Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen has told the Lower House of Parliament that the clean-up process in the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) is moving ahead at a pace.
The URP was shut down by the government as part of a restructuring effort, leading to the termination of a “hefty number” of workers. The government had stated the shutdown was to address issues like corruption and “ghost gangs” within the programme.
Minister Ameen told the House over 900 people have been let go.
“We met 928 workers on paper, Mr. Speaker, with the number of employees who never reported to work, some of them living outside of Trinidad and Tobago. Termination letters were issued for all 928 contract workers, some of them who, as I say, we could not even find them to give them a letter, some of them only turned up to receive their letter.”
Minister Ameen noted that 130 public servants have been absorbed into her Ministry and various departments and Municipal Corporations, and financial due diligence is now being conducted.
“Audits and investigations are being conducted. It is standard, when you have terminations or the end of any contract, whether in the Public Service or wherever it is, that these things have to be audited before payments are made, and all financial regulations and requirements will be adhered to by this law-abiding government.”