Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
The Patriotic Front has voiced strong support for the recently passed Prime Minister’s Pension Amendment Bill but is not happy with thousands of CEPEP workers being placed on the breadline.
The party, headed by Mickela Panday, sharply criticised the Government for what it calls the neglect and mistreatment of thousands of public sector and CEPEP workers.
In a statement yesterday, the party praised Parliament’s swift action in reforming pension arrangements for prime ministers, calling it a necessary step towards ending what the party describes as “excessive benefits and golden handshakes.”
But the party said the move rings hollow in light of outstanding wage increases and back pay owed to public servants.
The Patriotic Front also condemned the recent dismissal of 10,500 Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) workers, many of whom were reportedly fired without notice. The statement expressed concern over the sudden job losses, warning of serious consequences for the affected workers and their families.
“The Government could have audited the existing arrangements without abrupt termination, throwing families into fear and confusion,” the party said.
Criticism was also directed at La Brea MP Clyde Elder, a former union leader and now a Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities, who reportedly referred to the dismissed CEPEP workers as “collateral damage.”
The Patriotic Front called the comment “heartless” and demanded more compassion from the Government.
“Basic logic will tell you, if CEPEP contracts with contractors who hire the workers when these contracts end with only one month’s pay, workers are left unprotected,” the party stated. “Contractors paying them for July while they are not working would be up to goodwill, which is highly unlikely.”
The Patriotic Front urged the Government to move swiftly to address the workers’ grievances, provide owed wages, and ensure fair treatment going forward. It also called for full transparency in the CEPEP contracting and hiring process following the completion of ongoing audits.