SATRAM, PARASRAM AND URP POLITICS

PEOPLE in the know are laughing off claims by Indar Parasram, Programme Manager of Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), that there is no favouritism in the scheme.

Parasram made the declaration to the daily media after a revealing letter by failed PNM candidate Sharda Satram was made public.

The letter suggested that Satram was attempting to manipulate URP jobs for PNM members in order to strengthen the Couva South constituency.

Satram was the losing PNM candidate in Couva South in the 2020 general election.

She was recently appointed a director of a state-run agency.

Confronted by the media on the issue, Parasram said there was no favouritism involved in the make-work programme.

“We try to cater for all unemployed, regardless of party,” he was quoted as saying.

But people with background knowledge of URP insisted that political party affiliation is the main factor in securing and retaining jobs.

Sex and bribes for jobs, support of PNM fund-raising functions are well-known features of URP, it was explained.

“Parasram is fooling no one,” said one informed source.

“URP is a hot-bed of corruption, nepotism, misspending and sexual control,” he stated.

Before the 2020 general election, representatives of United National Congress claimed that URP short-term jobs were being provided in marginal constituencies in order to win votes.

A report seven years ago by an official committee headed by Professor Selwyn Ryan revealed that there were rampant ghost gangs and criminal activities associated with URP.

The programme is structured into 22 zones, with constituency party officials having strong underground leverage in selecting workers for employment.

“They quietly run the show,” said the informed source.

Satram said in the letter that she would sign authorisation letters for employment.

“This has become necessary,” she stated, “as I am in the process of reorganising the constituency by party groups to ensure that we become a full constituency consisting of 15 or more full party groups…”