Throughout the world countries are severely affected by climate change which is causing devastating effects and losses in developed and developing countries. Guyana is no exception to these changes and Guyanese need to realize that our capital is below sea level and we will be affected in some way or the other by the effects of global warming. Over the past week residents on the East Coast of Demerara were affected by flooding which was caused by heavy and unusual tides.

Fortunately, the Government of Guyana has been able to control the situation and thus far there have been no casualties.

Unfortunately several states in the United States were terribly affected by floods which have caused the loss of lives. In Missouri residents of low-lying towns stacked sandbags and grabbed their belongings and evacuated the area as 12 inches of rain pushed rivers over their banks in the nation’s midsection. At least 13 deaths had been linked to the weather, and three people were missing during last week.

There were similar stories of these losses in large areas of Arkansas and parts of southern Illinois, southern Indiana and southwestern Ohio. Heavy rains also stretched from Alabama and Georgia to the mid-Atlantic states and other areas. It was also reported that an estimated 300 houses and businesses were flooded in Piedmont, a town of 2,000 residents on McKenzie Creek. Dozens of people were rescued by boat.

It is very unfortunate that even developed countries are still not capable of dealing with unexpected natural disasters and are still in the processes understanding the unusualness. I believe that Guyanese need to be aware of the changes and recognise that it is not only happening in Guyana but worldwide and people need to try to be more lenient in the process of rebuilding.
ALEXIS ALPHANSO