By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE entire situation involving the Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme Company (CEPEP) contractors, workers and government has evolved into serious political corruption, says CEPEP’s line minister Barry Padarath.

Minister of Public Utilities Padarath said he was in the process of seeking legal advice with the intention of reporting the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Fraud Squad for immediate investigation, to determine whether criminal charges for fraud and misconduct should be laid.

CEPEP will also have to consider taking legal action against those responsible for perpetuating the alleged fraud on the company and by extension the country.

Padarath issued a media release on Wednesday expressing shock by the disclosure that no Cabinet approval was granted for the CEPEP board to extend the contracts of all 336 core contractors.

“This decision committed the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago to a mammoth $1.4 billion dollars in expenditure until 2029 and effectively tried to handcuff CEPEP to existing contractors,” he stated.

Accompanying the media release was a copy of a signed letter by the Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary dated July 13, 2025.

The letter stated, “I wish to advise that Cabinet approval would have been required for CEPEP Company Limited to extend all existing contracts with contractors for a maximum period of three years with effect April 2025 to September 2029.”

The reason being it would have been a period with “important budgetary implications and hence, Cabinet approval would have been necessary.”

Padarath stated, “I wish to assure the people of Trinidad and Tobago that this is not a criteria that is being made up.”

He called on former line minister Faris Al-Rawi  to say who would have advised former CEPEP chairman Joel Edwards of the Cabinet decision.

“Both ex-line Minister and former Chairman Joel Edwards must clear the air on this serious matter. Who is lying and why? Who fabricated this dangerous story about Cabinet approval to influence the CEPEP Board into extending these contracts when no such approval exists?” Padarath questioned.

He also called upon former CEPEP board members: Yinka Jagbir- Garcia, Michael Seales, Maurissa Smith, Wendell Williams, Brian Rock, Geeta Rampersad, Robert Paul Lee, Camille Hosein, Kirt Bernard and Thomas Sanoir to clear the air on their role and responsibility in the matter.

Padarath further asked, “Were they aware that there was no Cabinet approval as was stated in the board note which was presented to them for approval via round-robin? Did the Chairman advise them on who told him that Cabinet had approved the wholesale extension of these contracts? In their discharge of their responsibilities and duties, is it that no one bothered to care or to ask a question?”

And he also asked, “Did the CEPEP board act on the basis of a fraudulent misrepresentation? Was the board deceived and misled into thinking that there was Cabinet approval to extend the contracts when simply, it did not?”

According to a board note, dated April 23, 2025, that was signed by CEPEP Chairman and CEO, it specifically stated that the Cabinet had considered and agreed to adopt the policy.

The board was asked to “ratify” the implementation of this Cabinet decision. Both the Chairman and the CEO signed that note and held an emergency round-robin vote via email because they clearly believed that the Cabinet had granted the necessary approval.

CEPEP CEO Keith Eddy has provided a sworn affidavit that he was informed by the chairman that CEPEP’s line minister notified him about the Cabinet approval, Padarath stated in his release.

The State is being represented by Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan of Freedom Law Chambers who made the accusation on Monday in an application to strike out a lawsuit brought by the People’s National Movement (PNM) on behalf of Laventille-based general contracting company Eastman Enterprise Limited.

The application is expected to be raised on Friday.