Back to the basics with CEPEP

THE EDITOR: When I gave birth to the concept of CEPEP in 1999 (so named by the PNM) and was given for adoption by Mr Manning should the PNM win the 2000 General Election, it was not just about painting stones for the exterior beautification of the country, but it was about community enhancement in its entirety. The concept was about refurbishing the hundreds of community centres throughout the country and the re-introduction of programmes and after school classes and activities that will help shape and re-direct the youths of the nation away from a life of crime and drugs to a life of which they can be proud of their creativity and their abilities that will give them great earning potential from the sale of their handiwork. There are thousands of young people who are not so academically inclined in our nation who are being left out and left behind. They need to know that they are not just cared about, but cared for by the government, not in unfulfilled election promises to solicit their votes at age 18 and over, but by the implementation of programmes that will assist them in developing the talent they possess.

Not to forget the parents, the centres would be used for non-working parents who wish to work, the opportunity to earn a salary while assisting working parents with government subsidised affordable child care and giving the child a head start for their education with pre-k classes. I pray that Mr Manning will get back to the basics of CEPEP that will make the $400 million or more spent every year to be worth spending — on programmes that are really rooted and grounded in community enhancement, for it is not just about stones and trees, but it is about the people who make up the communities. I end with a question that needs to be pondered by every member of the government and the opposition; As the trunk of the nation’s tree, what good is a painted stone, when the branches (the parents) are breaking, and the leaves (the children) falling by the wayside only to be blown away into an early grave caused by a life of crime? Keeping in mind that the children of today are our leaders of tomorrow, it’s time to stop saying how much you care on a campaign platform, and start showing it by allowing your actions to speak louder than your words.

ANGELA
NELSON
North Carolina
USA