The Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) yesterday said government hopes to develop “a watertight preparedness plan” in response to global warming and its effects on rainfall and sea levels.
A two-day workshop on strengthening national and local capacity for disaster response and risk reduction was opened yesterday and the sessions are expected to develop a strategic guidance framework that will tackle issues of recovery, rehabilitation and management coordination in reducing the impact of such events.
Disaster Risk Management Specialist of the United Nations Development Pro-gramme (UNDP) Anvar Sabzaliev, according to GINA, said “the UN was pleased to witness progress in the joint initiative of the Government of Guyana and other international partners.” He said the project will cost US$2M and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.
It is crucial to recognise the importance of disaster preparedness and the implementation of a plan for future reference, Sabzaliev was quoted as saying. He also recommended that the plans be practical and mindful of experiences during the floods of 2005.
Flooding has been the greatest disaster to plague Guyana, Director General of the Civil Defence Commis-sion (CDC) Chabilall Ramsarup said, because of its geography and the effects of climate change. “No one agency can go it alone,” Ramsarup told stakeholders at the workshop. “We all have the role and responsibility to come up with a practical document which is workable.”
Planning, preparation and simulation for disaster preparedness is vital to the survival of any country, he stressed, and a well rehearsed plan would result in less damage, destruction and casualties.
Meanwhile, CDC Deputy Director General Lt Colonel Francis Abraham said the workshop brings together all the relevant stakeholders in disaster preparedness to formulate a national response on flooding.
Government, GINA said, has always been equipping citizens with the necessary knowledge and skills to adequately protect themselves during times of severe flooding. In 2005, Guyana experienced massive flooding which destroyed crops, live stock and properties. There were also deaths due to the water-borne disease, leptospirosis and other flood-related illnesses.
