The Guyana Government is awaiting the completion of a performance evaluation before it decides on whether to heed calls for the dismissal of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Commissioner, Rickford Vieira.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman told media operatives on Wednesday that the evaluation will be considered by Cabinet when submitted, and action will be taken on the future employment of Vieira at the Agency.

The evaluation is expected to be completed before the end of January. In the interim, the Commissioner is being asked to remain on leave amid expressions of no confidence by the GGMC Board. Vieira was sent home early in December, 2015.

The current Board had passed a no-confidence motion, contending that it does not believe that Vieira and other senior functionaries were suitable for the posts they hold. Meanwhile, Trotman said the names for the new GGMC Board have already been finalized.

This is expected to receive Cabinet’s approval at its next meeting. The Minister said there was need for some degree of continuity and hinted that some serving Board members will be retained.

Speaking on the wider employ of the GGMC, Trotman said there is a plan to hire persons, particularly to carry out surveillance of the hinterland and mining area.

“What we have noticed is that the GGMC’s administrative staff is larger than its field staff so we will be looking to put more people in the field to do more monitoring and evaluation and enforcement,” Trotman said.

He said the Agency will be asked to take its in house staff and have them more exposed in the fields.