Couva North MP: PNM political interference in URP programme revealed

On Friday 13th August, 2021, the new Board of Directors for YTEPP Limited was installed and one such Board member is Ms. Sharda Satram, the failed PNM candidate for Couva North from last year’s general election.

Today, I received a copy of letter dated July 25th 2021 purportedly written by Ms. Satram and addressed to the Project Manager of the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) Mr. Indar Parasram (copy attached) wherein she seeks to inform him that all authorization letters were to be rescinded with immediate effect. The letter goes on to state that authorization of all notes or listing presented to the Regional Office for Employment from the 26th of July 2021 will only be signed off by her (Satram).

The letter states, “This has become necessary as I am in the process of reorganizing the constituency by party groups, to ensure that we become a full constituency consisting of 15 or more active party groups…”

Currently as our country is facing an unemployment crisis caused by this Rowley-led Government, there is evidence that a failed candidate and constituency coordinator in the person of Ms. Satram, is seeking to influence and control the hiring of persons in the URP.

Whilst persons are struggling to feed their families, it appears that some may lose out on an opportunity because they do not being to a PNM party group.

Since when can a failed PNM candidate give authorization to URP on whom to hire? Is the URP a state-funded programme for PNM party groups only?

This type of blatant corruption by attempting to manipulate the system for their own benefit must be condemned at all levels. The appearance of political discrimination against persons who have become unemployed due to this Rowley-led Government and who are seeking assistance through the Unemployment Relief Programme must be stopped.

I am calling upon the Program Manager, Mr. Indar Parasram, who is also an Alderman at the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation, to firstly state publicly whether this letter was in fact sent to him and if so, to completely dis-associate himself from this type of underhanded, politically corrupt behaviour being propagated by Ms. Sharda Satram. Further, I call on Mr. Parasram to give the assurance that the management of the URP is not being compromised by political ambitions of Ms. Satram.

It is clear that Ms. Satram does not know where the line is drawn between a political party and State entities. As someone who holds no public office, she should not be permitted to interfere with the running of the URP office.

Further, we must guard against this type of mischievous behavior infiltrating YTEPP Limited and bringing its Board into disrepute. Ms. Satram evidently lacks the basic corporate governance knowledge to serve as a Director on the Board of YTEPP Limited and should do the honourable thing and resign or be fired by the Prime Minister, with immediate effect.