Kaibarupai gears for rebuilding process

Feb 10, 2018 News

– new homes for 21 families severely affected by last year’s floods.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, and her team visited the village of Kaibarupai in late December to inform residents of the 2018 budgetary allocation to facilitate the rebuilding process of 21 homes in Kaibarupai that were washed away by the devastating floods in Potaro-Siparuni, Region 8 last May.
The floods affected approximately 3,000 persons.
Kaibarupai was deemed the hardest hit of the four villages located in that area– Chenapou, Waipa and Sand Hills being the other three villages.
At a public meeting hosted by the Toshao and Councillors, and attended by residents of Kaibarupai, including the families who lost their homes, Minister Garrido-Lowe reminded of Government’s care and support for the First Peoples of Guyana.
During discussions, villagers did agree that the rebuilding process will see them relocated to higher grounds, a precautionary measure in the advent of another flood.
The village will be provided with the relevant resources; fuel, chainsaws, zinc, nails, power saws and food items, while the male folks from the families affected will provide the labour.
The Village Council led by Toshao, John Salvador will meet with villagers again to further discuss and decide on a suitable location where the 24’x18’, 2-bedroom houses including a kitchen, will be built.
Minister Garrido-Lowe told the village and more so, the families affected, “Government has not forgotten you, I was here and I saw firsthand how you suffered so with the passage of the 2018 National Budget $5 million has been earmarked to assist in the rebuilding process of the 21 houses that were destroyed.
“You had requested from Government to provide you with tools and equipment while you yourselves will cut and saw the logs and build your own houses. So that is exactly what will happen.”
Explaining the benefits of relocating to higher ground Minister Garrido-Lowe said, “Your Government believes that all citizens of this country should have the opportunity to enjoy a good life, hence, if you build your houses, let’s say, on a five-acre plot then it will be far easier for Government to put in the necessary infrastructure for you to have electricity, running water in your homes and internet facility so that your children can study and you can communicate in an instant with the Ministry or the world.”
The Minister told them that nothing is wrong with keeping their farms one or two hours away but the main community homestead must be in close proximity.
Minister Garrido-Lowe said herself and Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, will ensure the Indigenous Peoples “are always well catered for. That is why the President has seen it fitting to appoint two Ministers in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs.”
After several hours of discussion with the families, especially the men, the Minister was given a list of the items that the village will require to rebuild their homes. Upon accepting the list, Minister Garrido-Lowe promised to send in several house designs for them to choose from.
A father of two, who is also a member of the local community policing group, Ronny James, said “We are really happy because you know the water was high above our house tops. Once it gone down only some of the posts were left, so the earlier we can get back our homes, the better for us”.
He added, “Although it taking long, we happy that the Government didn’t forget us, so we really happy with this.”
Minister Garrido-Lowe promised villagers to return in February when work should commence.
The children of the village received toys and footwear, while 21 hampers were distributed to the families affected by the floods and an additional 15 to other residents.
Families also received several pieces of clothing. Hampers, clothing and toys were also distributed to Sand Hills and Waipa Villages which are located approximately one and two hours travel by boat from Kaibarupai through several cascading rapids.
All clothing, shoes and some farming tools distributed were provided by Food for the Poor, Guyana Organisation.
The families affected are located along the Ireng and Potaro Rivers which form part of Guyana’s Western border with Brazil.
The rivers rose to unprecedented levels, rising to a height of 20 feet and resulting in the destruction of several homes and farms belonging to residents.

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