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“[…] What kind of society are we building when the working class is always the first to feel the axe? When institutions are reshaped in silence? When accountability is demanded only of ‘the other side’?
“[…] Too often, those who cry foul in opposition grow quiet once in power. Outrage fades, explanations multiply, and the public, especially the unaffiliated, must weather shifting standards and broken promises…”
The following Letter to the Editor on the recent dismissals by the new United National Congress government and possible changes to tenure of state-appointed employees was submitted to Wired868 by Bryan St Louis of La Brea:
Photo: Dexter Phillip/ Trinidad Express.
In recent weeks, Trinidad and Tobago has witnessed a series of decisions that have left thousands reeling: CEPEP contracts have been abruptly ended, high-level dismissals have occurred, and the Central Bank Governor’s appointment has been revoked.
While some defend these as reforms, many see political motives. For those who remember the TSTT retrenchments or Petrotrin’s mass layoffs, the optics are familiar, and the déjà vu is hard to ignore.
Another chapter in this troubling pattern unfolded in 2017, when the Tourism Development Company (TDC) was shut down under the PNM administration. Over 100 workers were sent home, and while the government cited strategic restructuring, the suddenness of the move—and allegations of favouritism in related contracts—left many questioning the true motives behind the decision.
The members are (front row: left to right) chairman Dennise Demming, Frederica Brooks-Adams, (back row: left to right) Davlin Thomas, Eric Taylor, Tonya Laing, Sherry Katwaroo-Ragbir and Dennis Sammy.
Missing is Richard Duncan.
What lingers, even more than the decisions, is the silence that follows. Too often, those who cry foul in opposition grow quiet once in power. Outrage fades, explanations multiply, and the public, especially the unaffiliated, must weather shifting standards and broken promises.
Where is the outrage when the same actions come from familiar faces? Why is justice only urgent when politically convenient?
This double standard corrodes trust. It deepens division and reduces democracy to a cynical game. When party loyalty eclipses truth, accountability vanishes.
Photo: UNC.
This isn’t a moment for partisan glee. It’s a call for national reflection.
What kind of society are we building when the working class is always the first to feel the axe? When institutions are reshaped in silence? When accountability is demanded only of ‘the other side’?
The recent wave of board appointments only adds to the unease. While every administration has the right to install leadership aligned with its vision, the optics often suggest loyalty outweighs merit.
When boards are reshuffled without clear criteria or public explanation, it reinforces the belief that governance is less about service and more about serving political ends and securing political advantage.
The pattern is clear: both major parties, at different times, have wielded power in ways that disillusion the citizenry. Promises of transformation give way to retribution. And always, it’s the most vulnerable who are left to pick up the pieces.
Perhaps it’s time to introduce defined terms for state-appointed positions and contracts. Tying them to the administration’s five-year term could bring clarity and reduce the shock felt with each governmental shift.
Copyright: Office of Parliament 2025.
It won’t erase political discretion, but it would provide clarity on tenure, temper disruption and ease the ripple effects that sweep through ordinary communities. This would signal that while leadership may shift, people’s livelihoods should not be subject to abrupt disruption or partisan retaliation.
So, where do we go from here?
We go forward by demanding better, not just from those in charge, but from ourselves. We must reject the idea that governance is a game of musical chairs where only the faces change. We must insist on fairness, transparency and a politics that puts people before party.
Photo: CEPEP.
Let’s move beyond red and yellow, and focus on the breadline, the school fees, the dignity of work and the right of every citizen to be treated with respect, regardless of politics.
This should not be about what was done in the past. It’s about doing what’s right, now. Leadership should not be measured by whom it punishes, but by how it governs—with integrity, transparency and a commitment to the common good.
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Bryan St Louis is a former education officer for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU).
We should all be appalled/unrelenting in our stance against corruption/ ALL corrupt officials and other acts of crime and criminal behaviour (genuinely). These issues do nothing to progress our nation and its people.
The recent decision by the Government to terminate the contracts of contractors employed under the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) has sparked intense debate. Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles and others have vocally criticised the move, invoking terms like “callous,” “cruel,” and “heartless.” While these sentiments may resonate with those directly affected, it is crucial to approach the issue with a deeper understanding of the history of CEPEP and its problematic legacy.
CEPEP has long been a makework programme, one often used as a political tool to secure votes and bolster political patronage, a reality acknowledged by many. For decades, it has been subjected to political manipulation, with contractors hired and dismissed based on political cycles rather than merit or efficiency. This is not a new phenomenon, nor is it an uncontroversial one. CEPEP has been a breeding ground for systemic corruption, with widespread allegations of cronyism, mismanagement, and the fostering of gang influence within its ranks. The programme, in its current form, has failed the very people it was supposed to serve. The termination of contracts, while undoubtedly painful for the workers affected, offers an opportunity to break this cycle of abuse and inefficiency.
It is an open secret that CEPEP, in its various iterations, has been a tool of patronage. From inflated contracts to the irregularities in hiring practices, the programme has long been associated with the diversion of public funds for political gain. This has led to a situation where a significant portion of the funds allocated for environmental enhancement were instead squandered, lining the pockets of politically connected individuals and organisations. Far from a model of transparency and accountability, CEPEP has become synonymous with political favouritism and systemic failure.
The current government’s move to reset the programme is, therefore, not only warranted but necessary. A firm stance is required to address the endemic issues that have plagued CEPEP for decades. The government is correct in addressing the deep-rooted problems within the organisation by reevaluating its contracts and seeking to eliminate the corrupt practices that have long been allowed to fester. Political will to clean up an institution so deeply entrenched in corruption is not only admirable but vital for the long-term sustainability of public programmes in Trinidad and Tobago.
It is crucial to view this not as an attack on the workers, many of whom are indeed vulnerable, but as a necessary reset for the entire organisation. The workers who are now facing uncertainty should be reassured that their livelihoods will not be discarded without due care for the future. Any realignment of CEPEP must include genuine opportunities for fair employment practices and a transparent path to reintegration within a restructured system that serves the public interest, not political agendas.
While the Opposition may present the narrative of callousness and cruelty, the reality is that the previous system has not only failed the workers but has failed the public. The termination of these contracts signals an end to the culture of inefficiency, corruption, and political cronyism that has characterised CEPEP. In fact, this is a long-overdue cleansing of an institution that has strayed far from its original mandate.
In conclusion, the actions taken by the government, while difficult, are a necessary part of resetting a broken system. A programme that has been used as a political tool for decades, fostering corruption and inefficiency, cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. This is an opportunity to address the underlying systemic problems and to build a CEPEP programme that is genuinely accountable, transparent, and focused on its core mission of environmental protection and community enhancement. Only through this reset can the programme evolve into one that truly benefits the workers and the wider society, free from the corrupting influence of political manipulation.
‘None so Blind as those who would not see’ or maybe it is not in their interest to see. I guarantee this was/is not about creating anything better. Creating means time and hardwork (which they are not about). It is all about expediency (remember that 60,000 jobs promised). This is a familiar playbook to one implemented in 2010-2015 (The promise then 30,000 or thereabout) where VSEP/VERP were carried out in company’s like TSTT, WASA (more high profile better paying jobs) etc. the holders were simply replaced under the guise of restructuring. Nothing new, nothing innovative.
So the status quo and corruption should continue indefinitely? Squandermania by political expediency?
Why are we so surprised by these unfolding events? Governance for some is about conquest/dominance/control/power. Hence the importance of peddling the notion of “everybody win” in an attempt to ensnare the gullible and desperate among us. This is not about country or betterment as many hoped and as a high ranking Trade Unionist is now beginning to realize.