THE Government has no intention of engaging ghost employees, Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath said yesterday in defending the decision to terminate Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) contracts.

He also again stated that the programme had been used as a political pawn by the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.

Padarath was speaking at a United National Congress (UNC) news conference at which Public Services Association (PSA) president Felisha Thomas, Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein and UNC public relations officer (PRO) Dr Kirk Meighoo were present.