The CEPEP Company Limited, at its
core, has always been about environmental protection and beautification.
CEPEP receives subventions from the
government to deliver on its mandate but the organization has been looking to
the private sector for inspiration. It is angling for revenue through new
business partnerships.
Creating revenue streams for the company
Although state-funded, CEPEP is
determined to earn its keep. The organisation has reshaped its structure to
better serve communities. A major part of this drive includes business
partnerships. Deploying skills which have always benefitted our towns and
villages, CEPEP is now marketing that expertise in several niche areas.
Contributing to culture
When the music and mirth of the
Carnival season have faded, revellers are perhaps scarcely aware that following
fast on their heels is another section, dressed in green. In Carnival venues
nationwide, whether it’s stick fighting at Skinner Park or the National Junior
Panorama Finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, the detritus of this annual
festival doesn’t linger for very long.
The CEPEP Company Limited partners
with the National Carnival Commission each year, securing contracts to keep
venues ready for the deluge of people. This is just one way CEPEP’s new
business-minded approach supports T&T’s diverse tourism offerings.
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| CEPEP crews keep cultural venues ever-ready for spectators |
Beautifying a natural wonder
The La Brea Pitch Lake in South
West Trinidad is one of the most significant natural wonders found on these
islands. This remarkable geological feature attracts thousands of visitors each
year.
In order to keep the site in
pristine condition for tourists, The CEPEP Company Limited shook hands on a
deal with Lake Asphalt to maintain the periphery of the Pitch Lake. Now,
there’s no waist-high grass or snarled bramble on the footpath to the lake,
only manicured surroundings punctuated by fruit trees.
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| On the job at the world famous La Brea Pitch Lake |
Making our highways safe and beautiful
CEPEP’s services are also reflected
in areas we all travel every day but perhaps take for granted.
Unruly overgrowth along our highway
medians and shoulders is not only unsightly, but affects visibility,
particularly during the fiery dry season. Thanks to a partnership between the
Ministry of Works and CEPEP, resilient grasses are regularly trimmed by CEPEP
crews. The company’s Highway Beautification Programme makes our highways more
appealing and reduces the hazards of roadside bush fires.
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| CEPEP's highway crews keeping our roads safe and beautiful |
Contributing to health care
In keeping with the organisation’s mantra,
“CEPEP Does More”, the company jumped on the opportunity to provide improvement
works at health centres and hospitals in the North West and North Central
regions.
CEPEP crews worked on 46 health
centres, the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, the Port of Spain General
Hospital and the Caura Hospital. At these facilities, CEPEP upgraded walkways
to improve wheelchair accessibility, expanded car parks, painted buildings and spruced
up patient waiting rooms, bathrooms and kitchenettes.
These improvements, among many
others, have created a more user-friendly and comfortable atmosphere for
patients, contributing to the overall enhancement of health care delivery.
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| The CEPEP touch adds to the delivery of health care |
Battling beverage containers in the environment
Given CEPEP’s commitment to
environmental protection and enhancement, a project to rid the environment of
long-lived beverage containers was a natural fit.
CEPEP collaborated with several
institutions, including the Environmental Management Authority, the Solid Waste
Management Company and the Institute of Marine Affairs on this important initiative.
The CEPEP Company Limited provided the labour, gathering vast amounts of
beverage containers cluttering our environment. These waste materials were
transported to designated sites for sorting. The company is particularly
pleased to have had its business aspirations dovetail with its guiding
principles of environmental conservation.
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| Working to combat the scourge of beverage containers in the environment |
A forward looking organisation
While The CEPEP Company Limited
remains reliant on the state for funding, it continues to look ahead with a
heavy emphasis on reducing its dependency on the taxpayer. Heavy equipment rental, as well
as home and commercial landscaping services have also been added to the growing
list of initiatives which bring revenue into the company. The company’s
business outlook demonstrates the versatility of the CEPEP product.
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| Our fleet of heavy equipment available for commercial use |
CEPEP continues to develop a model
of self-sufficiency. This entrepreneurial spirit represents a first for social
programmes in Trinidad and Tobago.
Ever mindful of its commitment to
communities, The CEPEP Company Limited stays true to its goal of becoming the
number one environmental services company in the country. Now running parallel
to that goal is the promotion of business partnerships that make for a more
viable, robust organisation.
