Caribbean News
Guyana’s Min. Ally distributes sanitation, food supplies to flood-hit victims
#Guyana, October 30, 2019 – Minister of Social Protection, Hon. Amna Ally visited and distributed several of items to residents of flood-affected Region 5 communities – Glaziers Lust, Rebecca Lust and Prospect in High Dam, on Wednesday.
During an interaction with the residents, Minister Ally noted that the government is very concerned with the situation, and as such, has ramped up its efforts to assist the residents.
The minister assured the residents that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and other agencies, including the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Agriculture, will continue to assess the situation and ascertain what further assistance can be provided so their lives can get back to normalcy.
“We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that your lives are returned to normality. Stay put, have faith, and all is going to be well,” she encouraged the residents.
The residents, most of whom are farmers, were pleased with the support provided by the administration during this critical time.
Mohammed Balgobin, a young rice farmer of Glaziers Lust, explained that the sea defence in his area was breached due to the force of the water during the spring tide. After reaching out to the Ministry of Agriculture, two excavators were immediately deployed to conduct emergency works.
“What happened is that they started to build the dam before the high tide, but because of the rushing of the water the works could not be completed and of course you know there are other areas who need this assistance also,” Balgobin explained.
He is also appreciative from the regional administration, the CDC and the Social Protection Ministry for the sanitation supplies and food items which were much-needed.
“Thanks to the ministry for this help, we appreciate it. We also welcome the government in this area and are thankful for all the support,” said Annette Balgobin, also of Glaziers Lust.
She is optimistic the administration will continue to provide aid to the residents, especially the farmers.
Kesh, a welder of Rebecca Lust, said that even though he took all the necessary precautions, he was not prepared for this magnitude of water. Nevertheless, he noted that the issue is one of natural disaster and is, therefore, grateful for the continued support the community has been receiving.
Since the last period of spring tide that ended October 2, the Public Infrastructure Ministry has spearheaded emergency works to arrest the breaches in the Dantzig to Fairfield area.
Additionally, through multiple ministries and agencies, the government has issued advisories and warning to residents along the coastal belt of Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has distributed sandbags before the forecasted spring tide. It has also been assessing the affected communities and distributing necessary assistance, to flood-affected communities, while continuing to monitor the situation at hand.
SOURCE: GUYANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, Story by Synieka Thorne
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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