As several Caribbean member states begin to count their losses following the passage of Hurricane Matthew through the region, Guyana is prepared to assist in whatever way possible. This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.
Haiti, in particular, has been badly affected by the strong storm and Harmon said Guyana is monitoring the situation closely through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). “Guyana will make its contribution to the efforts to rebuild once the damage is properly assessed,” he told reporters at a news conference yesterday.
A woman is carried across the river La Digue in Petit Goave where a bridge collapsed during the torrential rains (CNN photo)
According to Harmon, Cabinet gave its approval for the Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup to attend the annual “Achievements and Priorities Workshop hosted by CDEMA. This meeting will be held in Barbados from October 11 to 13, 2016.
According to a GINA statement, the CDEMA meeting will seek to harmonize a comprehensive disaster management strategy for disaster risk reduction which was adopted in Japan, during March 2015.
The meeting will see presentations being made on achievements, good practices and tools related to disaster preparedness, programmes and action plans for the Caribbean.
Crossing the river is a dangerous task which many have undertaken since the bridge collapse in Haiti (CNN photo)
Recommendations for actions will also be made for future disaster risk reduction implementation methods in the Caribbean, Minister Harmon added.
Over the years, Guyana has assisted several countries that suffered from various natural disasters, in the Caribbean region and further afield.
I am glad to hear my home country Guyana will be helping in this time’s
Please, Don’t send rice and sugah…….soon yuh gone hear how how dem feed ”hungry-belly”people again.