The UNC Government has inherited deep fiscal mismanagement and systemic inefficiencies, which cannot be denied. Therefore, we understand the pain many families are feeling. But let us be honest with the people of Trinidad and Tobago: reform is not cruelty, it is responsibility.
Restructuring the CEPEP programme is not a political act. It was a necessary decision to protect the sustainability of public services, ensure proper oversight, and preserve national dignity.
It is deeply unfortunate that Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles has chosen to weaponise human emotion for political mileage, while ignoring the hard truths.
CEPEP had become bloated, mismanaged, and used as a tool for political patronage. Contracts were being renewed without proper evaluation, and accountability had all but vanished. If we truly care for the CEPEP workers, we must be honest with them and not peddle false hope.
The minister of public utilities has met personally with affected workers. He has heard first-hand their stories, not just of hardship, but of long months of not receiving the basic support or tools to do their jobs. Under the UNC Government, CEPEP had become a ghost of its intended mission, that is to provide temporary employment while empowering workers with skills to graduate into more sustainable livelihoods. The Government is restoring that original vision.
Every action taken was part of a broader realignment to ensure public funds serve the public good and give the workers a better chance. Not recycled contracts with questionable oversight which has come to light. New opportunities are being created within community development, tourism beautification, and manufacturing zones. The government is working quietly, but effectively, to redeploy and re-engage many of those same workers without fanfare, but with purpose.
We do not fight fire with fire, and we will not play politics with people’s pain. Instead, we are fighting for a Trinidad and Tobago that can sustain jobs with dignity, structure, and opportunity. That means difficult choices. But it also means a future that does not rely on fear, dependency, and manipulation.
The opposition says, “People regret voting UNC.” I say the people regret being told lies for decades, being told the only path to survival is a handout. We believe in lifting people up, not knocking them down.
Let us be better than the politics of panic and of the previous administration. Let us be honest, fair, and focused on the long-term well-being of all citizens and work together especially for the most vulnerable.
Neil Gosine is the MP for Chaguanas West and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism. He is an insurance executive, holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration, a BSc in Mathematics and a BA in Administrative Studies. The views and comments expressed in this column are not necessarily those of AZP News, a Division of Complete Image Limited.
