Guyana’s Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said on Tuesday the Government of Guyana welcomes a $2M donation from ExxonMobil Guyana towards flood relief efforts for residents and communities affected due to overtopping of seas defences in sections of the West Coast of Demerara.
Minister Harmon, who holds responsibility for the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), expressed the Government’s appreciation to all members of the private sector, including ExxonMobil, who have made resources available to the CDC to support its work, a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency said.
“On behalf of the CDC and the Government of Guyana, we would like to thank ExxonMobil for giving so generously and contributing to the disaster relief efforts of the Civil Defence Commission. We are all aware of the damages and we believe that this is an excellent demonstration of your social corporate responsibility and corporate consciousness that you have come forward without even prodding to give this generous donation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Suzanne De Abreu, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Manager, said that the company considers its community relationships an essential element of its business and added that in times of crisis it is important that resources are combined.
“We have been continuously impressed by Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission and their ability to respond in real-time to distress caused by natural disasters around the country. ExxonMobil is proud to offer assistance, through the CDC, to the West Demerara residents whose lives have been affected by the flooding. We are glad there was a way we could help,” Ms. De Abreu said.
Minister Harmon also extended gratitude to other private sector entities, who also contributed to the relief efforts. These organisations include, the BK Group of Companies, which provided assistance to the residents of Sea View Stewartville by creating a secondary drain between the sea defence and the housing area to channel the run off of water from the land, Banks DIH Limited, which donated 300 small boxes of crackers, 75 cases of water (1 litre bottles) and 150 cases of small aqua mist water to aid in the provision of food at the emergency shelters.
The Bakewell Bakery donated 300 loaves of bread and tennis rolls for the feeding programme at the shelters while the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) Uitvlugt Sugar Estate provided the services of its caterers and kitchen to help in the preparation of meals. The estate also offered the CDC the use of its community centre as an emergency shelter.
The Camex Restaurants Incorporated under its Church’s Chicken and Pollo Tropical brands, aided in the provision of meals at the emergency shelters by donating 100 lunches while the Demerara Charitable Foundation assisted in the mobilisation of donations from the private sector towards the relief effort.
Meanwhile, with regard to the situation on the ground, the water has completely receded and the Minister of State is expected to conduct a visit tomorrow to meet with the residents after returning to the jurisdiction today.
Thank you ExxonMobil for your $2M donation towards flood relief efforts in Guyana. It was the right thing to do and you did it. Hopefully all parties and stakeholders in Guyana will be thankful and not look a gift horse in the mouth.