06/06/2025
Issue of Mass Firings
June 6th 2025
I have noted the media coverage relative to the dangerous, salacious, sensational, deliberately misleading and often simply inaccurate statements made by the Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar SC and Ministers Padarath and Hosein at the Post Cabinet conference held last night at the Red House.
Whilst individual members of the Opposition have already provided immediate initial cautionary responses to the Government and nation on several of the issues traversed yesterday, and whilst the Opposition will be fully addressing statements made at the said Post Cabinet Conference at its regular Press Conference and over weekend, it is noteworthy for citizens to carefully observe that the Government has apparently confirmed its seeming intent to fire the near 11,000 workers at CEPEP as well as the over 4,000 workers at Forestry National Reafforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Program (NRWRP) program – if one is to find meaning to the cumulative statements made by Minister Padarath as to ‘taking in front’ and the ‘curtailing’ of alleged ‘feeding at the trough’ which causes ‘a lot of pain’.
These statements at the Post Cabinet Conference must be appreciated along with the statements made by Minster Ameen relative to the 'review” of the near 140 persons employed in the Change Management Program at the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Development and the rescission of approval for positions at WASA.
The cumulative effect of the Government’s statements thus far is that, in just over a month of UNC Governance, thousands of persons, the vast majority of whom earn as little at $120 a DAY are plagued by the debilitating fear of job loss and out right destitution – in a public unveiling of the ugly truth hidden behind the campaign slogan that “when UNC wins, Everyone Wins”.
For now, the population is reminded that Ministers do not engage in hirings of employees, contractors and workers at CEPEP and NRWRP which are managed and run under limited liability wholly owned State Enterprises.
The Companies Act Ch. 81:01, the State Enterprises Manual and the Public Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, 2015 (as amended) and its Regulations Guidelines and Handbooks must be properly referenced along with other laws for truthful and accurate guidance.
Incendiary statements laced with threats, castigations, innuendos with selective and partial reference to ‘fact’ must not be tolerated when it comes to the livelihoods of our most vulnerable.
Faris Al-Rawi SC
Public Relations Office
END
CNC3 Television, Trinidad and Tobago TTT Live OnlineCCN TV6: Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad Express Newspapers T&T Guardian
