Tobago Correspondent
Workers affected by the termination of Tobago’s ten-on, ten-off employment programme are warning that the move could contribute to rising crime on the island.
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine confirmed the programme’s cancellation on Wednesday, revealing that more than 1,000 employees had been released.
Speaking at a plenary sitting in June, Augustine said the programme had been extended until August to minimise disruption for families. He said displaced workers would be able to apply for permanent positions within the Division of Public Infrastructure, where approximately 700 vacancies are expected to become available soon.
However, one worker, who had been enrolled in the programme for almost two years, yesterday questioned why the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) did not wait until the end of the year before ending the initiative.
Speaking in Scarborough, the father of three said many families were still trying to meet back-to-school expenses.
“It have people still buying books for their children, and they lock it off already,” he said.
Frustration was evident in his voice as he warned some young people could resort to crime to survive.
“What they want me do? Climb coconut and balata tree every day of my life? Sit down in front a shop and sell drugs?
“Is more criminals in Tobago now. October go come and my phone mightn’t ring. Them want people to go and do s**t.”
Asked about his chances of securing a permanent job, he suggested that political connections could determine who gets hired.
“Is who know who, and who willing to help you.”
Nearby, Neil Baldeo, originally from Pembroke, said he still has confidence in Augustine, but urged him to act quickly to ensure the displaced workers are not left without income for an extended period.
“They can’t let go them people just so, because it go have chaos and the police go have plenty work to do. We don’t want that. We want to train them, give them a skill,” he said.
His friend, Ramdath Bickharry, of Friendsfield, said there were benefits to ending the programme, provided productive workers were retained.
“Choose the good working ones and turn them permanent. The set ah them who working three and four days for the ten days, get rid ah them and hire some fresh batch. It have plenty ah them can’t work. They want to work and they can’t work. Some of them can’t even stand up four hours on a work; they ready to go home,” he said.
Meanwhile, Vernon Duncan, a permanent employee in the division, said he was angered by the decision because remaining staff would be forced to shoulder heavier workloads. He argued that the division was already understaffed and management continued to expect the same level of productivity despite having fewer workers.
“We under some pressure. The 11 men on my gang come down to four. They bring a next gang with two men and they still want the same work what they were getting from 11 men.
“Hire workers! People resigning and nothing ain’t happening,” he said.
People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council leader Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis condemned the Augustine-led administration, accusing it of using the programme as an election tool.
“We in the PNM cautioned Tobagonians that this is something short-term; it is just to butter them up. In the typical UNC fashion, they tell you what you want to hear, bring you on some sort of short-term arrangement, and after they get what they want, which is power and office, they forget about you,” she said.
Cudjoe-Lewis also criticised Augustine for assuring laid-off workers that permanent jobs would soon become available.
“The Chief Secretary had ample time to look for an alternative employment arrangement. You are promising us food for tomorrow, and we are hungry today, so I do not accept the mamaguy.
“It’s the usual TPP style; they dangle a carrot in front your eye and then they forget you.”
She recalled Augustine’s criticisms of the former PNM administration when he sat in opposition.
“I remember him saying the fish does rot from the head. I am saying the same thing applies now. The TPP has run out of ideas. They feel that because they got 15-0, they don’t have to explain anything to anybody.”
