The Community Environment Protection and Enhancement Programme, commonly known as Cepep, has long occupied a controversial space in the nation's longstanding efforts to combat unemployment through make-work initiatives.

Born in July 2002 under the leadership of the then Prime Minister, the late Patrick Manning, the programme was established to revamp and modernise employment efforts.

Its mission statement was clear: "Working for the nation by protecting, enhancing and building our communities through environmental entrepreneurship."