00:00Independent Senator Dr. Marlene Ads sought answers in the Senate on how the closure of CPAP is affecting workers and
00:08the wider labor market.
00:09But one of her questions directed to the Minister of Rural Development was disallowed in the upper house.
00:16I respectfully refer her to standing order 24-1 where questions may be put to a minister relating to any
00:23subject or department under the minister's administrative responsibility.
00:30Mr. President, the matters contained in the question do not fall under the minister's administrative responsibility.
00:37Under two, Dr. Ads turned to the Labor Ministry asking whether any labor market assessment had been conducted to determine
00:45what happened to displaced CPAP workers.
00:48Labor Minister Leroy Batiste said while no study focused specifically on former CPAP employees, the ministry continues to monitor national
00:58employment trends and is preparing a broader labor market report for Cabinet.
01:04It has been assessing the unemployment situation generally in Trinidad and Tobago and considering strategies in keeping with the official
01:14policy framework and revitalization blueprint.
01:18A report presenting a comprehensive analysis and recommendations is due to be submitted to the Cabinet shortly.
01:29The Labor Minister also disclosed that dozens of former CPAP workers have since registered with the government's employment service seeking
01:37new opportunities.
01:39To date, 32 former CPAP workers have registered with the National Employment Service during the period June 2025 to April
01:502026.
01:51Our records show that no former CPAP workers accessed services of NETCO for business support during this period.
01:59Dr. Ads also questioned whether social welfare programs were seeing increased demand following CPAP's closure.
02:07An analysis of the data received from the Social Welfare Division of the Ministry indicates that the total number of
02:14new applications under the public assistance grant and the food support program increased by 16.4 percent.
02:22That's a rise of 441 applications.
02:25But officials maintain there was no direct evidence linking the increase specifically to CPAP's closure.
02:32Based on the data analysis undertaken, no direct correlation or causation can be established between the increase in new applications
02:41for the two grants mentioned and the discontinuation of the community-based environmental protection and enhancement programs.
02:48The exchange comes as concerns continue over the social and economic impact of the program shutdown on thousands of former
02:57workers and their families.
02:59Arvishita Wari Ruknarain, TV6 News.
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