The Community Organised for the Restoration of the Environment (CORE) programme was launched in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Saturday, in the presence of Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and regional officials.
CORE is a new initiative under the Public Infrastructure Ministry, which seeks to
Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, Regional Chairman Renis Morian, Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford and members of the Region 10 CORE group and other officials pose alongside some of the donated gear
beautify and enhance the environment within communities across the country. The Linden arm of the initiative was launched in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), also in the presence of Regional Chairman Renis Morian; Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford and Councillor and Representative of the Prime Minister, Vladimir Glasgow. Members of the CORE community group who will work under the programme were also present and received work gear, including rakes, brush cutters, safety gear and overalls.
Alluding to the relevance of the CORE initiative, Minister Patterson said that upon completion of road works in communities it was noted, in many instances, there were other areas such as verges and bridges which also required enhancement work; hence, the establishment of CORE. He said people from the communities were chosen to work under the programme since they were the ones who demonstrate pride in the areas in which they live.
The Minister said he wanted to ensure that when road works were completed, areas remained up to standard with regard to drainage and other aspects. He said apart from Georgetown, Linden should also appear to be another garden city under the initiative. The programme, the Minister said, has already been funded for the entire year and once successful in its objectives, it could be extended. Patterson said it may continue based on its ability to succeed, while he emphasised his hope of having four working groups in Linden. Presently, the community has two groups which will work under the CORE initiative.
“The responsibility in ensuring the success of this programme lies with you persons here…So, the future is in your hands…I really would like us to make this programme work,” Minister Patterson said.
He made a personal request for particular assistance to be given to elderly people and churches in the community, who may be in need of services provided by the items donated, noting that they should be cherished and respected.
The Minister stated also that he was absolutely pleased and delighted to see women involved in the initiative, having celebrated International Women’s Day a few days ago. He said he would also be looking forward to feedback on the programme as he pointed out that it was yet to be launched in some other Regions in the country.
Morian expressed gratitude to the Minister and his team, emphasising that the items which were handed over would be placed in an inventory on Tuesday and he would have the Regional Executive Officer (REO) secure a location for them to be stored. The Regional Chairman said, however, that the team leader of the CORE group would be fully in charge of the items while the RDC would be the custodian.
