Georgetown: Weeks after suffering major financial losses from the destruction of their household items, residents of Providence and Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara are soon to benefit from $11 million in flood relief assistance from Government.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whitaker disclosed that Cabinet has approved the funds to assist the residents.
A few days after the flood which was early last month, Minister Whitaker had agreed to grant some assistance to the affected residents.
The residents were required to submit a list of items destroyed to the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council. According to NDC officials, that was done and officials are awaiting the announcement by the Ministry.
Speaking to Guyana Times via telephone on Wednesday, Whitaker said Government had kept the pact it made with the residents, hoping to bring some level of relief to them.
The Minister related to this publication that the relief has been divided into three categories, ranging from the least to most affected.
He said that affected homeowners will be assisted by the Public Works Ministry, who will work with the NDC to facilitate a waiver of rates and taxes for residents.
Tenants on the other hand will have the option to say what household items they would prefer. Whitaker stressed that Government would not be replacing all the items damaged, noting that the move is an assistance rather than a compensation.
According to him, officials of the Ministry are currently carrying out this exercise in the two communities.
It was utter mayhem for Providence /Peters Hall residents when the door of the koker which services both communities collapsed under the pressure of the swollen wave.
Engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) had to be summoned to contain the situation which was getting out control.
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