Government is seeking an additional $19.210 million to cover the cost of various relief efforts by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), including the provision of relief supplies to Venezuelan migrants and emergency repairs to an illegally dug well in the Diamond Housing Scheme.
According to the third financial paper laid in the House on Thursday, the Ministry of the Presidency is seeking, as part of its Defence and National Security Programme, an additional $19,219,654, having already been allocated $100 million.
Of that sum, $4.8 million is earmarked for relief supplies, including food for the more than 2,000 mostly-indigenous Venezuelans who have crossed into the hinterland regions, specifically Regions 1 (Barima-Waini), 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) and 9 (Upper Essequibo-Upper Takatu).
President David Granger specifically noted during Thursday’s Parliamentary session, that the current social and economic crisis in Venezuela has created challenges for Guyana and has led to an estimated 2,500 Venezuelan migrants seeking refuge, mainly in frontier communities.
Government, he said, “will provide, within its means, humanitarian assistance, including food and medical treatment and temporary settlement to these migrants.”
He explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already collaborated with the Department of Citizenship and the Ministry of Public Security on the development of new procedures, where Venezuelan migrants, including undocumented migrants entering Guyana, would be registered and issued with a three-month permit of stay which could be further extended.
The CDC is also seeking $4 million for relief offered in coastal and hinterland communities, $3 million for drought relief in Region 9 and $4.294 million for the hosting, monitoring and management of the Brazilian team for a well drilling project being implemented in the drought prone region.
Further, $3.116 million is being sought to cover costs of remedial works executed in the Diamond Housing Scheme after an illegally dug well erupted.
On June 14th, the well erupted, ejecting water, mud and natural gas up to 100 feet in the air. Diamond resident Soownauth ‘Water Man’ Gorakh, had reportedly dug the well some time ago and was using it for domestic purposes.
Gorakh claimed, via a statement by the Region Four administration, that he and his wife, Tulabhaduree, had attempted to dig the well after experiencing water troubles. The woman claimed that the family has suffered over $20 million in damage.
The Gorakhs’ immediate neighbours have also suffered varying degrees of damage.
There has been no pronouncement on whether Gorakh is to be held responsible for the damage or be made responsible for the financial costs incurred due to the incident. Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Hydrometeorological Office can legally sanction Gorakh but a source from the latter has explained that they have not decided on what course of action they are going to take against him.
