The government on Thursday said it is open to considering compensation for flood affected citizens although it is not a recompense usually provided by the State.
The coalition government said before a decision is taken on possible compensation, it wants to first receive an assessment of the extent of damages, particularly suffered by farmers who lost crops and livestock.
Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, told the National Assembly that the state will look at the possibility of compensation when that document is completed by the relevant authorities and handed over.
The Minister could not say when that data will be available.
He was at the time responding to questions posed by Opposition Parliamentarian, Colin Croal.
Croal’s question dealt with compensation for flood victims of the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana, but be asked specifically about citizens in Regions #8 and #9.
“What will be provided is assistance, compensation is not usually provided by the state,” Bulkan said.
He explained that the Ministry of Agriculture will provide planting material and feed stuff to farmers who have suffered in the affected areas.
The Ministry did not provide further details on the form the assistance will be provided in but repeated the importance of an assessment of the damage.
He reminded of emergency intervention and assistance which was provided by the Civil Defence Commission as well as at the regional levels.
He recalled several visits to the affected communities by government Ministers.
But the People’s Progressive Party continued to press the government for compensation for the hundreds of affected citizens across the country and registered its disappointment with the answers provided by Bulkan.
PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira was also threatened to be removed from the Chamber by Speaker Barton Scotland after she interrupted Bulkan while he provided answers to the questions.
Teixeira said the opposition was not interested in the causes of the floods, but maintained a need for compensation to be considered and granted.
The Speaker had rejected the interruption and following continued rebuff from the MP, he threatened to have her removed if she didn’t desist.
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