Guyanese are being urged to start preparing now for hotter and drier conditions, as the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) expects El Niño conditions to persist into the fourth quarter of next year.
Deputy Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Thomas, issued the warning on Thursday during a consultation and sensitisation exercise in Region Five, where regional officials and communities were being briefed on how to prepare for the expected conditions.
Thomas said the CDC is taking the message across all ten administrative regions, working with Regional Democratic Councils, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, village councils and other government agencies.
He said the focus is on preparing communities before the effects become more severe.
“We want to have a proactive approach to disaster risk management,” Thomas said, explaining that the consultations are intended to help communities understand what they could face and put plans in place early.
Thomas said temperatures are expected to rise as the year progresses, with October projected to be warmer than September.
For farmers, that means planning ahead for water.
The CDC is encouraging communities and farmers to conserve, harvest and store water to ensure adequate supplies for livestock and crops during dry periods.
But Thomas cautioned that El Niño does not mean Guyana will simply stop seeing heavy rainfall.
Sudden downpours could still occur and may trigger flash flooding, particularly in low-lying communities.
The dry conditions could also increase the risk of forest and bush fires.
Thomas pointed to the large number of forest fires recorded in Guyana in 2024 and said a recent fire was also recorded in Kwakwani.
He warned that slash-and-burn farming can increase the risk of fires spreading if proper precautions are not taken.
Farmers are being advised to establish firebreaks and follow proper procedures when using fire to clear agricultural lands.
The CDC is also working with NDCs to improve local firefighting capacity, especially in rural and hinterland communities without a permanent fire service.
Volunteers, residents and members of the Guyana Defence Force Reserve are being trained in basic firefighting, while some communities are receiving personal protective equipment and other firefighting resources.
The CDC has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre and is strengthening regional emergency systems so information and requests for assistance can move quickly if conditions deteriorate.
Thomas said the agency is also preparing for a worst-case scenario, recalling that Guyana sought assistance from Brazil in 2024 after the country was overwhelmed by the effects of the conditions.
The CDC remains in contact with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, Brazil and the United Nations, in case additional support is required.
The heat is also a concern for people who spend long hours outdoors.
Thomas specifically identified children, construction workers and employees of agencies such as Guyana Power and Light and Guyana Water Incorporated as groups that need to be properly educated about staying hydrated during periods of increased temperatures.
The CDC has already held similar consultations in Regions Three and Four, Region Six, Region Two and several hinterland regions.
Thomas said the aim is to ensure communities are ready before the effects of El Niño intensify.
“If we stay proactive and we discuss and put systems and plans in place, then this period should not be a difficult period for us,” he said.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
