CDC receives cash, other donations to aid flood relief effort

CDC’s Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Thursday received some $10.1 million (US$50,500) and a quantity of food and sanitisation items to aid its flood relief efforts.

CDC’s Director General, Lt. Col. Kester Craig expressed his appreciation for the support. He noted that the donations will be used to assist families in communities that are still affected by the recent nationwide flooding.

“The impact of the floods on the agriculture sector remains significant and you find a lot of farmers who rely on subsistent farming cannot get back to normalcy.

Director General, CDC, Lt. Col. Kester Craig collecting the donation from Joy Agness

We are very pleased and grateful that even though China is being affected they can take time and they can find funding to support our response,” he said.

The sum of approximately $10 million (US$50,000) was donated by the Chinese Embassy. Charge d’ Affairs of the embassy, Chen Xilai said China has also been affected by flooding and is aware of what the Guyanese people are facing.

“That kind of extreme weather has affected people’s lives and so we feel the same kind of pain that Guyanese are feeling… so we have to take care of each other like neighbors”, he said.

Logistics Manager, CDC, Captain Michael Andrews receiving the donations from the National Library’s Administrative Officer, Nekechi St. Jules

He also noted that China will be making another donation in the near future.

Joy Agness of Events International also made a monetary donation of approximately $100,000 (US$500) to support these efforts.

“We’re more than happy to do this, we’ll continue to support the efforts of everything going forward that we can do something to make this a better place.”

–(R-L) Attache, Chinese Embassy, Li Yang; Charge d’ Affairs of the Chinese Embassy, Chen Xilai; CDC Director General, Lt. Col. Kester Craig; and Foreign Service Officer, Sophia Darlington-Browne

The National Library has also come on board with contributions of food and sanitisation items. Administrative Officer, Nekechi St Jules presented the items.

“We would like to just present these tokens and we hope that it serves the residents in need very well,” she said. The CDC continues to assist flood-affected residents across the country.