The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has submitted to Cabinet a compilation of reports done by various agencies regarding the hightide-induced flooding that occurred along coastal Guyana between October and early November of this year. This was disclosed today by the CDC’s Mitigation and Recovery Manager (acting) Allana Walters.
Walters told the Guyana Standard that each agency was tasked to look at specific issues relating to its mandate. She added that discussions were had on short to medium-term and long-term plans to address the flooding along the coast.
Also, Walters confirmed that a list of the persons affected by the flooding was submitted to Cabinet.
It was the Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, who stressed the importance of that list so that the government can be properly guided in making decisions regarding the possible disbursement of funds to affected citizens. Harmon, during the last post-Cabinet press briefing held almost two weeks ago, said that the list and reports will dictate “who gets what”. He said that the monies should not be seen as “compensation”, but rather “financial grants”.
Walters, in specifically referencing the compilation, said that contributions were made by agencies including the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI); the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI); the Ministry of Communities (MoCs); the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice); the Guyana Livestock and Development Board (GLDA); the Ministry of Health(MOE); the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB); the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA); and the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary – Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA).
This development comes weeks after several areas along the coast were inundated from high tides that resulted in overtopping and penetration of sea defence structures. Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) was hit severely by violent waves that left at least three breaches along its northern sea defence system.
Some 400 households were said to have been affected by the first spring tide.
