CEPEP and Social Responsibility

Given the community-oriented remit of The CEPEP Company Limited, it’s only natural that the organisation reaches out to those who could use a helping hand.

CEPEP does more than its fair share, pitching in to improve the lives of fellow citizens, communities and religious or non-profit organisations. It’s all part being a good corporate citizen.

Our stand-out CSR initiative is the annual CEPEP Santa programme. In the spirit of yuletide cheer, The CEPEP Company Limited, along with contractors, rolls out several projects, renovating homes, staging Christmas parties for children, gifting food hampers and carrying out community beautification projects; all of this is done in the spirit of goodwill.

The company remains committed to environmental protection and enhancement, but we are so much more. In addition to CEPEP Marine’s excellent work in cleaning up our marine habitats, the company is also a big supporter of wildlife protection and conservation.

A second chance for injured wildlife, hope for the environment
Zoi, a charming but wildly precocious red howler monkey is one of several residents at the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation in Freeport, Central Trinidad. She’s been appointed an animal ambassador for her species, teaching children about the importance of conservation and respect for wildlife.

It’s this educational component that caught the attention of The CEPEP Company Limited. A group, which included Chairman of the board, Adesh Deonarine, visited the facility in Freeport and were impressed by what they saw. Given CEPEP’s goal of becoming the premier environmental protection company fostering national pride, it isn’t surprising that the organisation developed an affinity for the El Socorro Centre.

The CEPEP team gets a tour of the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation

During their visit, CEPEP’s management team saw first-hand the tremendous amount of work poured into this refuge for injured and orphaned wild animals.

The centre, founded in 2009, gives many native species a second chance. Wounded birds, mammals, reptiles; they’ve all found respite here. Once nursed back to health, many will be released. Some, however, have suffered injuries so severe they can’t survive in the wild. Such animals will live out their days, well cared for by the centre.

While rehab and release are a big part of what the centre does, education is the principle objective. Groups of children regularly visit the facility and are taught the importance of wildlife.

The El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation is undertaking a "Give 'Em A Place" chair drive to provide seating for visitors, enhancing the learning experience.

This ideology resonated with CEPEP Chairman Adesh Deonarine. Recognizing the value of this work, The CEPEP Company Limited donated chairs to the El Socorro Centre to cater for children brought there to learn about local wildlife.

CEPEP Chairman Adesh Deonarine donates much needed chairs to The El Socorro Centre For Wildlife Conservation for its education drive

Partners in environmental education 
CEPEP understands the importance of environmental education. Whether it’s CEPEP Marine teams collecting refuse in the Caroni Swamp or a CEPEP crew retrieving rubbish in the Caura River; the organisation has a day-to-day appreciation of how a lack of awareness affects our most treasured wildlife habitats.

This is where CEPEP and the El Socorro Centre mesh. Educating the youth about our wildlife and the environment is an indispensable building block in the development of well-rounded individuals.

CEPEP’s support for the centre demonstrates that this NGO, committed to wildlife conservation, reflects the same values cherished by the company; environmental preservation for future generations.

CEPEP goes even further, practicing its commitment to environmental protection in its own back yard.

CEPEP pursues conservation at home
In the spirit of ‘practicing what you preach’, The CEPEP Company Limited applies the principles of conservation to a pond located at the back of the company’s head office in St. Madeleine.

The pond, once associated with the decommissioned St. Madeleine sugar factory, is regularly maintained by the CEPEP Marine unit. This work is particularly beneficial to the aquatic environment there and the numerous wildlife species it supports. In March this year, Red Nile tilapia were released into the pond. This watery sanctuary has also provided a new home for a former resident of the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation!

An old sugar factory pond is now a thriving eco-habitat

The NGO recently released a rehabilitated caiman into the pond at CEPEP headquarters where it can live undisturbed by human activity.

Once again, the relationship between The CEPEP Company Limited and the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation has produced a happy result for wildlife.

CEPEP is proud, not only to stand behind the El Socorro Centre, but of its own efforts to contribute to environmental conservation across this country.

The CEPEP Cricket Cup

Building Camaraderie, Encouraging Positive Development, 

Promoting Local Sport

Saturday morning sunlight creeps across a parched Edinburgh 500 recreation ground in central Trinidad. 

CEPEP workers pour out of buses, descending on the playing field. They aren’t here in their usual work capacity but have swapped their weedwackers and rakes for bat and ball. This is the annual CEPEP Cricket Cup.

Teams assemble from all over Trinidad to lay down their challenge for medals, trophies and bragging rights. North West, North East, North Central, Central, South East, South West, Marine and Head Office; each region is represented by two teams, one comprised of men and the other, women.

The idea behind the tournament is simple enough, gather CEPEP workers, friends and family in a convivial atmosphere of friendly rivalry. That doesn’t mean that players get to slack off though!

That is CEPEP team spirit!

Pace like fire!

As the MC barks out announcements over the PA system, players shimmy into their uniforms, each with its own distinctive colour. Officials finger-wag their way through tournament regulations with the teams, exuding all the intensity of a Cricket World Cup Final.

Supporters of respective teams have already snapped up the best seating under the tents. Braver souls fill in the bleachers around the field.

Sno-cone men clang their tiny bells and circle the venue, hoping to catch the eye of children whose parents can’t say no. This is a perfect day for some good cricket!

Whether they be supporters in the stands or cricketers on the pitch, they are all players in CEPEP’s mission of reinforcing community bonds and cultivating unity in the organisation.

Such form and grace.

Fostering unity, strengthening community spirit 

The CEPEP Cricket Cup is, in many ways, all about community values. Community...home; that’s the soul of The CEPEP Company Limited.

Yes, environmental protection and enhancement are central to CEPEP’s mandate, but supporting communities is an equally important company ideology. The work done by CEPEP crews, clearing clogged drains or pest-harbouring bush, is an investment in the communities they call home.

The CEPEP Company Limited is about people; bringing opportunities to towns, villages and citizens who don’t benefit from the influence of the national economy. The organisation is, ostensibly, a family of communities. What better way to bring the family together than in a friendly cricket tournament. On the field, Board, Management, Contractors and Workers compete, boosting morale and enhancing relations in the organisation.

Friendly rivalry in the CEPEP family

At the Edinburgh 500 recreation ground, workers representing our towns and villages compete, laugh and unite under the umbrella of the CEPEP family.

At the peak of play, as many as three thousand spectators have come out to trumpet their loyalties, chant slogans or bellow completely unsolicited, amateur umpiring advice!

This year’s CEPEP Cricket Cup will be held in May and will no doubt see challengers trying to wrest the title from last year’s winners as The CEPEP Company Limited once again celebrates the unifying force of spirited competition.

Infusion of Accountability

With a multitude of work teams spread across Trinidad, ensuring that the CEPEP programme is above board in every respect is the bull that the Board and Management have taken by the horns.  

Under the stewardship of Board Chairman, Adesh Deonarine, and General Manager, Carl Jagdeo, along with the CEPEP Management team, this reinvigorated and refocused company has created an environment that is zero tolerance for failing to comply with the Company accounting requirement.  

Implementing Procedures 
The attendance of CEPEP workers assigned to a specific area is recorded on a daily basis. Field officers regularly cross-check the attendance register with numbers on the ground in an effort to reduce the likelihood of truancy among the workers. Employee data sheets compile information about CEPEP workers such as current address, pertinent identification information and active bank account numbers, as a means of validating the employment of actual persons.  

Field officers monitor attendance on jobsites

The dispatch of auditors to the various CEPEP regions to scrutinize the books, provides a further seal on a fairly airtight system. Reports are submitted and stringent controls are implemented as necessary.  

The company also encourages ordinary citizens to nurture this atmosphere of accountability among workers. Hotlines and email addresses are publicized so queries or complaints about environmental services in communities or the absence of work crews can be forwarded to CEPEP Management.  

A new dawn in CEPEP governance 
These measures were introduced and enforced under the current Board of Directors. They represent the shared vision of the Board and the Management to vanquish the spectre of corruption and inspire public confidence in the programme.

Increased accountability isn’t borne solely by the workers. Contractors who employ them are required to register as a limited liability company, pay NIS and health surcharge for their workers. They must also supply proof that these payments are, in fact, made.

Proper record keeping has now become part of the culture at CEPEP

The Management at The CEPEP Company Limited meets regularly with contractors to ensure that they are on target with all of their obligations to the workers and the government.

Where there are lapses in compliance, contracts can be terminated and opportunities given to other qualified, small entrepreneurs.

The infusion of accountability at every level of The CEPEP Company Limited has dramatically improved corporate governance. The welfare of the workers, as well as taxpayers’ money, is now more conscientiously managed.

The company’s determination to undermine the culture of graft, which has historically afflicted social programmes in this country, has dramatically improved CEPEP’s delivery of services to the country.

Comprehensive change, though, does take time. Malfeasance practised for decades cannot be dismantled overnight. This, however, is the new CEPEP; checks and balances are the new culture in an organisation trying to create pathways to improved lives for all our citizens. 

If you have any complaints or queries call us at 698-CPEP (2737) or email us at info@cepep.co.tt.