The PPP/C administration is handling flooding better than the Granger government did

May 31, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,
Under every PPP/C administration, response by multi-sectoral government agencies is prompt and efficient to national catastrophic occurrences in attempts to alleviate suffering of victims on a short-term basis, while simultaneously strategising on contingency plans to implement systems to bring long-term solutions to prevent recurrence of disastrous incidences of a similar nature.
The Government’s response that was effected with immediacy during the current flooding in various communities is a case in point. Conversely, in a similar situation during the coalition government’s tenure in office, the victims affected by floods were left in a quandary as to when and if David Granger’s government had any intention to address their distressing situation because, when the issue of compensation for persons, especially hinterland dwellers who lost homes and all appurtenances within, particularly farmers who lost crops and livestock after the recent flooding was raised in Parliament on July 27, 2017 by then Opposition Parliamentarian, Collin Croal, Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, told the House that compensation is not usually provided by the State for such disasters faced by Guyanese.
The dire straits of victims from 10 regions affected by flooding under the coalition administration was treated as non-important by the government, as weeks after such a severe catastrophe had decimated homes and livelihoods, Bulkan informed the House that the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) were still compiling assessment reports. Despite repeated queries by M.P. Croal on a timeline for the reports to be completed, Bulkan prevaricated, as had become the norm with coalition government ministers when challenged about their lack of timely intervention at crisis points affecting the citizens of the land.
Bulkan averred that a response to the crisis in Regions 8 and 9 was dependent on the outcome of a joint report between the Governments of Guyana and Brazil because Granger’s government contended that a rise in the river levels in Brazil contributed to the flooding in the hinterland areas, which begged the question of whether residents of Regions 8 and 9 are not Guyanese citizens who are entitled to State assistance in a crisis, regardless the circumstances, instead of awaiting the outcome of a blame game with a neighbouring country.
Bulkan’s response that “… compensation is not normally offered in situations like this” is erroneous. The correct response should have been “Compensation is not normally offered in situations like this under the coalition government”, because, in such situations under every PPP/C administration, prompt needs assessments are normally carried out and immediate assistance provided, with requisite compensation and other interventions to restore life to normalcy following on a long-term basis, based on qualifying factors.
Yours truly,
Alvin Hamilton

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