The National Programme for the Upkeep of Public Spaces (NPUPS) is scheduled to end on September 13th, with the Government expected to determine the programme’s future following the presentation of the national budget.
Speaking to reporters during a clean-up exercise at Barataria South Secondary School on Thursday, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen acknowledged concerns about employment beyond the current lifespan of the programme.
However, she said the immediate priority is to complete ongoing school and community projects before the programme concludes next month.
Minister Ameen noted that the Government will assess the future of the programme after the national budget is presented.
“The programme ends on the 13th of September and we have to wait until Budget to know how we are going to restart the programme after budget. So in the time we have between now, we want to wrap up the schools and some of those communities between now and the 13th of September when the programme closes off.”
The Minister also sought to reassure workers that efforts are continuing to resolve outstanding salary issues affecting some participants in the programme.
Ms Ameen said significant progress has already been made in clearing payment backlogs owed to workers.
“We have identified what the issue is, and it’s administrative. It is not the fault of the workers or the supervisors. What I have done is engage a company to provide services that to do the payroll management so that it doesn’t rely on, you know, where it’s subjective to human error. And some of these workers had about five fortnights outstanding. We have cleared that backlog, so some of them might have one or two fortnights, but I still continue to pay individual attention. So we are reaching out to the supervisors now for them to update us because many of the workers have gotten the bulk of the outstanding monies.”
Minister Ameen and Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein thanked the workers for their dedication and service, noting that the programme has made a visible impact in communities across the country.
The Minister also highlighted that unlike the previous Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), NPUPS offers financial incentives to workers.
“The good thing about this programme is that you are not getting $90 or $100 like how CEPEP was. The lowest pay is $209 for the labourer. Those who have whackers, you get a wacker allowance, and I also left it open for if other people have whackers and they want to come on the programme with a whacker we will make the arrangement to allow you to come with your whacker because you get so much more work done, and you get your whacker allowance.”
To date, teams from the programme have completed maintenance works at 135 schools, with 90 more schools scheduled for attention beginning next week.