– residents plead for urgent assistance to rebuild
The roofs of several homes were ripped off leaving families uncertain about their next move after violent winds and heavy rains swept through Lima New Housing Scheme along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam) on Monday. The storm which stated at about 08:00h has left a trail of destruction with several homes being completely destroyed and personal belonging of the occupants scattered across the community. The traumatised residents are now seeking assistance to rebuild their houses which will be an uphill task. Among those most severely affected is Khamwattie Sukhnandan, who said the storm struck without warning, giving her no time to save anything. She described that the fierce winds “came in a circle,” lifting off her roof and destroying her home.
The distraught woman said that in a matter of minutes, her life’s possessions were gone. She lost furniture, appliances, and her grandchildren’s school books, supplies and clothing. “All my electrical appliances and my grandchildren’s books damage…We need help to build back because we don’t have anywhere to stay.” she said, still shaken by the ordeal. Additionally, Indy Samdatt, told the Guyana Times that she received a distressing call informing her that the storm had destroyed their home and left her mother-in-law injured. Rushing back, she was met with what she described as “a heartbreaking sight.”
“When I came home to see what happened I saw the zinc all blown away and all my belongings damaged…My mother-in-law got hit in her head causing her to get a head injury. Everything spoil… my working clothes, bed, stove, everything gone. It’s very frustrating because we work hard for what we had.” she said. Samdatt said the loss has been heartbreaking for her family, explaining that they worked tirelessly over the years to build their home, only to see it destroyed within minutes. She expressed that all they need now is a little help to start over. “We just need a little help to start over. We worked hard for years to build our home, and now everything gone in minutes,” she said. 
The powerful winds uprooted trees and sent zinc sheets flying across the neighbourhood, with some left hanging dangerously on Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) wires. Debris now covers the area, and several families are staying temporarily with relatives or neighbours as they await assistance to rebuild before the holiday season. After learning about the situation, Regional Chairman Devin Mohan, Vice Chairman Humace Oodit, and Deputy Regional Executive Officer (REO) Omesh Sasenaryan immediately visited the affected area to assess the damage and speak with the residents.
The officials assured them that the Region Two Administration will work with the relevant agencies to provide immediate support.
Residents have since made public appeals for building materials, clothing, food supplies, and household essentials, noting that most of their belongings were destroyed. The families of Lima are now hoping that their calls for help will be answered soon, as they face the daunting task of starting over from scratch. (Raywattie Deonarine)
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