20 tons of supplies for Venezuela
by Linda Rutherford
LOCAL freighters, John Fernandes Limited, and the Dutch charter firm, Europe West Indies Lines, are collaborating on shipping to Venezuela 20 tons of food and other basic necessities amassed here in aid of that country's recovery following last December's deadly floods and mudslides. Loading began on Thursday and the vessel is due to leave either today or tomorrow for Puerto Cabello, some five hours by road from the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. On arrival there, the cargo will be received by the Venezuelan firm Cargo Port Corporation which is the agent for Europe West Indies Lines and which has also volunteered its services to the cause free of charge. Venezuelan Ambassador Mr Hector Azocar, who recently returned from Caracas, said Thursday that President Hugo Chavez has instructed the armed forces to make the necessary arrangements to come and collect the remainder of stuff, largely non-perishables, accumulated in the relief drive launched here on December 15, 1999. At the last count early last month, 20 tons of items were said to be lying in storage at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri and another 280 tons at various locations in Georgetown. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) had assisted with ferrying over by plane, a little over a ton of items late December. Azocar said even though the local drive has slowed somewhat, donations, both cash and kind, are still coming in. Cash donations to the cause from Guyana have to date amounted to US$4,300. Meanwhile, rains continue to plaster parts of Venezuela though not as heavy as before, the Ambassador said. Recovery works are still in progress in Vargas State, where damage by the December deluge was said to be heaviest. Just two weeks ago, he said, the area was again hit by heavy rains which caused some measure of disruption to recovery works, particularly the roads. Some areas are still isolated and can only be accessed by aircraft or sea and not by road, since many bridges are still down. More than 1,200 people from in and around La Guira and Vargas have been rendered homeless were relocated to emergency housing facilities in the Guri Dam area in Bolivar State. Others are either sheltered in various military barracks and sports complexes across the country, or are staying with relatives in parts of Caracas and other cities unaffected by the killer rains, until the whole issue of resettlement is resolved by the government. President Chavez in a speech on Wednesday evening to mark his first year in office, promised to unveil today an urban development master plan for the entire central coast. The plan seeks to address such issues as resettlement and also looks at some new developments like port extensions and introducing strict legislation aimed at deterring people from settling in high risk areas like the foothills of the Avila mountain range which separates Caracas from Vargas and where the trouble originated. Chavez has also ordered counselling for the displaced, which Azocar feels is very important in light of the fact that most have lost everything that was dear and precious to them. To date, he said, there have been no reports of epidemic outbreaks, a fact that has been remarked upon favourably by Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) Director-General, Sir George Alleyne, who was in Venezuela just last week.
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