President Irfaan Ali on Saturday announced a series of relief measures, including billions in cash grants for households and farmers that were devastated by recent flooding countrywide.
In a brief address to the nation, Ali explained that recent flooding has severely affected 300 communities and 52,000 households. The agricultural sector, he said, has suffered the greatest loss with 92,000 acres of farm and farm lands affected. The sugar industry, in particular, he noted, suffered a $1.5 billion loss in the fields.
According to Ali, initial estimates show a $23 billion in loss of production across the sector while damage to the forestry sector and loss of production and damage to equipment is estimated to be in excess of $8 billion.
