Residents of two Rupununi villages are contemplating their future after their communities were left out of the government’s Community Enhancement Workers (CEW) programme.
Reports are that the villages of Achiwib and Maruranau in the South Rupununi were bypassed by the authorities for consideration for the programme which mirrors the APNU+AFC government’s Community Organised for the Restoration of the Environment (CORE) project which created jobs for dozens of persons in hinterland areas.
According to a resident of Maruranau, the village predominantly supported the Coalition in the past and as such, it was always left out of the PPP/C government projects. The trend continues, he said, noting that residents of other villages in the South Rupununi are also gearing up for the worst citing their villages’ support for projects undertaken by the last government.
The APNU+AFC also won support in Achiwib and reports are that the village was also bypassed for consideration under the CEW programme.It was noted by Rupununi residents that almost all the CEW’s in the region were politically appointed , whereby the village councils had no say in the appointment of persons who were selected by the government to carry out the CEW projects in their villages.
Reports from Aishalton are that the government plans to wipe the CORE project from the slate and as such, many persons in the community are fearful that their jobs will be taken away. A resident of the Deep South Rupununi village told the Village Voice that they are currently working longer hours with the same pay.
In addition, the women within the group said they were told by persons in the region that their contracts will not be renewed, and this will leave them with no other alternatives for employment.
The former APNU+AFC government launched its CORE programme soon after assuming office in 2015 with the aim of empowering and bettering communities through the formation of community groups aimed at the beautification of the environment. Workers in the CORE group were contracted for one year and received a monthly salary of $60,000.
