Region Five has been urged to put systems in place to manage water resources and prevent fires, as the Civil Defence Commission warns the ongoing dry spell could persist into the first quarter of 2027.

The CDC on Thursday conducted an El Niño consultation exercise in the region, sensitising farmers, residents, teachers and other stakeholders on preparedness measures amid the dry conditions.

Deputy Director General of the CDC Lieutenant Colonel Mark Thomas said conditions are expected to grow warmer as the year progresses, with October forecast to be warmer than September.

"Persons need to put systems in place as they relate to water control, water harvesting in case of farmers for their livestock, for their cash crops," Thomas said, adding that heavy downpours could also bring flash flooding even during the dry period.

He noted that low-lying communities should prepare for both drought conditions and sudden flooding, and raised concerns about the risk of forest fires during the dry spell, pointing to a recent fire in Kwakwani and noting that many such fires are started deliberately.

The CDC is encouraging Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Regional Democratic Councils to ensure farmers follow proper procedures when lighting fires, and stressed that fire breaks and other safety measures should be established to prevent fires from spreading.

Thomas explained that several rural communities lack access to established fire service systems, prompting the CDC to conduct basic firefighting training with regional authorities, community volunteers and members of the Guyana Defence Force Reserve.

"What we've been doing is doing some firefighting training with the region," Thomas said, noting that volunteers are drawn from communities and the Reserve force.

The CDC has also been providing personal protective equipment to assist communities in responding to fires, and has activated its emergency response mechanisms while strengthening regional systems. The Commission remains in contact with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, Brazil and the United Nations, should further assistance be required.

Region Five Regional Chairman Recardo Phillips described the consultation as timely, given the region's dependence on agriculture and its low-lying coastal geography.
"We have devised a plan and going forward we will have clear communication with the Civil Defence Commission on the way forward," Phillips said.

Phillips stressed the importance of water conservation given the region's reliance on cash crops, rice, sugar and cattle, and pointed out that vulnerable groups need particular attention as temperatures rise.

"From the health perspective, we want to look at our elderly, our shut-ins and the persons that are disabled, the vulnerable in our society, because they are more susceptible to this El Niño period as it relates to the heat," Phillips said.