BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DESPITE media reports suggesting People’s Empowerment Programme (PEP) workers attached to the Newtown Community Centre were axed, the Government has indicated that they would be reassigned.
According to reports, scores of PEP workers were informed yesterday (Sept. 1) by Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Osbert DeSuza that they would be going home but would be paid for the time they would be at home. He reassured them that they would be paid and "nobody is stopping your payment".
It is understood that he also told the group that for those in the cosmetology field, a list of 20 plus practicing cosmetoligists to whom they would be reassigned, has already been compiled.
SKNVibes understands that this did not sit well with the PEP workers and they demanded a written contractual agreement specifying that they would continue to receive their wages/stipend.
This publication, seeking to shed light on the situation, made contact with Desuza for an interview and indicated that he would not be providing comment and informed this writer that she should refer to a press release issued by the Government’s Information Service (SKNIS) on the matter.
That release read, “After three years on the PEP (People Empowerment Programme), all trainees based at the Newtown Community Center have been informed that they will finally be assigned where their skills can be better utilized within the workforce. The trainees have also been informed that they will continue to receive their stipends.
“For more than three years, the trainees have been involved in areas including cosmetology, office management and computer graphics. The courses were intended to be short-term.”
The release also indicates that according to DeSuza, the programme at the Newtown Community Centre had been extensively evaluated. It however, did not indicate the findings of said evaluation.
Opposition Leader the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, SKNVibes understands visited the site after the announcement was made to the workers.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Dr. Douglas said he was contacted and informed of the happening at the Newtown Community Centre and visiting the site and gave ear to the PEP workers’ concerns.
He said they eventually left the site and went to the PEP Office to convey their request, in the event that it was not forwarded by the Permanent Secretary. However, he disclosed that the most senior individuals of that office were unavailable.
Dr. Douglas suggested that the Government should issue the letters requested by the workers.
During the last sitting of the Federal Parliament, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris informed that the PEP would be reshaped into STEP.
He said the reformation is designed “to re-organize, restructure and reposition the PEP programme into a genuine Skills Training and Empowerment Programme (STEP)…
“STEP will be a major advancement, step up if you will on PEP in terms of its philosophical underpinnings, objectives, deliverables and costs to the country. It will be rooted in a people- centered governance framework,” Prime Minister Harris said.
PM Harris had previously informed that since its commencement in December 2012, the PEP has been funded to the tune of approximately $200M with little more than 120 individuals receiving skills training.
