00:00It warrants investigation from the DPP. But for us in Tobago, I think we are in a superior place.
00:07Our model is superior. Our model is worker-focused.
00:13And we have done all we can to improve the conditions to workers, improve the salaries to workers,
00:19and ensure that workers are happier.
00:23And it's important to understand that we get a fraction of what is really required to pay CPEP workers.
00:34Because I think we get around, what, $18 million to manage the CPEP program.
00:39The THA spends upwards of $70 million across the entire year.
00:44Mr. Agustin said no workers at CPEP Tobago should fare for their jobs compared to Trinidad
00:51as the model is different in Tobago.
00:54Tobago workers will rank and follow the CPEP in Tobago,
00:57remains unaffected because we have a different model in Tobago.
01:01In Trinidad, they use this model of contractors to run the CPEP program.
01:05Now, we hire the workers ourselves and pay the workers ourselves.
01:11So the amount that Trinidad will usually pay to contractors,
01:17all of that goes into actual hiring workers in CPEP in Tobago.
01:23Agustin boasted CPEP workers in Tobago have realised salary increases and better terms and conditions.
01:31More than that, since we came into office, we increased the salaries for CPEP workers.
01:38We improved the terms and working terms and conditions for the CPEP workers since we came into office.
01:44So we are really about the workers, the people.
01:48Not so much about a few at the top who are eating all the food.
01:55And we saw the court case and the way the court case went.
01:58And how the courts had judged those contracts that they were not properly prepared and conceived
02:06and with proper cabinet or executive approvals.
02:10And that to me, I agree with the judge.
02:14The government cancelled 336 CPEP contracts with over 10,000 workers now without jobs.
02:22Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarat previously stated the corruption in CPEP needed to be stopped.
02:29Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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