The High Commission of Canada in Guyana yesterday signed an agreement with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to donate $8.484 million (Cdn$50,000) towards the purchase of emergency flood relief for the hardest-hit areas in Guyana.
The CDC Director General Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, and the Canadian High Commissioner, Mark Berman signed the agreement at the Commissioner’s Office on High and Young streets, Kingston, Georgetown. A CDC press release said that the donation is being funded through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Also present at the signing was the High Commission’s First Secretary, Development Cooperation, Jessica-Leigh Teasdale.
According to the release, the contribution is for the procurement of water storage receptacles, water purification materials, collapsible water carriers, personal protective equipment, and shelter items, such as treated mosquito nets, rechargeable battery operated lamps, cots, and tents. It also stated that the Commissioner conveyed the Government of Canada’s empathy to Guyana as the country faces one of its biggest flooding disasters in years and that Canada recognises the impact of an effective humanitarian response to protect the lives of those severely affected during this national disaster. “On behalf of the Government of Canada, we are very pleased to assist Guyana in combating their flooding situation, and I just want to state our resolve to help Guyana address the immediacy of the flooding disaster and recover from it. Canada stands firmly with the government and people of Guyana during the crisis,” Berman was quoted as saying.
Colonel Craig expressed profound gratitude for the donation and referred to it as ‘timely’, as he pointed out that it will go a far way in benefiting many of the residents most severely affected by the country’s current flooding situation. “The funding will help tremendously in our response… it is in keeping with our needs and the items that we will procure will definitely benefit the communities that are affected by the flooding.”
He further noted that many of the items covered under the funding include critical items such as the water purification tablets and water containers. Craig mentioned that water sources have become contaminated because of the flooding and “… having drinking water is essential to preventing any outbreak, so we place a lot of emphasis on ensuring there is potable water available to the affected residents.”
This is not the first time that Canada has joined the CDC to offer assistance to Guyana in disaster risk management. In 2016 and 2018, the CDC received significant contributions towards the rehabilitation of a school in Berbice for the establishment of a temporary shelter. And during the 2019 – 2020 period, the CDC again received support towards the construction of two shelters in Region One (Barima-Waini) to assist Venezuelan migrants.
