00:00Defense Force retirees who were part of the running of the Civilian Conservation Corps program informed TV6 News that in
00:08August 2025, when it was shut down, there were around 800 to 1,000 trainees enrolled across the CCCA Divisional
00:16Centers. That's inclusive of Tobago. They are expressing concern.
00:21Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the former employees says when the program commenced in 1993, it targeted marginalized
00:29young people, those with little to no education, those from troubled homes, and those from what is sometimes termed at
00:37-risk communities.
00:39Basically, those who didn't finish, maybe primary school, secondary school, and would have been deemed unemployable. So now that the
00:46program is closed down, there isn't anything for them to access, where they can now do trades, some of them
00:52can learn to read and write, and become employable.
00:55But CCC did more than that. It partnered with several organizations and businesses, ensuring that when training came to an
01:03end, those young people would get a chance to gain work experience.
01:08It included in places like the Hyatt Regency Hotel, F.T. Farfan, Massey, and others. Some even gravitated towards military
01:16service.
01:16The former CCCC employee who graduated from the program in the early years notes that the trainees are now left
01:24to go back to what was before they were given an opportunity to better themselves.
01:28She's worried that it will not ogre well for their future in some cases, as well as the future of
01:35the country.
01:36As I said before, we are dealing with young people coming from marginalized areas of Lavantel, Pilots, Bova, and realistically
01:46speaking, these are the areas where there's a lot of gang activity.
01:49So if we don't provide our young people with an alternative, now I'm not saying all of them could end
01:53up in gang life, but it could be something that will draw them to what's that kind of negativity because
01:59there's nothing in place to, you know, give them something positive to do.
02:02Another past CCCC employee says in 1999, the then-Basde Upande-led UNC administration closed the program for two years.
02:11There are conflicting reports as to which administration halted the program this time around.
02:16The former employee is attributed to the present government.
02:20This is, to me, is clear and present danger because why it was a probably good program then and they
02:28come out and close it now.
02:29These same seduces are the ones who are on the streets committing crime because they're Afro-trinity, you know.
02:41They're the ones who are living a life of poverty because of their sexual orientation.
02:49But Minister of Defense Wayne Sturge says the CCC was shut down by the People's National Movement in 2025 for
02:57review by a cabinet-appointed committee.
02:59He says when the UNC took office, it began examining the committee's report to ensure that a restart of the
03:06program would be done in a way for improved governance, operational efficiency, and measurable value for money.
03:12Minister Sturge tells us that at present, staff at his ministry and the defense force are finalizing a proposal containing
03:19some of the recommendations made by the committee to take to cabinet for approval.
03:24He says, quote,
03:25It is anticipated that approvals will be obtained in March 2026 and the CCC will recommand shortly thereafter.
03:33The government is committed to ensuring that vulnerable and marginalized youth continue to have access to structured development opportunities that
03:42promote discipline, skills training, and national service.
03:46End quote.
03:47Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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