PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said the Government was prepared to give an initial $15M in post-flood assistance to Cane Grove residents who suffered losses as a result of the breach at the East Demerara Conservancy dam at Flagstaff, Cane Grove last weekend.

He visited Cane Grove yesterday and told reporters the $15M for assistance could be changed depending on an assessment of the damage caused by the flood.

At a briefing at the Strathavon Community Centre before he toured the now dry housing areas at Cane Grove, the Head of State said an assessment team would be appointed next week to examine the damage from the floodwaters, which have since been drained off the land.

The Government has so far released $3M to provide assistance to the residents.

This was spent on, among other things, a one-week supply of rations provided to some 700 households on Tuesday, and on food items used by the Army to prepare meals for the residents for at least three days, officials said.

Mr. Jagdeo told reporters that if the giant construction firm B&K was found responsible for the some 40-feet breakaway on the conservancy dam, it will have to pay.

B&K was given a three phased $360M contract to strengthen the conservancy dam due for completion February next year, and had identified seven areas for revetment works.

But Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board, Mr. Ravi Naraine said the section where the breach occurred was not among the "danger" areas.

The President said that if the contracting firm was found responsible, it would face the "financial penalty" and if there was any other liability it would "have to pay in full."

He said the terms of reference for the investigative panel appointed Thursday were about complete.

Minimum requirements include looking at the design of the project, whether the contractor complied with the design specifications and whether there was proper supervision of the conservancy dam, he said.

The probe team consists of Dr. Harold Davis Jr., Guyana Sugar Corporation Operations Director, as Chairman, and other members, Colonel John Lewis of the Guyana Defence Force, Chief River and Sea Defence Officer, Mr. George Howard, CEMCO Director, Mr. Raymond Latchmansingh and Mr. Paul Sarran of the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary Agriculture Development Authority.

President Jagdeo said he expects the investigation will take into account the voice of Cane Grove residents.

He said he has ordered Public Works and Communications Minister, Mr. Anthony Xavier to assess the infrastructure destroyed as a result of the flood, adding that money will be allocated to fix what was damaged.

Scores of residents came out to meet the President as he passed through the community yesterday.

Unlike Saturday when he first visited hours after the dam broke, the President did not have to wade through more than four feet of water yesterday.

The mud roads were dry enough for dust to rise from passing vehicles since the floodwaters quickly receded with the emergency drainage operation that was put in place.

The President thanked all the agencies that were responsible for the "well coordinated and well planned" relief efforts at Cane Grove.

Special thanks went to the Guyana Defence Force, which was responsible for cooking in some cases, 700 meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, evacuating mainly school children on Monday and Tuesday to the Bygeval Secondary School, distributing the food hampers, as well as maintaining watch on the conservancy dam for possible weak areas

President Jagdeo also thanked Cane Grove residents for being tolerant during "this tremendous hardship" and assured them that any Government relief efforts will not pass any home.

His assurance became necessary since many residents seemed confused with the Government assistance and that of the private organisations that were also in the community to offer help.

Allaying their concerns, Mr. Jagdeo ordered that the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) distribute the some 800 boxes of biscuits donated by Banks DIH Limited on Wednesday.

An official of the local authority said the NDC was awaiting other food supplies promised by some local organisations to do one distribution in the form of a hamper to the residents.

Among those accompanying the President on his visit yesterday were Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Navin Chandarpal, Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud.