Hosein commends sponsors and volunteers

Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein has commended corporate sponsors, volunteers and citizens for their generous contributions to the recent flood relief efforts.

“I was overwhelmed by the response received from members of the business community, volunteers and citizens across the country who on hearing about our ‘Relief TT’ drive, called our office willing to support in various ways,” Hosein said.

In a release, he added, “we had persons from all parts of the country calling to donate clothes, water, non-perishables, cleaning and household supplies and this is the true spirit of volunteerism and brotherhood where we can be our brothers’ keeper and work together during difficult times to help our neighbours.”

Hosein, Permanent Secretary Desdra Bascombe, Senior Disaster Management co-ordinator Rishi Siew, National Volunteer Network co-ordinator Matthew Kailah and representatives from the ministry were on the ground, over the past few days, distributing relief items to people severely affected by the recent torrential rains.

The ministry worked closely with the disaster management units (DMUs) in the 14 municipal corporations. Together they brought temporary relief to affected areas in regions including Madras, Kelly Street, St Helena, Las Lomas, Caroni, Ramai Trace, Suchit Trace, Goopie Trace, Batchyia Village, Woodland, Clarke Road, La Fortune;

Barrackpore, Moruga, La Ruffin, Bois Jean Jean, La Lune, Marac, Moruga Main Road, Basse Terre, Rochard Douglas Road, Sookhan Trace, Kanhai Trace, Mafeking, Clever Ridge, and the Mayaro/Manzanilla range and environs. “In two days,” Hosein said, “we were able to collect over four truckloads of relief supplies that were distributed across the severely impacted areas.”

Hosein is encouraging people affected by the floods to reach out to their respective corporations and report damage or loss of furniture and appliances caused by the floods to enable assessments to be done. In an update, Siew yesterday said all affected corporations are operating in the relief and recovery phase and are working with the DMUs to do damage and needs assessments.

“We remain committed to assisting every citizen who was affected by this disaster and urge persons to continue reporting to their municipal corporations in the case of any re occurrence of flooding, disaster or hazards that may occur.” “Citizens are also urged to utilize the Toll-Free 800 Disaster Hotline numbers in such instances.”

Comments

"Hosein commends sponsors and volunteers"

More in this section