Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd, announced at the 89th sitting of Parliament on November 27th that Guyana will be providing humanitarian assistance to both Haiti and the Eastern Caribbean countries affected by recent crises.
During the parliamentary session, Todd revealed that US$91,000 will be allocated to Haiti, while US$470,300 will be sent to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) nations.
The announcement came in response to a question from APNU+AFC MP Amanza Walton-Desir, who asked for clarification on the specifics of the humanitarian aid being provided. Walton-Desir asked what form the assistance would take.
Todd said that Guyana has been actively involved in addressing the humanitarian crises in the region, especially in Haiti, where political instability has created severe challenges for the population.
“We have had several crises in the region, one of which is the humanitarian crisis in Haiti,” Todd stated. “We have been spearheading efforts alongside our partners, with Presi-dent (Irfaan) Ali taking the lead on the humanitarian response.”
In addition to the financial assistance, Todd highlighted Guyana’s ongoing support for the countries of the OECS, which were impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl in June and July.
“Apart from the financial contributions, Guyana has also sent in-kind support in the form of rice, including aid for rebuilding efforts,” Todd explain-ed. “This response demonstrates Guyana’s commitment to the well-being of our neighbours in the Caribbean”, he said.
Regarding Walton-Desir’s query on the disaggregation of the funds, Todd said that the amount of US$470,300 will be sent to the OECS countries, while Haiti will receive US$91,000, equivalent to approximately $123,486,000, when converted.
