Opposition Leader Visits Fire Victims in Toledo

Brushfires continue to wreak havoc across Toledo District where farmers from several communities, including San Pedro, Columbia, are directly affected.  The National Emergency Management Organization has responded with firefighting and relief efforts, however, the opposition is calling on the Briceño administration to introduce a supplementary to the House of Representatives.  The additional funds would be used to provide assistance to families that have lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the devastating fires.  Over the weekend, Shyne Barrow, the Leader of the Opposition, visited several communities in the south and saw firsthand the damage that has been left in the wake of these forest fires.

 

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“It’s very heart wrenching to visit families that have lost everything due to these wildfires.  So I was able to find some resources to help at least four families in the rebuilding of their homes on behalf of Dennis Williams who is going to be the next area representative of Toledo East, by the grace of God.  But certainly it brings into sharp focus the role of NEMO and the role of the Ministry of Housing in these types of emergencies.  I know I have been extremely critical of the government when it comes to them bringing supplementary after supplementary to the house, but if the Ministry of Housing cannot find within the current budget the resources to help these families, the opposition would certainly support a supplementary in this instance which is the true intent of the supplementary.  It is for the emergencies that could not have been anticipated when the budget was being forecasted, and this certainly counts in that.  It also brings into sharp focus the fact that we need to look at investments in our apparatus to deal with these wildfires as far as planes that could fly over to release water to put out these fires.”