debut: 1/4/03
270,919 runs
Crocodile tears about cancelling URP/CEPEP
While anybody would be sympathetic to the fact that 10,000 workers may be without a job temporarily, the real question is how much money do these contractors make from these deals as opposed to the workers? Who is likely to lose by the suspension of these contracts: the contractors or the workers?
This, as I understand it, is how these contracts work. A Member of Parliament is given several contracts to distribute among his friends, called CEPEP contractors. A contract is worth about $23,000 monthly to the contractor who manages three gangs of ten people.
It is alleged that certain ministers of government will give these contracts to their friends and families. Usually the minister charges the contractors about $5,000 a month. Given all of his/her expenses, a contractor can make about $15,000 a month; $180,000 a year. Since these contractors usually obtain a three-year contract s/he can make about $540,000 over the period of his contract. Some contracts run about five or six years
The URP was established in 1993 to provide short-term employment opportunities to vulnerable individuals. It aimed to reduce poverty and unemployment. The CEPEP programme, established July 2002, was designed to protect, enhance and beautify the environment.
Anyone seeing the CEPEP workers performing their duties would not be alarmed that a new government would have wanted to take a look at its operation. For example, the official working hours of CEPEP workers are from 6 a.m. to noon and/or 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Usually, they begin their jobs at 6 or 7 a.m. By 10 or 11 a.m. they are gone
