– Guyana Relief Council achieves 17 years of rendering assistance to victims affected by disasters or other unfortunate circumstances.
Chairman Yvonne Hinds hands out a Plaque of Appreciation at an Annual Luncheon
Going on 17 years, the Guyana Relief Council (GRC) has been providing hope for persons throughout Guyana who have been stricken with disaster and other tragic unforeseen circumstances.
It was formed on January 17, 1994, and registered under the Friendly Societies Act in Guyana as a charitable, non-profit, non-governmental organization. The GRC has a non-discriminatory policy, and is geared to give assistance, as far as is practicable, to all citizens of Guyana who have suffered through natural or man-made disasters, such as fires, floods, droughts, freak storms, high winds, road and river accidents; and to deserving persons living in difficult circumstances.
Funding for the work of the GRC is mainly through donations from its many local and overseas, supporters from fund raising initiatives, and from a monthly government subvention.
Guyana Times Sunday Magazine interviewed a few executive members of the GRC, who stated that the council is chaired by the current Prime Minister’s wife, Yvonne Hinds and it was first housed on Camp Street then moved to a building on South Road which was, ironically, gutted by fire.
For two years it was then housed at the Prime Minister’s residence, where they kept meetings and all other activities. In 1996 they were offered the current location at Lot X Riverview, Ruimveldt, which now houses the headquarters.
The objectives of the GRC are to bring timely relief in the form of material assistance to persons affected by disasters of any kind, and who are in need of urgent assistance in any part of Guyana; to work with any government agency and any social, religious, cultural or voluntary organization anywhere, to render assistance and to provide counselling and guidance.
These objectives are achieved through the services offered by the GRC such as immediate assistance to disaster victims in the form of foodstuff, clothing, kitchen utensils, beds and mattresses; monetary donations towards building materials to repair the building, to cover part funeral expenses of persons who died as a result of fire or other disasters, or to purchase tools of trade; assistance to replace documents in particular passports and birth certificates; provision of temporary shelters and other basic amenities to families displaced due to fires and other disasters; provision of assistance through the welfare assistance program to orphanages, schools, hinterland schools, women’s groups and health centres, and to deserving persons in difficult circumstances, and counselling of affected persons.
Helping families stay together
The members said the GRC was primarily started because it was noticed that when a family suffers because of a disaster, the members tend to get separated, being taken to various locations to get shelter and food.
Disasters, especially fires, occur frequently, and usually in low income, congested neighbourhoods, with devastating and debilitating effects, including disintegration of the family unit.
As a result, the GRC built a shelter located at the back of its office, but it was built with a difference. The rooms are self-contained and very private. The rooms can house any family type that suffered a disaster, but they must adhere to the regulations and policies of the GRC. Food, clothing and basic amenities are provided for every family member.
The shelter was built to keep the family together and house them until they can get back on their feet. The GRC members investigate families who have suffered loss, seeking out these ones and offering them a safe and clean residence to stay.
In 2009, two families resided in the shelter. In October 2009, a young married couple took up residence in the shelter when they lost their home after a mere one month of marriage. The couple acquired a plot of land and was able to rebuild. GRC kept the couple for an extended period because they had asked for time until their home was rebuilt and also they were very cooperative.
The GRC members also stated that when residents leave the shelter they are able to take everything that was provided by the Council.
“When they leave they carry with them all the items they were using here – like the mattress, kitchen items and clothing that we had provided. All that is left in the room are the bed frames and furniture. We get new ones for the next residents. We try to make their stay as comfortable as possible,” Nirmala Ramroop-ter-Welle, the GRC Secretary said.
GRC also renders assistance to persons in difficult circumstances. Monthly relief supplies in the form of groceries were given to two amputees in 2009. Under very special circumstances the GRC provides in such a way for persons, and this is done after much welfare investigation.
National relief effort
Their work is not restricted to Region Four alone, but to all of the administrative regions. In one of the regions, the GRC built a canoe for one family struck by a disaster. GRC not only provides groceries and clothing, but also provides tools of trade so that these families can continue to make a living. They render assistance according to persons’ needs.
Their hinterland outreach saw 194 treated mosquito nets being distributed to quell the spread of malaria in Bamboo Creek, Region Eight. The nets, consisting of 47 bed nets and 97 hammock nets, benefitted households in the area.
In 2010 also, hundreds of families throughout the country were also assisted with relief items. The hinterland community of Mahdia in Region Eight had an entire arcade destroyed by fire. A total of 150 persons from 46 households lost their homes and belongings in that fire. GRC assisted them with clothing and baby items. The council also rendered logistical assistance in the form of purchasing, packing and delivery of groceries, hygiene items, sheets and blankets to the community. The items were purchased with the funds made possible through an initiative of the Guyana Gold Board.
A past secretary of GRC in 2007 opened the Guyana Relief Council of Florida where she resides. It celebrated its third anniversary last year October with an annual dinner and dance, and the money made from the event was donated to the GRC here.
“We want to ask too that persons donating foodstuff and clothing… that it [foodstuff] be edible and not expired; and clothing is wearable. We also need volunteers too, but the work is not a fancy one because it requires a lot of hard work. January 17 we’ll be celebrating our 17th anniversary and we have a photo exhibition planned, so the public can look out for that. Although the council has assisted a significant number of persons over the years, the need for relief has never been greater. We depend on the kindness and generosity of persons, groups and agencies in our on-going efforts to provide relief to those most in need. With your help and support, we can continue to provide the relief needed by so many of our fellow Guyanese. We have various fund raising activities such as the Family Jam and BBQ usually held at the lawn tennis court of the Pegasus Hotel, annual luncheon and Dutch auction, silent auction, and the Chinese Food Festival. We are grateful to all those persons and companies who have donated over the years and assisted us tremendously,” Ramroop-ter-Welle added. (Taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
