The National Programme for the Upkeep of Public Spaces (NPUPS) has started clean-up work in Maloney.
The first stop was the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP).
According to NPUPS Regional Coordinator for the Northern region, Kareem Baird, the initiative underscores the urgency of maintaining neglected public spaces in the Maloney area.
“So one team will cut, clean, and the other team now will come in and pressure wash. In total we have like 34 schools in total, which is a makeup of ECCE, Primary and Secondary that was sent to the Corporation for maintenance.”
Mr Baird also emphasised that the programme, piloted by the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government on December 15th, 2025, is not a replacement for the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) or the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP). Rather, it focuses on the upkeep and restoration of public spaces, ensuring facilities remain clean, safe, and ready for community use.
“So we upkeep the cemeteries, we upkeep play parks, the savannah. Any way that the public is passing and the public is seeing, we, the NPUPS, have to maintain it and keep it clear. We also have a health division too, as well, health teams. So we make sure the drains are clear, we also have DMU. So this is not the CEPEP, it is not URP, it is none of those things. It is actually a programme geared for real people doing real jobs and doing it to the best of their ability.”
He noted that the launch of the back-to-school clean-up initiative, which began on Monday, will run until August 2th. The programme aims to clean two to three schools per day in and around the Maloney area.