Dear Editor,
The progress report in the media on the CDEMA’s assessment of the impact of the flood on the 10 Regions should be a rallying cry to all concerned and affected citizens to get involved. The Regional Mayors, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the GDF and the GPF will need to increase its personnel and resources to effectively implement a corrective and preventative plan to combat future flooding. The number of GDF and GPF recruits from underrepresented communities needs to increase in order to be able to ensure all affected communities show greater participation in helping combat the dangers of climate change. Guyanese are Patriots, and this is an opportunity to show true patriotism. Our top schools and university are a great source of talent for new officers and members of the engineering corps. Also the GPF and GDF can serve as key organizations to foster increased understanding and cooperation between our many cultures as the level of diversity in the forces increases.
The future need for a large coordinated relocation process will require a high level of cooperation and a more aggressive timeline for the development of a new capital city that will best meet our needs over the long term. In the near term, the entire citizenry will need to also get involved in helping to prevent future flooding in the regions. Our sea defences, irrigation and drainage systems will need an increased focused effort. This starts with each farmer and home owner’s management of waste, raising of their land levels, and maintenance of the trenches, alley ways & gutters near their property. Ideally, this is the Government’s responsibility and why taxes are paid, but we must remember that our elders always said that God helps those who help themselves. An increased focus by the government on improving the sea defences and expanding the canal system for reduced water volume intake and improved water drainage, will go a long way in aiding farmers and home owner’s in the near future if completed before the next rainy season. The experience of the recent flooding shows clearly that it is now time for all hands on deck!
Sincerely,
Jamil Changlee
Chairman
The Cooperative Republicans of
Guyana