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MINISTER of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen yesterday presented what she described as “alarming revelations” of widespread corruption and political interference in the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), including payments to the daughter of a senior People’s National Movement (PNM) official who is currently studying abroad.

“Of the $300 million allocated to URP for this fiscal year, a staggering $231 million has already been drawn down, yet only $2 million has been spent on actual goods and services. The overwhelming majority of funds were used for payroll, with hundreds of names receiving salaries without performing any work or performing any duties,” a release stated yesterday.

Ameen said some of the “worst examples” uncovered include individuals listed on the URP payroll while living overseas or failing to report to work altogether.