Dumas claims URP cleaned of corruption

There are no more ghost gangs in the Unemployed Relief Programme (URP). Additionally, registered workers, bonafide tradesmen and the award of contracts by competitive bidding are now features of the revamped URP under Local Government Minister Rennie Dumas. At a news conference yesterday at City Hall, Dumas said the new features were introduced when he assumed the portfolio six months ago. They are to ensure accountability,  transparency and reduce corruption in the recruitment process. The programme is now decentralised with 12 regional managers at the helm, who are mandated to work with Regional Corporations to reduce duplication of work in the regions.

Dumas explained that the URP comprised the core programme which consisted of construction and maintenance projects; the women’s programme and special projects which target young and emerging entrepreneurs. Consideration was being given to incorporating a training component. The Minister said $313 million was allocated for the 2003/2004 programme, the largest ever allocation. To date 103,875 cheques were issued to the 90,992 persons registered. The Special Projects component has an allocation of $50 million for Trinidad and $5 million for Tobago. Projects will be funded in three categories. Sixty percent of the allocation for small projects under $100,000, 25 percent for medium projects under $250,000 and 15 percent for large projects under $500,000.

He said an attempt had been made to “professionalise” the programme by recruiting 14 persons to fill the posts of accountant, human resource manager, quality control manager, IT manager, project evaluation manager and personal development officers. The latter are expected to work closely with employees to enable them “to move out of the programme to higher income earning brackets, thus reducing their dependency on URP.” In an effort to avoid corruption, Dumas said stringent registration controls were in place, where employees must be registered using photo IDs, “so they can always be found and there will be no ghost gangs.” Employees also work on a rotation basis so that the programme is opened to as many persons as possible. He said within any six fortnight period, a labourer will be offered a maximum of three fortnights “one in, one out.” He said foremen, checkers and tradesmen assistants will be offered six consecutive fortnights and will not be re-employed in the current programme thereafter.

Regarding training, Dumas said it was proposed that on-the-job training be offered together with classes to unskilled workers in masonry, carpentry, steel bending and plumbing. In terms of payment, Dumas said cheques would be distributed over a three-day period for the core programme and two days for the women’s programme. They can be cashed on the day of distribution only at commercial banks and District Revenue offices. Attempts to cash the cheques elsewhere will not work. There is also a new system for the procurement of materials. Regional Tenders Committees have been established to ensure “proper practices, clean award of contracts and the full benefit of the capital spent is obtained.” Dumas emphasised some of the objectives of URP as providing short term employment for 11,500 persons a fortnight or 20,000 persons a month, deliver 1,700 small-scale projects, 365 small, medium and large special projects over the 22 fortnights and to serve the unemployed, unemployable and underprivileged.