PM assures budget will adequately address COVID relief efforts
Colonel Craig of the CDC takes the Prime Minister on a Guided tour at Thomas lands
Prime Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips has given assurances that government will adequately cater to the needs of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), in fulfilling its mandate to bring relief to persons who are affected by disasters, and more directly, the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
“We are putting together a budget; the budget would be submitted, and at some point what is in the budget would have to be made public, but before that, it has to go through the parliament to ensure it’s approved. But what we are doing now is planning the budget, and as we plan the budget for the CDC, it is our intention that we cater for COVID-19 relief support and for any other disasters or complex emergency in Guyana for the rest of the year,” the Prime Minister disclosed.
On Sunday, Phillips who has oversight for the CDC and the Taskforce responsible for managing the coronavirus, went on a familiarization tour of the CDC’s office complex at Thomas Lands, and later the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, which is being used as a bond for the CDC.
At Thomas Lands, the Prime Minister was given a walk-through of two structures that are under construction and would be used to enhance the capacity of the CDC, including in the area of training and capacity building for staff.
Some of the items packed for distribution
At Mandela Avenue, Colonel Kester Craig, who heads the CDC, provided the Prime Minister with a detailed brief on the items in stock for distribution; which areas in the country are priority recipients; the methods being used to prioritize; and the further needs to meet the demand of the CDC and its objectives.
“Based on what I am seeing here, I am satisfied with what we have here. The items here are mainly to complement the vulnerable families with whatever else they have, in order to have meals for them and their families,” Prime Minister Phillips noted.
The PM said that in the very near future, some other areas may need to receive priority treatment, as he pointed to Region 7, which seems to be having increases in coronavirus cases.
