An appeal has been made to the corporate community to lend a helping hand to the 22 families affected by a “twister” which tore through the community of Aripero on Thursday.
“We are appealing to the corporate community and any person or community willing to assist these residents. They can call the corporation at 649-0211, send us a message on Facebook or send an email at chairmansiparia@gmail.com,” corporation chairman Glenn Ramadharsingh said yesterday.
He said the number of homes affected now stands at 22, with several roofs being blown off, homes damaged and household articles destroyed.
He said the tornado-like weather pattern that passed through affected an area that spans from Pablito Trace into Grant Trace into Aripero, Dow Village, South Oropouche and La Brea.
Ramadharsingh said the corporation has gotten assistance from the Unemployment Relief Programme and all homes have been furnished with tarpaulins and mattresses.
He said a corporate entity has promised to supply food stuff.
“It is the poor people who were affected because this is a double jeopardy, they already having a trying time having to provide food for their children and now have the additional stress to repair their homes.”
In a release yesterday, Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein said the ministry has begun a programme to install hurricane straps on homes which are vulnerable to having their roofs blown off due to high winds.
“We have asked each corporation to identify two homes for this first phase of the project as we work towards making all communities safer and more storm resilient. The Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts has donated two thousand (2,000) hurricane straps for this venture. Collaboration is the best way for us to move forward, and we sincerely thank Honourable Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and her team for this assistance,” said Hosein.
Hosein called for registered members of each Municipal Corporation’s Volunteer Network to get involved in the installation of the hurricane straps.
Interested volunteers could contact their Municipal Corporation directly; or liaise with National Volunteer Coordinator, Matthew Kailah or the Disaster Management Coordinator, Rishi Siew at the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government at 622-1669 ext 3109/3208 for more information.