Wade: Why not $100M for flood relief

In reply to Mark’s listed question on an emergency fund to help flood victims, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said $25 million was alocated for distribution via the Ministries of Works, Social Development, Rural Development and Local Government, and Agriculture.

Mark asked that given the severity of dislocation, could the sum be increased to $100 million.

Young replied that Cabinet has decided on $25 million, and asked if the Opposition is aware of the country’s financial state.

Saying the sum is now $35 million, he said the Opposition used to work in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Mark pressed, to ask if the sum could be reviewed.

Young replied, “The Government is always reviewing its position.

At this stage the allocation is $25 million.” In a separate question, Mark asked of the number of schools still shut due to Bret? Education Minister Anthony Garcia replied that originally 10 schools were shut but most had since reopened.

Five schools had stayed shut due to inaccessibility due to flood waters, including Warrenville TIA and Warrenville Presbyterian which shut yesterday because the Caroni River had overflowed its banks. He added that three other schools had been used as shelters, of which one (Valencia Government School) has since returned to use by pupils.

Works Minister Rohan Sinanan told Independent Senator Paul Richards of works on watercourses, namely clearing Tacarigua River, de-silting Cipero River, and river control gangs clearing debris. He is waiting for water levels to fall before decisions are made on the Oropouche Lagoon, Caroni Basin, North Oropouche River Basin and Caparo Water Basin.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, in reply to a query by Mark, said his ministry has already received hundreds of applications for relief assistance from farmers especially in Tabaquite, Orange Grove, Penal and Woodland.