Region One receives ore flood relief grants

Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall took the
government’s flood relief grant distribution to a number of Amerindian farming villages in
Barima-Waini (Region One), over the weekend.
The relief initiative, which was launched a few months ago, aims to help farmers return to the
land following the severe effects of the nationwide flooding in May/June. Dharamlall told
farmers the loss experienced from the countrywide flood was overwhelming. “As you’re aware,
we had some massive flooding as a result of very heavy rainfall during the May\June rains and
many rivers, their banks were overtopped and, in some cases, water was on the land for quite a
number of weeks and as a result, many people lost their crops,” he said.
The minister continued, “In some cases, people lost commercial farms, in other cases, people lost
kitchen gardens and, in some cases, too, people lost home furniture, equipment, livestock.”
Dharamlall noted that the flood relief grants are part of government’s commitment to offer
assistance to those who were severely affected. “And today, this help that we are providing to
you is a direct commitment from His Excellency, the President. He himself visited many
communities in all 10 regions of the country, to see first-hand the impact of that flooding and the
impact of the heavy intense rainfall on many of our farms,” the minister said.
It was noted that during the meetings with villagers, the minister underscored the significance of
farmers in Guyana. “When all of this happened, we realised that the entire agricultural sector was
under threat and you know, farmers are probably the most important people in our country
because without farmers, I can’t have breakfast, you can’t have lunch, you can’t have dinner. So,
farmers are incredibly important,” he argued.
The Minister also reiterated that the flood relief grants are not a compensation for the losses the
farmers faced but rather, efforts made by the government to ensure that they return to their lands
so that production continues.
Meanwhile, the farmers expressed how helpful the grants will be to them.
George Joseph, noted that he was pleased to receive the grants, noting that he will use it to
complete work on his farm. “I am happy today with our President Ali, that he sent a team to visit
us, and I’m happy because the money will be benefitting to our people, in a good way for our
farm. We lost many things on our farm, we think we couldn’t get help, but since we got our
President, we are so happy,” Dhority Henry said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Damion Harris, was quoted as saying that he was very appreciative of the relief
support offered by the government. “I’m very grateful for this cash grant, because it will be
beneficial to me. I have lost a lot in my crop during the raining season, and it will put me back on
my feet because I have lost and it set me back… and I’m very grateful for the gift that I have
gotten from the government and I really appreciate it,” Harris said.

A total of 45 villages in the Mabaruma sub-region received their flood relief grants at the
weekend, as other government officials were also in the region to spearhead the distribution
process in the communities.