CEPEP questions millions spent in Oropouche projects

In an immediate response, Moonilal said, “I have spoken to my lawyers and intend to sue CEPEP for defamation.” Moonilal also said he intends to report the CEPEP board to the Integrity Commission and the Auditor General. He said the projects in question, “were done at least two years before the election.” Moonilal charged it was obscene for CEPEP to be spending taxpayers’ money on these kinds of ads, no such practice took place when he was CEPEP’s line minister and this was an attempt to distract attention away from plans to dismiss contractors and 12,000 workers.

C EPEP said as Moonilal attempted to draw what he perceives to be newsworthy speculation, its management has discovered this misappropriation of funds. The company said it was a clear deviation from its mandate, that “CEPEP constructed the Bunsee Trace Community Centre at a cost of $30 million.” CEPEP also said it spent, “$6.9 million in the construction of box drains in the constituency, in the months leading up to the 2015 general elections.” The company said, “This illegal spending contributed to more than ten percent of the CEPEP company’s $300 million debt inherited by the current board and management.” CEPEP added this, “played no small part in depriving more citizens of the opportunity to participate in the Programme.” CEPEP said another clear deviation from the programme involved 90 percent of CEPEP contractors being given new contracts in the weeks leading up to last September’s general elections and in some cases, on election day itself.

CEPEP said this happened even though the former board and management knew that most of the contractors involved in the programme were not paying statutory deductions to the State, on behalf of their employees as required by their contracts with CEPEP and in accordance with the law. CEPEP said its former board and management took no action against contractors, “who misappropriated or embezzled as much as $500,000 in some cases.

CEPEP said contractors who have been engaged with and graduated from the three year programme will be released. The company said this will enable other deserving contractors to get an opportunity to become entrepreneurs. Indicating that it has been open about realigning the programme with its original objectives, CEPEP said staff whose jobs were made redundant under the emerging organisational structure, “will be screened for suitability in other areas of the company and subject to their acceptance, will be deployed to those suitable positions.

CEPEP said where there is no satisfactory fit or an offer is declined, it will be using industry-standard best practices to ensure that departing staff are fairly treated. The company also said while the overall level of employment will be maintained, the intent of CEPEP is to provide short-term income support for the employees of contractors while upgrading their skills through training, to promote self-sufficiency and self-reliance rather than long term dependency on the Government.

Stressing the need for fiscal prudence as the financial year end, CEPEP said its current plans will be subject to the availability of funding in the 2016/2017 Budget.

With respect to flooding, CEPEP said it continues to maintain the same environmental services as it has previously done.