East Bank Demerara residents, who suffered losses to flooding after a koker breach last October, are to receive promised relief by early next week, according to Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker.
“The current status is funds were made available by the Ministry of Finance and we are working out the mechanics with the NDC [Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council], so by time this weekend or early next week…,” he told Stabroek News on Thursday.
Three months have passed since the koker door at Peter’s Hall gave away due to high tides and poor maintenance by authorities, which resulted in massive losses to residents of Peter’s Hall, Nandy Park and Providence. A few weeks ago, Whittaker gave word of an earmarked $11M relief for the victims.
Residents have questioned the adequacy of the $11M figure and how assessments were done to tally their losses.
Speaking to Stabroek News, the chairperson elected to speak on the behalf of the residents of Peter’s Hall and Providence, Maria Bailey, said she and residents would be looking on carefully. “We will wait and see what happens. I don’t know what will be offered to us but I hope that is would be substantial,” Bailey said.
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Change (AFC) representative Michael Carrington, who has been assisting residents, said yesterday that he had written to President Donald Ramotar on December 15, requesting a meeting with the Head of State to discuss the relief package with a view to arrive at a figure that is “mutually acceptable.”
In response, a letter from the Office of the President was sent to Carrington stating that the matter has been noted by the President and is receiving attention.
Carrington said the government had ample time to deal with the situation and he suggested that the response so far is an “indirect” message that it does not care about the welfare of the residents. “If this demand is not met, next week we will take some action… protesting,” he said.
