CORE initiative to enhance environment

GINA, GUYANA, Thursday, December 15, 2016

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said his Ministry will be embarking on a Community Organised for the Restoration of the Environment (CORE) initiative in 2017 to provide improved infrastructural services in communities.

Minister Patterson explained that this is a unique initiative that will see the establishment of 20 community groups across the administrative regions. “Each region will have two teams, except Region Two, which will have one and Region Four, three, ” Minister Patterson noted.

Each team will consist of 10 members, inclusive of a Team Leader with an estimated employment cost at an average of $7.44M per annum, per team. Tools and safety gear, including safety boots, reflective vests, shovels, brush cutters, and rakes are estimated at $158.302M per annum, the Minister pointed out.

According to the Infrastructure Minister, the initiative is designed to supplement the work of the Special Projects Unit (SPU) of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure “in such a manner that it provides for the environmental upgrade, drainage, and sanitation improvement and general aesthetics of the works being undertaken by the unit.”

Some of the identified communities that will benefit from this initiative are Moruca, Port Kaituma, and Number 51 to Moleson Creek, Kato, Mahdia, Bartica, Lethem, and Linden among others.

The Ministry’s Special Projects Unit previously the Force Account Unit is responsible for the maintenance of roads. In 2016 the sum of $1.05B was provided for this unit and works were carried out on 40 roads, totalling 150km in length.

Under preventative maintenance in Georgetown, 31 roads were maintained totalling 1,000 meters while under corrective maintenance, works were executed in Georgetown and on the East Bank of Demerara. For 2017, the sum of $1.336B was provided for the unit.

 

By: Ranetta La Fleur