By Sue-Ann Wayow
FORMER line minister for the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) Faris Al-Rawi is being accused of forcing CEPEP chief executive officer Keith Eddy to extend contracts which have since been terminated by the current administration.
CEPEP Company Ltd CEO Eddy is claiming innocence swearing by affidavit that he refused to approve a three-year extension of over 300 contractors agreements without Cabinet approval and was falsely led to believe that approval was given.
The affidavit filed in the High Court states that Eddy faced “intense pressure” from Al-Rawi and other officials to extend the contracts and add 12 new contractors just prior before the April 28 general election date.
Eddy has been a part of CEPEP’s executive management since 2016 first as general manager and then as CEO in 2019.
His affidavit filed electronically on Friday was submitted in defence of CEPEP in an ongoing case brought by Eastman Enterprises Ltd.
The affidavit also detailed WhatsApp exchanges with former CEPEP chairman Joel Edwards and a ministry official.
Eddy stated, “In April 2025, (the month of the general election) then Minister Al-Rawi called me on several occasions to demand that I add new contractors into the CEPEP programme, I was extremely concerned about his aggressive and demanding nature because I was being asked to add these contractors without any corresponding increase in funding because I was being asked to add these contractors without any corresponding increase in funding far less approval from the Ministry of Finance.”
“Most importantly, whenever I asked Mr Al Rawi to put his request in writing, he would get angry and never did so. I simply could not in all good conscience add new contractors with the requisite approval from the Ministry of Finance and any form of supplemental funding.”
Eddy stated there was an incident in 2024 in which CEPEP was being accused of increasing expenditure without consent, engaging in unjustified and uncontrolled expenditure and the central audit committee in the Ministry of Finance had allegedly discovered and reported on major discrepancies.”
He stated to Edwards, “under no circumstances would I be willing to proceed to renew all contracts in the absence of cabinet approval and that I would not be intimidated, pressured or bullied into doing so.
“I indicated this to him because I felt as if I was being pressured into extending the contracts without cabinet approval despite my expressed view that this was necessary in the circumstances.
“I was of this opinion because CEPEP is wholly owned by the government, and it would obviously be unethical (if not illegal) for CEPEP to commit the government to expenditure in the vicinity of TT$1.4 billion without any form of prior consultation and approval.”
Eddy stated, “I was prepared to stand my ground on this issue because I am the accounting head for CEPEP and as indicated above, serious allegations had been levelled against CEPEP by the Ministry of Finance about increasing expenditure without consent and unjustified and uncontrolled expenditure with reported major discrepancies.”
He also denied there was an error with the Board note and also said he was never told to correct the one prepared.
Edwards in his affidavit claimed, “From my recollection, during my time as Chairman of CEPEP, the board never sought nor to my belief, ever required Cabinet approval for the renewal or termination of contracts to which CEPEP was a party.”
He also said he made a “diligent search” for the particular board note in question but could not find it.
The Eastman lawsuit was heard before Justice Margaret Mohammed on Friday.
Eastman claims CEPEP wrongfully terminated its contracts, leaving thousands of workers unpaid.
On June 27, an estimated 360 contractors and 10,400 workers were fired and their termination letters signed by Eddy.
Mohammed is expected to rule on two injunction applications.
The ruling will take place on August 8.
CEPEP is being represented by attorney Anand Ramlogan, SC, and his law firm Freedom Law Chambers.
On June 27, when the contracts were ended, Al-Rawi issued a media release on the matter.
He said then, “The PNM warned this would happen. This isn’t reform — it’s revenge. This isn’t leadership — it’s cruelty. We stand with every worker affected. We will fight for your rights, your dignity, and your future.”
