food supplies from the Praise Tabernacle Assembly of God church was dispatched to Kwakwani and Airorima.
