Last Updated on Saturday, 13 September 2025, 8:26 by Writer
The Guyana government’s disaster response agency, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have dispatched support and supplies to the more than 30 residents of Albouystown, Georgetown who were displaced by a Thursday afternoon fire.
The CDC said several persons were being housed and provided food and other necessities at a shelter it has established at the Andrew “Six Head” Lewis Gym on Independence Boulevard. That facility is also being used as a base to support other fire-affected persons who are being accommodated elsewhere. “In addition, the facility serves as a coordination hub for multi-agency relief efforts for all affected families, including those housed at the shelter and those in alternative accommodation,” the CDC added.
Partner agencies, including the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the Ministry of Education, and other relevant ministries and the private sector, are actively involved in providing welfare assistance, psychosocial support, and other vital services to help the displaced families begin their recovery process, the CDC added. Former government ministers Dr Vindhya Persaud, Robeson Benn and Juan Edghill visited the shelter and the fire scene.
The CDC thanked all public-spirited persons who have supported the affected families with donations, volunteering, or other acts of kindness. “Such collective compassion and solidarity continue to strengthen Guyana’s disaster response and community resilience.”
The Commission says it remains committed to working with all partners to ensure that the needs of the displaced families are met in the days ahead, while also continuing its broader mandate of promoting preparedness and safety within communities.
The opposition APNU also on Friday provided much-needed supplies to many of the residents who were displaced by the fire that has destroyed five buildings, including two residential apartments and a meat shop. APNU elected candidate Ronald Daniels said plans were underway to mobilise additional assistance. “We are collating information and will be engaging the public a tad later for contributions towards the critical things needed at this time,” he said on his Facebook page.
He said APNU’s team, comprising Dr Terrence Campbell, Saiku Franklin Andrews , Richard Hoyte, Nima Flue-Bess, Councillor Travis Ellis and himself visited, contributed and assisted. “Albouystown needs all hands on deck to help the 30 displaced families to get their lives back on track,” he said.
