Govt taking necessary steps to minimise impact of natural disasters – Harmon

On the occasion of International Day for Disaster Reduction 2017, Minister of State Joseph Harmon posited that natural disasters are becoming a norm for Guyana and the Caribbean, following the massive destruction to hit the Region in recent weeks.

On that note, Harmon in his address to a public gathering of stakeholders in disaster reduction and risk management, last Friday indicated that Government is working towards the implementation of a number of measures aimed at reducing the dangers and effects of natural disasters.
In doing so, the Minister, who is the National Disaster Coordinator, highlighted that these damaging events are the gateway to poverty and distress for vulnerable people, thereby underlining the need for Guyana to be prepared to face the wrath of such natural forms of devastation.
As such, Harmon underlined that, “The aftermath of the hurricanes in the Caribbean and the prognosis that this will become the new norm as well as the potential for other forms of natural disasters such as drought and rising sea levels, all underscore the importance of developing resilience in all communities across Guyana and the Caribbean.”
He then alluded to the existing vulnerability of the coastal plain, where the larger sections of Guyana’s population and economy are facing a constant threat by being one to three meters below sea level.
With that in mind, the following recommendations were proposed; “First of all, an intensification of our ongoing programme of informing and educating our citizens about the ways in which they can safeguard themselves when disasters occur and to device the most conducive and cohesive strategies for them to protect themselves and their livelihoods.”
The Minister further laid out that, “The development of new building codes and specifications to make our buildings, structure and infrastructure more disaster resilient.”
Adding to that, the head of Disaster Reduction in Guyana pointed out that there is a need for continuous development in communication which is essential in times of distress. “Thirdly, I want to suggest that we continue to improve and expand our communications networks, such as the establishment of radio stations in our regions, towns and rural communities to keep our citizens informed about disaster preparedness, mitigation, consequences and actions to be taken in the face of occurrences,” he relayed.
It was at the same event that Harmon indicated that Government has moved to establish disaster relief bonds in each of the 10 administrative regions of Guyana under the umbrella of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).
This is paired with a number of training programmes within the regions to ensure that residents possess the capacity to act as first responders in cases of natural disasters hitting rural communities, rather than being forced to rely on rescue efforts coming all the way from Georgetown.
Aside from being readily able to withstand the effects and reduce the extent of damages in instances of sudden and widespread natural destruction, Harmon and his Administration is of the belief that Guyana should also be prepared to lend a helping hand to its Caribbean neighbours in such times of need. (Ashraf Dabie)