By Alicia Chamely
THE National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) is calling upon the Government to absorb Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) workers into their existing contractual framework, while investigations into the programme continue.
AZP News contacted NATUC President Michael Annisette on Tuesday to discuss the accusations of corruption within the programme that led to the termination of over 350 contractors putting around 10,000 workers on the breadline.
Annisette subsequently sent a statement via WhatsApp expressing NATUCs position on the matter.
NATUC stated, while they supported the government’s decision to “root out corruption and restore integrity to the public,” workers should not bear the burden for the corruption or misconduct of CEPEP contractors.
It added, “CEPEP workers have long toiled under difficult conditions, often with little job security, and it is wholly unjust for them to be collateral damage in the pursuit of accountability.”
The Centre proposed and called upon the government to assist workers who are now without jobs for no fault of their own by absorbing them into the existing contractual framework at CEPEP.
NATUC stated, “We therefore call on the Government to immediately absorb the affected workers into the existing contractual framework while continuing its legitimate investigations and reforms. We urge the authorities to act with urgency and compassion, ensuring that no worker is left behind due to actions beyond their control.”
It stated it was in full support of the restructuring of CEPEP, as NATUC had long advocated for the programme to be enhanced.
NATUC stated, “We support the Government’s vision to revamp CEPEP into a more transparent, skill-building initiative that provides real opportunity and advancement for workers. This aligns with our shared goal of a people- and worker centred approach to governance and national development.”
Annisette was asked if he was aware of any public demonstrations to be held by the now retrenched CEPEP workers. He said he would not know and would have nothing to do with such action as NATUC does not represent CEPEP employees.
He said NATUC does recognise their plight and is doing its best to advocate for them peacefully.
During an interview with I95.5 FM on Monday morning, former trade unionist and current Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities Clyde Elder said while it was unfortunate, the termination of contracts at CEPEP was necessary due to the “mind-boggling” corruption at the programme.
He alleged the corruption at CEPEP involved members of the former People’s National Movement (PNM) government.
Regarding CEPEP workers now being without employment, Elder said, “Now we are aware that there are workers impacted and affected, and it is not to say that we have turned our eyes or turned our ears-not at all. We are asking the workers in this instance to have conversations with us. We are going to ensure that they do get something in the shortest possible time, but we need to deal with that corruption taking place in CEPEP.”
On Sunday at a United National Congress (UNC) press conference, Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath did not comment on the pleas of workers, stating the ministry engages with contractors not workers.
He said the goal of the investigation into and subsequent advancement of CEPEP was to get people of “mindset of cutting grass for the rest of their lives.”
Padarath said, “It is about empowering them and empowering their children to have a better quality of life, and not to use CEPEP as a political pawn to have persons go to political meetings, wear a red shirt, wave a Balisier, for a merge small fee at the end of the month, when senior party officials of the PNM continue to walk away with large hefty salaries and contracts on the backs of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
On June 27, all contractors engaged by CEPEP were handed letters of immediate termination.
The decision was taken by the government to cancel all contracts as they investigate allegations of corruption within the programme.
Padarath, speaking at Sunday’s press conference, said the former administration had engaged in what he described as the “political prostitution of CEPEP and that political prostitution was obscene.”
Over 350 contractor contracts were terminated, leaving more than 10,000 people unemployed.
