How women ensured Guyana survived the Great Flood
On January 15, 2005, Guyana experienced the first national natural disaster in its history. Out of a national population of 750,000 people, 300,000 in 110 villages were affected – 39% of the population. Some people lived in water for 20 days.
Edited excerpt of the open letter signed by Halima Khan and Nicola Marcus (Red Thread, Strike co-ordinators) to government, opposition, trade unions, NGOs, religious groups, funders, etc., on behalf of over 250 women who took part in the Speakout held in Georgetown on March 13, 2005.
At a meeting on March 9, 2005, International Women’s Week, Bibi Shadick, Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security said “It is the women of Guyana who defended their children from disease and death during the flood.”
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“We are the women whose work is being recognized – the mainly grassroots women of every race who braved waist-deep and even chest-deep flood waters filled with disease and death to find new ways to feed, clothe, shelter, teach, nurse, and worry about our children – above all, to keep them safe. We had to work even harder and in more dangerous conditions. “We are mothers, grandmothers, aunts, daughters and sisters who care for our families full-time without any wage, or who also work outside the home for low wages. “We are women with disabilities and women looking after children with disabilities. We are cane farmers who lost our crops and who are unable to replant, and unable to pay leases for farmland. We are garment workers, security guards, domestics, newspaper vendors and other women who were not able to earn during the flood. |
“We are market vendors, fish
vendors and vendors of snacks and other goods who lost our stocks and cannot
restock because we have no money and no one is willing to trust us money. We
are farmers, vendors and other small businesswomen who owe instalments on
loan repayments for investments lost in the flood. We are housewives and
caregivers who suffered massive losses of household possessions, kitchen
gardens, poultry and small livestock.”
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We want what we are entitled to: The money and materials raised in our name to be put urgently towards continued relief to all of us who need it. Fair distribution. Our debts for goods and equipment damaged and destroyed cancelled. More than just the poverty we had before the flood. Clean water, electricity, phones, healthcare, and transport we can afford, roads, enough income, housing we can afford without going into debt. Cancellation of the "national debt". A full written audit and public explaining of any donations that government agencies, opposition parties, religious groups and NGOs received for our relief, how they were used, how the money was divided between the relief we actually received and what people were paid to distribute the relief, what they still have in hand and how they intend to use what they have in hand. Urgent clean up action! An urgent investigation into EXACTLY why the flood happened, whose neglect allowed it. If there was mismanagement and corruption, those responsible, especially at a high level, should be punished. To be part of discussions to prevent another flood, because we are the ones who ensure the survival of our children, families and communities by our caring work, and who therefore ensure that Guyana survives. |