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FM
Former Member
Gov’t. disburses over $37M to Region Nine flood victims -- South Rupununi villages most recent beneficiaries

Georgetown, GINA, October 14, 2011
Source - GINA

Aishalton residents at the meeting with Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and team

Close to 2000 households have so far benefited from Government’s monetary assistance to Region Nine residents who were most severely affected by the flood earlier this year. So far over $21.7M has been disbursed to residents in the North Rupununi while another $15.5M is being disbursed in the South Rupununi District bringing the total disbursement to over $37M.

The recipients from Karasabai and other villages in the North Rupununi District were among those selected through a collaborative effort by the Regional Administration, the Village Council, the Amerindian Affairs and Agriculture Ministries who were tasked with the responsibility of identifying such persons. Each received a cash incentive of $20,000.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs continues to play an active role in ensuring that the monetary assistance is delivered to residents in the region in a timely manner, thus, on October 13, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and a team including a representative from the Auditor General’s office visited Aishalton to execute payments to residents as part of the third phase of assistance that is being provided by Government to the flood affected victims.

Standing is Regional Chairman Clarindo Lucas, seated at right is Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, Aishalton Toshao Hildebrand James and Amerindian Affairs officer Beesham Ramsawack. At far left is the Auditor General’s office representative

Officers from the Amerindian Affairs Ministry are currently conducting payments in the South Rupununi District which includes Aishalton and other neighbouring villages where over 770 households are slated to benefit.

The first and second phases of assistance to the affected were to loss of life by removing families from the flood waters and moving them into shelters. This was done through effective mobilization of human resource to manage the shelters and ensure peoples’ well being.

The second phase was to preserve as much of the food supplies in the communities as possible such as the crops that were not destroyed. In this regard equipment such as cassava mills and storage containers among other items were provided to residents in the communities.

Aishalton was one of the communities which benefited in this phase.

Aishalton residents at the meeting

In her address to residents Minister Sukhai emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency with regards to managing finances at all levels of governance. She stated that the inclusion of the Auditor General’s representative on the team is a demonstration of Government’s practice of these two principles.

She emphasised that the cash incentive is part of the approved response by the Government to the disaster which affected residents of that region.

She further stated that the government has always been supportive of its people both in times of disaster and celebration.

During the recent Amerindian Heritage Month celebration, Aishalton village was the recipient of over $2M in monetary assistance from Government and for hosting the Heritage Day celebrations.

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