Government is being told to convert the Community-based Environment Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) and Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) into “Farmpep” agricultural programmes or divert surplus CEPEP and URP labour into agricultural projects.
These suggestions were made at yesterday’s Government think-tank by economists Dr Vaalmikki Arjoon and Dr Roger Hosein.
Arjoon said CEPEP-URP spending needs to be curbed and reallocated to capital expenditure.
“Convert these programmes to a ‘Farmpep’ for promoting agricultural programmes,” he said.
Hosein suggested surplus CEPEP/URP labour go to agricultural projects or manufacturing. He also reiterated a previous recommendation to increase VAT to 12.5 per cent and increasing tax revenues. If T&T had to tighten systems, increasing taxes must be considered.
He suggested cutting nationals’ propensity to import from 53 per cent to 40 per cent.
Hosein and Chamber president Ronald Hinds both expressed concern at the toll crime has taken on productivity levels. Arjoon said some manufacturing employees couldn’t work late shifts for fear of being mugged. Hinds said people were unable to attend work due to crime or domestic violence.