Ms Catherine Kumar was quoted in the press as stating: "...Cepep is not the way to go and (its) funds should be redirected to helping the private sector put a different means in place so they can employ the persons from the beginning, train them in the different areas in which they employ them and really make them do meaningful work."
Cepep operates via hundreds of private sector contracted companies, all of which, since 2010, have been rigorously required to train their employees in many different areas (notably professional community guardianship of the natural environment; environment laws and regulations; lifeskills; project planning and management; occupational safety).
These contracted companies do meaningful work, for what more meaningful work may one do than scientifically managing the waste generated by commercial enterprises which couldn't care less about the down-the-road negative impact their products wreak on the physical landscape, particularly from single-use plastic and styrofoam containers and packaging?
If Cepep is put on ice who will clean the crap to follow? Rather than disparaging Cepep, the Chamber of Commerce ought to be insisting the programme be extended exponentially, until it covers every nook and cranny of T&T! In the face of rampant capitalism, it's about the only way T&T shall become and maintain an aesthetically pleasant natural environment.
The sensible approach would've been for the Chamber to call on Cepep to launch and sustain a nationwide education project, aimed at the school-aged population, similar to the tremendously successful "Drive Charlie Away" campaign SWMCOL once had.
The Chamber head could have also embarked on a drive aimed at encouraging its members to let Cepep deal with their commercial trash professionally, if she believes Cepep isn't earning its keep. (Without giving details, she did emphasise Cepep's terms and conditions for its contracted janitorial workers outstrip what her members offer workers they engage for similar duties.)
All things considered, maybe Ms Kumar needs to invite these Cepep contracting companies to join the Chamber of Commerce. That will rapidly clean up the Chamber's obvious misconceptions of the tangible and intangible values Cepep, through its private-sector contractors, significantly adds to the gross domestic product and national psyche of T&T.
Richard Wm Thomas,
5 Rivers, Arouca