Guyana should learn from the recent tragic events in Haiti and review its own disaster preparedness strategy, the PNCR says. During the party’s weekly press briefing Thursday, members called for an evaluation of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) by a non-partisan professional group to determine its performance and capabilities.

The party said that while the services of the CDC are being used as “the secretariat for the present relief efforts, we must, at the same time, evaluate their performance from this perspective.”  Senior party members opined that “such an evaluation must be carried out by a non-partisan professional group to ensure an objective assessment of our capability.” Such an evaluation would enable corrective action to be urgently undertaken if necessary, the members stated.

According to the party, the time was right for a re-evaluation of Guyana’s disaster preparedness even as it mobilises resources to assist the suffering people of Haiti.  It was noted that “while Guyana is not located in either the Caribbean hurricane or earthquake belt,” the country is not immune to natural disasters. “The ever-present threat of the Atlantic Ocean along our about six feet below sea-level coast line and the continuous reality of sea-level rise from global warming should be sufficient to motivate Guyanese not to behave like the five foolish virgins as highlighted in the Holy Bible.”

The party said that “the memories of the 2005 flood along the coast of Guyana are still with most Guyanese.”  Recounting the 2005 Great Flood, party members said Guyana was unprepared for such a disaster and that it took weeks to assemble boats to assist the flooded communities. “Many still shudder when they contemplate what would have been the fate of Guyanese if the threatened conservancy dam had collapsed at that time,” the party said. According to the PNCR, efforts during the 2005 disaster relief efforts, “were stymied by inadequate transport facilities and the politicisation of the food relief efforts were deplorable.”