The Guyana Relief Council (GRC) on Thursday officially opened its new emergency shelter at its Ruimveldt premises.

The newly furnished shelter will cater for people in need of help and accommodation. In particular, it is hoped to be a possible national base for families whose homes have been destroyed by fire or flood. The relief base will have a package that lasts up to three weeks for those in need.

The three-week package will give inhabitants access to beds, food, washing items, and a personal hygiene kit. Transportation would also be provided for children going to school.

GRC Treasurer, Barbara Walrond, said that there were suites for core family members, which would have rooms housing up to 12 people. She stated that the first floor alone could accommodate people numbering triple figures whilst the grounds would hold hundreds. Rules have been made and must be kept, according to Walrond, who said that the GRC would not extend people's stay any longer than the package stated at this stage.

Over $13 million has been spent to build the shelter including $7 million that was given by the British High Commission. Donations were also made by the embassy of China, the Canadian International Development Agency representing the Canadian government as well as the German and Dutch governments and other people who generously helped make the completion of the project possible.

On Thursday, a sizeable crowd which included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds gathered on the property at Riverview, Ruimveldt for the cutting of the ribbon which followed a congratulatory message from the Prime Minister on behalf of President Bharrat Jagdeo, who couldn't attend, and his government. Honorary Con-sul of Japan to Guyana, Hans Barrow, and British High Commissioner, Stephen Hiscock, also gave their congratulations.

GRC Chairman Yvonne Hinds was clearly delighted at the opening of the shelter. In a speech, she said she hoped it would prove a sanctuary for families in need of help. "We hope this to be an oasis where lives can be restarted. If a disaster happened which made us homeless we should not feel ashamed to stay in this building."

Planning for the project had been ongoing for ten years since Hinds was handed the reins of the then National Relief Committee. Hinds said the project has benefited from research and viewing modern day disasters, which the GRC experienced first hand when its buildings burnt down years ago.

Geoffrey Da Silva, chief executive officer of Go-Invest and a former GRC vice chairman, said it was now all about sustainability. He said he hoped that the shelter would have a significant life span.