Housing Minister Addresses Crime Reduction and Corruption Issues

In a recent interview, Phillip Alexander, the third minister in the Ministry of Housing, addressed a range of controversial issues. Speaking with Marlon Hopkinson on TV6, Alexander emphasized the government’s success in reducing violent crime and murder rates by 35% in the first half of 2025. He attributed the improvements to the government’s proactive approach and their focus on making the public feel safer. Alexander also addressed corruption issues within the CEPEP (Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme) and URP (Unemployment Relief Programme). He lamented the fact that several cases brought against the state by CEPEP contractors had collapsed, underlining the reality of corruption within the system. Furthermore, he highlighted the difficulty of dealing with approximately 10,000 workers through these contractors. Despite these challenging issues, the minister asserted that the government is making significant progress, with efforts underway to fill job vacancies within various ministries. In conclusion, he announced a back-to-school drive for children in the Port of Spain North St. Ann’s west constituency, as part of an initiative led by the Honorable Kamla Persad Bissessar