CORE groups to deliver results or risk being revamped – Minister Edghill
The Community Organised for the Restoration of the Environment (CORE) groups within the Ministry of Public Works have been put on notice to fulfil their responsibilities or risk being revamped.
Minister of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill made this disclosure after visiting CORE groups at the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) of Regions Five and Six.
“If the CORE team cannot deliver, we will have to have a new CORE team. For the next 15 days, all the CORE teams across the country must be involved in the clean-up, enhancement and restoration of Government and community spaces,” Minister Edghill said.
The programme, which began under the former administration has been plagued by political interference, a matter that was brought up at the RDC office in New Amsterdam.
“There are some 200 workers employed through the CORE and while we have our own information about it being used for political purposes, that could have simply been the misuse or abuse. The next 15 days for CORE are going to be 15 days of activities and getting a new regime of accountability,” the Minister said.
While Minister Edghill intends to visit all CORE groups to assess the work being done, he has maintained that the bodies must work in the interest of the communities they were employed to serve.
“Not everything has to be a contract that is costing significant sums … Let’s be patriots, let’s be nationalists and let’s make Guyana look better.” When asked about possible administrative changes to CORE, Minister Edghill said the Ministry is interested in professionals with sound managerial and administration skills to administer the work of CORE, rather than political operatives.