MINISTER of Public Utilities Barry Padarath alleged 360 CEPEP contracts were signed mere days before the April 28 general election, which saw the former PNM administration swept from office. He was addressing a post-cabinet briefing on June 5 at the Red House, Port of Spain. He said the contracts were renewed for three years.

Padarath said CEPEP management had recently told him the renewals were done allegedly without any cabinet approval via a cabinet note.

Saying CEPEP had been shifted to his ministry from the Ministry of Local Government, he said he had asked Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen if she knew of any cabinet approval for the extensions. Padarath said Ameen told him the CEPEP management had refused to extend existing contracts for a further three years on the eve of a general election.