CORE group initiative creates jobs for youths – launched in Regions One, Two

GUYANA, GINA, Thursday, May 11, 2017

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Community Organised for a Restored Environment (CORE) initiative is quickly spreading across Guyana. Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson on Tuesday and Wednesday launched the CORE project in Regions One and Two.

CORE is an initiative of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Special Projects Unit. Its purpose is to assist with environmental upgrade, drainage, sanitation, road works and improving the general aesthetics of villages.

Minister Ferguson told the residents and participants that this is a fulfillment of government’s promise of providing jobs for young people. She explained that the aim is to empower young people to become entrepreneurs of tomorrow and contribute to Guyana’s development.

“The idea behind the CORE is to provide unemployed young people between the ages of 18-35 with jobs. This CORE project is basically teaching young people how to get involved and be a part of community restoration. We believe that you young people who have been identified to work with CORE will be contributing to your community,” Minister Ferguson explained.

The Minister stressed that the coalition government care for young people. Hence, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, has budgeted $150M for the CORE project which will cater for the purchasing of the requisite equipment and tools, fuel for the brush cutters and for payment of salaries to the workers. This will also see more young persons added to the CORE project in 2018, Minister Ferguson explained.

Group leader for Region Two’s CORE, Parmanand Singh, is thankful to the government for this initiative which has helped him and his team in securing employment. He said, they are happy the government has given them the opportunity to get a job. “I feel anxious; me and my team will make Essequibo a clean environment for everybody.”

Meanwhile, Vanessa Abraham a mother of one, and a beneficiary of the Region One CORE group, expressed joy as her son finally got a job after several failed applications. Abrahams said, “I’m very thankful for my son Alonzo, he had applied for jobs several times in the region and up to now he didn’t hear back anything, and I’m very thankful for this.”

There are now six of 20 CORE groups across the country. Other communities to benefit from the initiative include, Port Kaituma, No. 51 to Moleson Creek, Kato, Mahdia, and Lethem.

Every group will have a supervisor who will be responsible for the team, and will work along with their respective regions. Workers will be earning a salary of $60,000 monthly, while group leaders earn $80,000.

Budget 2017 provides $1.3B for the Special Projects Unit under which the CORE groups are being funded.

 

By: Ranetta La Fleur