Govt approves $15M for Venezuela flood relief
Guyana is to provide $15 million in assistance to the victims of recent flash floods and mudslides in neighbouring Venezuela, according to the Leader for Government Business in the National Assembly, Reepu Daman Persaud. Persaud made the announcement on Monday when he read a message to the National Assembly sent by President Bharrat Jagdeo to his Venezuelan counterpart, President Hugo Chavez. The President's message expressed "heartfelt sympathy to the Government and people of Venezuela" and offered Guyana's assistance "within our means to help your country and the people to deal with the consequences of this disaster." Persaud said that the assistance was determined after consultation with Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Hector Azocar, as to the areas in which aid was most needed. Thousands of people have died in the floods which ravaged Guyana's western neighbour. Later, Persaud announced the government's decision to defer to the next sitting of parliament, a motion down for discussion on Venezuela's continuing claim to the Essequibo region. The motion has the backing of all the parliamentary parties who collaborated in its drafting.
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