A total of $110 million in flood-relief grants were disbursed to 1,460 flood-affected persons in both the Upper and Lower Pomeroon River on Friday.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha spearheaded the disbursement at the Siriki Primary School, Upper Pomeroon.
During an address to residents who suffered tremendously during the recent flooding in May and June this year, Mustapha assured that the government will continue to offer assistance to all Guyanese and that all of the persons who suffered losses will be given some form of assistance to help them return to the land. He also told them his Ministry is working diligently to ensure that there is a boost in extension services by the National Agricultural Research and Extension institute (NAREI). With that, he assured residents that officers will be more visible than in the past.
Residents were told that approximately $9,050,000 was distributed to farmers and households from Siriki and other neighbouring communities.
At Wakapoa, Minister within the Ministry of Housing Susan Rodrigues distributed cash to the flood-affected residents.
Thomas Charles, of Upper Pomeroon River, thanked the minister and team for reaching out to residents and said that the money received will help him and his family on the farms. He also requested seedlings.
At Siriki village residents requested planting materials, fertilizers, block drainage, solar lights, and access to government Wi-Fi.
Another farmer, James Smith, from Abram Creek, said he had 600 pear plants and after the devastating flooding he was only left with 21. He said that his farmlands were under water for almost three weeks however he is thankful that the Region Two Administration and the President intervened by providing food hampers and assistance to help families.
President Irfaan Ali recently announced a raft of measures that will bring relief to flood-affected residents and farmers across the country who suffered losses as a result of recent heavy rainfall. He had disclosed homestead farmers will receive $100,000 each while kitchen farmers will receive $50,000 each. Households excluding homesteads and kitchen gardens will receive $50,000 each. As it relates to livestock subsistence farmers, small medium, and large scale farmers will benefit from more than $600 million in direct transfers.
