Certificate of good character to do business with URP

Suppliers and contractors who conduct business with the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) may soon be required to present police certificates of good character. This is one of several recommendations put forward to curb corrupt practices and criminal elements in the programme. The recommendation was revealed by Minister of the People and Social Development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh. Last month, following a Cabinet reshuffle Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar divided the URP among the ministries of the People and Social Development, Food Production and Local Government. Insisting that the URP had grown to become unmanageable and that corruption levels were very high, Persad-Bissessar said she would be the administrator of the programme, controlling the disbursement of funds to the ministries until it is moved to the Ministry of Finance.

Since taking up his additional duties in the URP, Ramadharsingh said he had been trying to chart a new way forward in revamping the programme with ministers Bharath and Sharma. “We are making solid recommendations to the Permanent Secretary who is in control of that ministry for a certificate of good character for everyone who does business with the URP. If you are a supplier or contractor or you provide services to the URP you must have a police certificate of good character.” Describing the recommendation as “fair,” Ramadharsingh said the idea was presented by those who worked in the URP programme as well as from the three ministries.

Ramadharsingh said the URP also intended to focus on small communities, mainly youths who are disengaged and need employment. Areas such as Laventille, Sea Lots and Beetham Gardens were being urged to form themselves into co-operatives to do URP community projects. “These youths would not be the typical URP gangs,” said the minister. Ramadharsingh said he also held talks with Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim who has pledged a YTEPP bus to assist in a resuscitated youth programme in central Trinidad managed by URP. Ramadharsingh said the URP provided approximately 36,000 jobs in T&T.