The following is an extract from Anand Ramlogan's column from this Saturday's Guardian.

Would CEPEP workers actually face the harsh political reality about their allegiance? Do they realise that they are no better off today when compared to their parents who solidly supported the PNM since 1956 to the present?

Which parent dreamed of having his or her child become a CEPEP worker? Is this what the original grandfathers in PNM heartland areas expected after almost half-a-decade of PNM rule? Surely, the dream was that their grandchildren will be the ones driving past in air-conditioned cars on their way to work, waving to the less fortunate in our society who are forced to resort to cutting grass by the roadside to make a living!

There is no future in CEPEP. It is a dead-end road. It is not a serious career option. It does not add value to the economy. To perpetuate this dependency syndrome is a crime against humanity and makes the PNM “a loveless thing.”

I would add that CEPEP, like the former LID, DEWD or whatever names it has been known throughout the years, is not a symbiotic entity, but more of a parasitic one. Money is ploughed in, by various governments (each hoping to bolster it's position by endearing itself to the potential large voter base), and yet nothing is given in return to make this entity a viable or sustainable one. It's like pouring your money down the drain without even reaping the benefits of what it could provide.

Sadly even the corruption that has become so endemic to CEPEP/URP has grown beyond manageable levels, and has made millionaires out of the 'community leaders' that Pa-trick has openly supported.

Returning to Anand Ramlogan's comment, I ask as well: Which parent dreamed of having his or her child become a CEPEP worker?

I cannot help but notice the difference in ambition from the Indian population when it comes to their children (aspiring for every child to become a lawyer, engineer, doctor or professional) and those to the Afro-Trini community. Am I racist? I think not. The difference is clearly noticeable for anyone willing to open their eyes and see, objectively, where the foresight for the future lies in the eyes of the parents.

(As an aside, this is my official 300th post).