President Jagdeo makes appeal for relief

Guyanese president Bharat Jagdeo has made an appeal for drainage mobile pumps and excavation equipment to aid in drainage efforts to relieve flooded areas. The request came via a telephone conference with the media at the Guyanese Consulate. The Honorary Consul, Ernie Ross, reiterated the urgent need for these items by highlighting that the dams were in danger of bursting. If this were to happen, it would further exacerbate the problem. President Jagdeo revealed that several of his Caricom colleagues have called him to convey sympathy and believes that they will assist. He denied claims that he had expressed disappointment with the slow pace of Caricom response to his country’s plight.

The president said that Prime Minister Patrick Manning had been in touch with him and he told the Prime Minister of the need for the pumps, which he expects later this week. The Guyana president also denied  reports that  people were lining up along the public roads to beg for aid. He explained that the public roads are the only high ground on the eastern coast that was not affected by the floods, therefore people from the affected areas were congregating there to receive the aid being distributed. In certain cases, persons who were stranded in their homes received aid via boats. Religious organisations have been essential partners in helping in the collection and distribution of aid.

The president said that about 40,000 people were affected by the floods,  20,000 of them, seriously. In addition to the pumps and excavating equipment, he stated that there is an urgent need for medical personnel, since there are the possibilities of fungal infections and water-borne diseases. Ross stated that the consulate in Trinidad has been coordinating relief efforts with the local chapters of the Red Cross and the Lions Club. Anyone wishing to contribute to the cause can contact the consulate at the Guyana Relief hotline 628-6743. Donations can be made to the Guyana Consulate Relief Effort at any Republic Bank branch to account number 560172255201. The Red Cross can be contacted at 627-8215/81 and the Lions Club at 625-2910/2321.