00:00 This is the kapa that we have our celebration for the carnival.
00:05 Right?
00:06 And we had this year, we had a very, I really can't explain it.
00:12 Carnival may be over, but the Bacchanal seems to only just be getting started in Cuva.
00:18 As Cuva Tabakit Talparu Regional Cooperation workers allege
00:23 that they are being made to do private work for a community-based committee,
00:27 which is headed by the Councillor for Savaneta Point Leases.
00:32 Why you come and build it?
00:35 When there's no contract, you build it.
00:38 No, we don't have to pay anything, we come. Stop bugger.
00:41 In case of water you buy.
00:43 It's about toilet, you know.
00:46 It's about toilet for you workers, so okay.
00:49 We are not going to pay you so.
00:51 We ain't talking about no land.
00:53 The workers also claim that they are still owed an undisclosed sum of money
00:57 for tasks done during Carnival 2023.
01:01 Rajpal, all these men didn't get their money from last year.
01:05 You fool man.
01:07 But Councillor Ramchand Rajpal Miraj explains
01:10 it's all a misunderstanding on the workers' part,
01:13 as the Cuva Carnival Committee has been doing human service for the community
01:18 for the last 70 years,
01:20 with the knowledge and support of the Corporation.
01:24 The Corporation, our motto is
01:27 building better communities, enhancing sports, culture and otherwise.
01:32 Every area that there is regional carnival,
01:35 the regional carnival committee is supported by the Corporation,
01:41 by CPEP, by URP.
01:44 So, I've disguised this council because
01:48 there is funding that's supposed to come for overtime and other things
01:53 that they have not received as yet.
01:55 This year, the committee put on Junior and Senior Calypso competitions,
01:59 a Beauty Queen pageant, Kiddies Carnival,
02:02 and even a successful Juve band.
02:05 Miraj says all the Corporation provided was labour.
02:09 So, like infrastructural work, like what you see they're doing here,
02:12 we are very more dependent and we are very glad
02:16 that their involvement is here because we couldn't do it alone.
02:19 We get a grant from NCC, but that grant by itself
02:23 cannot really pay what was happening here over the years.
02:28 This stage, as you see standing here, costs us $61,000
02:33 because the material of lumber and ply and all,
02:37 has gone up about 40-50% more than over the years.
02:42 In fact, Miraj says even the Corporation is trapped for cash
02:46 and therefore finds itself challenged to do more for the community.
02:51 He complains of bad roads and a lack of general maintenance.
02:55 Our allocation for the Corporation is about $119,000.
03:01 Right? Million. $119,000.
03:04 $71.4 million is allocated for personal expenses.
03:09 And that is allocation, that is not releases.
03:12 Sometimes we don't get the releases at the end of the year.
03:15 The financial year starts on the 4th of October.
03:18 We are at the starting of February.
03:21 Today is the 15th of February, half of the month.
03:24 And we haven't gotten a cent release on the materials and supplies.
03:28 So you have your budget system and frustrated.
03:32 TV6 News has reached out to the chairman of the Kuva Tabakit Talparu Regional Corporation
03:37 for a petition for a response.
03:40 Renassa Katting, TV6 News.
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