The 2012 programme resumed on Monday (April 2 2012) with 400 workers following the receipt of $4 million from the Central government. Parliament had approved $8 million in the 2011-2012 Budget for CEPEP in Tobago. This is the first release from the People’s Partnership Central government for CEPEP since taking office in May 2010. The Assembly has not received any funds for the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP).
However, the Assembly has been able to fund both CEPEP and URP by the transfer of funds from other Divisions as well as its unspent balances.
The $4 million received for CEPEP represented a shortfall of between $8 million and $10 million required for the programme this year.