(2005-11) News Release March 30, 2005 Ottawa -- The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, on behalf of The Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, announced today that Canada will provide over $2.7 million to carry out short-term recovery activities in response to the recent flooding in Guyana. The funds will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). "Canada is concerned about the people of Guyana and is committed to helping them rebuild their lives," said Mr. Karygiannis. "This Canadian contribution will help organisations perform the activities involved in the urgently required recovery of Guyana." The initiatives include: $1.87 million to the Drainage and Irrigation Board of the Government of Guyana to restore drainage and irrigation systems, to strengthen the East Coast Demerara dam, to restore outlets and pumps in the seawall, and to ensure the infrastructure system will be able to sustain the upcoming rainy season; $362,000 to the United Nations Development Programme to monitor and surpervise this urgent work, ensuring financial and technical accountability; and, $500,000 to the CHF Partners in Rural Development to provide assistance to small-scale poultry producers to re-start their production, to improve nutritional standards in flood affected homes through the re-establishment of household vegetable gardens, and to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases. In addition to today's announcement, CIDA has provided $370,000 to help with Guyana's emergency and reconstruction needs; $170,000 provided through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives; $100,000 channelled through the Canadian Red Cross for the International Federation of the Red Cross; and, $100,000 provided to UNICEF. Funding for these initiatives was provided for in the February 2005 budget and is therefore part of the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - Information: France Bureau Press Secretary Office of the Minister of International Cooperation Telephone: (819) 953-6238 Media Relations Office Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Telephone: (819) 953-6534 E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca Web site: www.cida.gc.ca
