Carib Scope

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  • Para-social workers being trained in hinterland communities

    Para-social workers being trained in hinterland communities

    On Friday, Guyana’s Ministry of Human Services and Social Security officially launched a groundbreaking free training initiative to cultivate paraprofessional social workers, a response to the decades-long shortage of fully qualified social work professionals in the country’s remote interior, or hinterland, communities.

    The Certificate in Paraprofessional Social Services (CPSS) program, launched in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), aims to close a critical service gap that has left marginalized interior communities underserved for years. Speaking at the launch, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud framed the program’s first cohort of trainees as pioneers trailblazing a new model of accessible social care for Guyana’s most remote regions.

    For generations, key hinterland regions including Barima-Waini (Region One), Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) have lacked consistent access to specialized social services, a gap that has harmed outcomes for vulnerable groups across these areas. The new initiative directly advances the Guyanese government’s public commitment to expanding qualified social care coverage across the entire country, where demand for these critical services remains highest in remote interior zones.

    Developed as a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers (GAPSW), and the accredited University of Guyana, the program delivers no-cost foundational social work training that carries formal academic accreditation. Unlike ad-hoc community outreach, the initiative is designed to create long-term, meaningful career pathways for local hinterland residents, while simultaneously strengthening the country’s overall social services infrastructure. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will be prioritized for open social services roles across government agencies, including the Childcare and Protection Agency, the central Social Services Department, and the Survivor Advocate Programme.

    Minister Persaud emphasized that the program is far more than a short-term training course: it serves as a permanent launchpad for a lifelong career in social work, empowering local trainees to drive tangible, lasting change within their own communities. “This is more than free training. It is a launchpad into a career in Social Work. So, think about this as a lifelong path, where you will make a tangible impact on the future of the people of your community, your region, and your country,” she told participating trainees.

    The minister also outlined the critical, multifaceted role that social workers play in advancing community well-being, from addressing child protection and family welfare to supporting survivors of gender-based and domestic violence and expanding access to mental health support. Strengthening these frontline services, she noted, is a non-negotiable foundation for building safer, healthier, more cohesive communities across Guyana.

    She further stressed the importance of rigorous professional standards for the new cohort of paraprofessional social workers, including accurate case documentation, adherence to national standard operating procedures, and unwavering ethical conduct. Because social workers often serve as key stakeholders in the national justice system, contributing evidence and support during court proceedings and ongoing case management, upholding principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability is central to the role. “Justice must always be served, and as a social worker, you become part of that wheel of justice. So when you get into this profession, integrity, transparency and accountability is what will drive you further,” Persaud said.

    Framed as a aligned investment paired with Guyana’s ongoing rapid economic expansion, the program reflects the government’s strategy to grow human capital in lockstep with national development. As Guyana experiences unprecedented economic growth driven largely by new offshore oil discoveries, the administration has prioritized ensuring that all communities — including remote interior regions left behind in past development cycles — gain access to the professional services and opportunities they deserve. “This programme is an investment in the education of the people of Guyana. As our country develops, we must ensure our human capacity develops alongside it, so that every community has access to the support and professional services it deserves,” the minister added.

  • Court Grants Interim Injunction Halting Leeward Islands Cricket Board Elections

    Court Grants Interim Injunction Halting Leeward Islands Cricket Board Elections

    In a last-minute ruling that has thrown regional cricket governance into uncertainty, the High Court of Justice of Antigua and Barbuda has granted an interim injunction blocking the Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) from holding its planned annual general meeting and leadership elections set for July 11. The stay on the vote will remain in effect until the court hears a full legal challenge brought by the Anguilla Cricket Association and Carlisle Powell, president of the Nevis Cricket Association.

    Handing down the decision on July 10, one day before the scheduled vote, Justice Jan Drysdale concluded that the dispute raised substantial legal questions that require full adjudication. The judge further ruled that financial compensation would not be a sufficient remedy if the election went forward before the court could resolve the underlying conflict, ordering that the existing governing structure remain unchanged until a full inter partes hearing can be held.

    At the heart of the claimants’ case are multiple grievances over the LICB’s nomination process. The applicants argue that a nomination for candidate Dr. Hodge was improperly rejected on the grounds that his letter of acceptance was submitted late. They emphasize that at no point prior to the rejection did the LICB indicate that this separate acceptance document would be a mandatory requirement for eligibility. Compounding this issue, the claimants state that neither Dr. Hodge nor a second candidate, Kieron Powell, were notified of any perceived issues with their nomination paperwork, nor were they given the opportunity to fix any deficiencies before the final list of candidates was publicly released on July 9.

    In a further challenge to the election’s legitimacy, the claimants’ affidavit questions the eligibility of incumbent LICB president Enoch Lewis. According to the filing, Lewis has held the presidency for roughly 12 consecutive years, a tenure that far exceeds the two-term limit explicitly written into the LICB’s own governing constitution.

    The applicants warn that allowing the disputed election to proceed would cause permanent harm to the board’s democratic standing and erode public and stakeholder trust in the organization’s leadership. Their requested remedies include a full postponement of the election until the entire nomination process can undergo a formal review, or alternatively, a court order requiring that both Kieron Powell and Dr. Hodge be added to the ballot as valid, nominated candidates.

    Justice Drysdale’s injunction applies broadly to the LICB, its current officers, and all authorized agents, banning any action to convene the AGM, hold the election, or enact any results from the vote until the court issues a new order following the full hearing. Procedural timelines have already been set: respondents in the case have until July 15 to submit a responding affidavit, while the claimants will have until July 16 to file their reply. Formal skeleton legal arguments are due by July 20, and the full inter partes hearing is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on July 22.

  • Banks DIH Ltd hands over grand prize in “Crown the Road” promotion

    Banks DIH Ltd hands over grand prize in “Crown the Road” promotion

    Guyana’s leading beverage and consumer goods manufacturer Banks DIH Limited has formally concluded its highly anticipated ‘Crown the Road’ customer loyalty promotion, awarding the campaign’s top prize – a brand-new SWM SUV valued at $5.5 million – to Vijay Latchminarine, a resident of East Canefield, Canje, Berbice.

    Running over 10 consecutive weeks from April 10 to June 19 this year, the promotion was structured to reward regular patrons of Banks Beer at 15 participating bars scattered across Guyana. Throughout the campaign, organizers held regular draws that delivered instant $350,000 cash prizes to 15 lucky winners, bringing the total value of secondary consolation rewards to $5.25 million, before the much-awaited grand prize draw for the SUV that served as the event’s centerpiece.

    The awarding of the SUV to Latchminarine marks the successful completion of a campaign crafted specifically to celebrate and acknowledge the long-term loyalty of Banks Beer consumers across the country. Speaking on the wrap-up of the promotion, Lee Baptiste, Sales and Marketing Executive at Banks DIH, emphasized that the initiative was rooted in meeting customers where they already connect with the brand.

    “Crown the Road was about putting Banks Beer where our customers already are, at their favourite bars, enjoying time with friends and giving them a real chance to be rewarded for their loyalty,” Baptiste explained. “Seeing Mr. Latchminarine drive away in the grand prize SUV is exactly the kind of moment we hoped this promotion would create.”

    Banks Beer, the flagship product at the center of the campaign, holds a Monde Selection Gold Quality award and has maintained its position as one of the most popular beer choices among Guyanese consumers. The brand is backed by its parent company’s more than seven decades of proven manufacturing excellence in the region.

    As a cornerstone of Guyana’s consumer goods sector, Banks DIH Limited employs more than 1,600 local workers and holds a dominant position as a manufacturer and distributor of beverages, food items, and household products across the country. Beyond Banks Beer, the company’s extensive brand portfolio includes other well-known local favorites such as GT Beer, Guinness, XM Rum, Coca-Cola, Malta, Icee, and Qik Serv, alongside a wide range of other everyday consumer products. For decades, the firm has anchored its operations in three core priorities: delivering consistent high-quality products, investing in local community development, and supporting the long-term economic growth of Guyana.

  • Geen enkel duurzaam ontwikkelingsdoel ligt op schema voor 2030

    Geen enkel duurzaam ontwikkelingsdoel ligt op schema voor 2030

    Five years ahead of the 2030 deadline for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the newly released 2026 Sustainable Development Report (SDR 2026) delivers a stark warning: none of the 17 global SDGs are currently on course to be achieved by the target year. The report’s data paints a sobering picture of global progress, noting that only 16.5% of all SDG targets are tracking on schedule globally, 67% are showing only minimal incremental progress, and a full 16% are actually moving backwards. Against this concerning global backdrop, the report also includes a detailed assessment of Suriname’s performance, where the South American nation ranks 78th globally with an SDG score of 70.0, nearly matching the 70.5 average for the Latin America and Caribbean region.

    A key innovation included in this year’s SDR is the addition of retrospectively calculated SDG rankings, a new feature that allows for reliable, cross-country comparisons of national performance across multiple years, filling a longstanding gap in global SDG progress tracking.

    Breaking down Suriname’s results, the report identifies critical persistent challenges alongside notable areas of progress. The country’s largest setbacks are recorded on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), both of which show negative development trajectories. For SDG 2, Suriname grapples with a relatively high national obesity rate of 29%, while SDG 15 progress is undermined by growing pressure on the nation’s biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems. Suriname also lags behind on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), with its low score dragged down by poor performance on global corruption perception indices, reflecting ongoing concerns over the quality of governance and public institutional capacity in the country.

    Despite these challenges, the report highlights clear positive gains for Suriname in several key areas. The nation has made consistent progress on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), with life expectancy rising to 73.9 years and child mortality rates continuing to decline. Suriname also scores highly on access to basic infrastructure and services: 99.6% of the population has access to electricity, and 98% has reliable access to clean drinking water. The country has also maintained steady, positive results for gender equality in the labor market.

    Ten years after the SDGs were first formally adopted, the 2026 SDR is calling for a dramatic acceleration of global and national action to get the 2030 agenda back on track. The report outlines eight core priority areas to close the current progress gap, including advancing peace and effective governance, scaling up investment in sustainable development, deepening regional cooperation, developing innovative financing mechanisms for global public goods, and establishing clear international frameworks for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology. Report authors also argue that the United Nations needs a stronger coordinating role in advancing the global sustainable development agenda.

    For Suriname specifically, the report emphasizes that targeted extra efforts will be required over the coming years in environmental protection, climate adaptation, and public institutional strengthening. It calls for collaborative action across the national government, private sector, and civil society organizations to reverse declines in underperforming SDGs and get closer to the 2030 targets.

    In conclusion, the report underscores that the global sustainable development agenda is at a critical juncture. Without sweeping policy changes and a rapid acceleration of implementation efforts, the globally agreed 2030 SDGs will remain out of reach when the deadline arrives in 2030.

  • Balisier bombshell

    Balisier bombshell

    A landmark High Court ruling in Trinidad and Tobago has ordered the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) and its trustees to publicly disclose the source of millions of dollars used to build its new Port of Spain headquarters, Balisier House, following a corruption investigation launched by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

    Justice Margaret Mohammed granted the TTPS’s request for a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order (PUWO), a powerful investigative tool under the 2019 Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act, which allows law enforcement to compel entities to explain the origin of assets when reasonable suspicion of unlawful derivation exists. The application for the order was filed July 10, 2026, after the TTPS launched an ongoing probe into the financing and construction of the Balisier House compound between 2018 and 2025.

    The investigation, led by Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramdath Phillip—head of the TTPS Legal Department with 23 years of service—names the PNM’s trustees as first respondents and the party, represented by its general secretary, as the second respondent. The case is being handled by a top legal team including King’s Counsel Anthony Peto and junior counsel Thomas Cleaver of London’s Blackstone Chambers, with local instructing attorney Dayadai Harripaul. Both British barristers were called to the local bar immediately before the application was filed.

    In a 21-page sworn affidavit filed to support the order, Phillip outlined four core grounds for reasonable suspicion: that the respondents’ total wealth far exceeds the value of assets acquired through lawful means; that their combined wealth exceeds the TT$500,000 threshold set by law; that the Balisier House property is owned or effectively controlled by the respondents; and that the asset was acquired through criminal activity.

    The affidavit centers on two structures in the Balisier House compound: a renovated historic “Old Building” and the incomplete, multi-storey “New Building” that became the focus of the probe. A commissioned report from international consultants Berkeley Research Group (UK) Ltd estimates the total completed construction cost of the new headquarters will hit approximately TT$118.4 million, with TT$73.272 million worth of work already finished before works halted.

    Phillip emphasized that investigators have uncovered no evidence that the PNM’s declared legitimate funding sources could cover a project of this size. For years, PNM leaders publicly claimed the construction was financed through internal party fundraising, including cruises, a “buy-a-brick” campaign, a ten-car raffle, and sales of branded jewelry from the Balisier Collection. But Phillip noted that even former PNM Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley admitted in a 2024 speech that small donations from members and regular supporters could not cover the project’s costs, and the party has repeatedly refused to disclose the identities of its major financiers.

    Investigators found that construction stopped abruptly immediately after the PNM lost the April 28, 2025 general election. Phillip argued in the affidavit that the halt aligns with suspicions of corrupt funding: “I suspect that the demitting of PNM from office brought an end to the corrupt funding of the construction of this building. This is because those who were making corrupt payments then realised it was pointless to pay further bribes to people who were not going to be in office. I believe that is the reason why the building has been left abandoned.” If the project had genuinely relied on independent fundraising, Phillip added, construction would have continued regardless of the election outcome.

    The affidavit also lays out detailed allegations of corrupt quid pro quo arrangements between the PNM and private contractors who received favorable treatment on state contracts during the party’s 10-year incumbency from 2015 to 2025. One key case cited is primary contractor Woodgreen Construction Services Ltd, which initially submitted a TT$68.3 million bid for the headquarters contract before cutting the price by TT$9 million to TT$59 million. Phillip alleges the discounted price was a covert bribe to the PNM, and the company was subsequently rewarded with multiple major state housing contracts, including a TT$22 million San Fernando development project in 2019 and the 2023 Citrus Close housing contract. For the Citrus Close project, Phillip notes Woodgreen was not the lowest bidder, yet received a higher cost scoring than a competitor with a far lower bid, with “no obvious legitimate reason” for the decision.

    The affidavit also identifies other suspicious payments: a TT$1 million contribution from Amalgamated Security Services Ltd in 2019, a TT$500,000 payment from Kall Co Ltd that same year, and incremental payments from PNM accounts and the party’s Tranquillity Fund between 2018 and 2021. All these combined amount to only a small fraction of the total project cost, investigators found. Phillip further alleges that companies linked to former PNM minister Foster Cummings completed work on the Balisier House project, and those same firms later received more than TT$37.6 million in state contracts and extensions—including a TT$15.6 million extension from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) just weeks before the 2025 general election, and over TT$22 million in payments from the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) between 2010 and 2022. Investigations into these contract awards are ongoing.

    The PUWO now compels the PNM and its trustees to submit formal asset declarations and answer detailed questions about the origins of the funding for Balisier House. In his affidavit, Phillip noted that the investigation has proceeded cautiously over months over fears of information leaks, adding that recent public statements from former Prime Minister Rowley confirmed that sensitive investigation details have already been improperly released. Phillip warned that leaks could allow implicated persons to tamper with evidence and undermine the probe, justifying the urgent ex parte application for the court order.

  • Activist calls for passport accountability

    Activist calls for passport accountability

    Transparency advocate Wendell Eversley has launched a landmark push to unseal more than four decades of confidential government documents tied to the management of diplomatic and official passports, arguing that full disclosure is critical to determining whether successive national administrations have uniformly applied existing laws governing these special travel credentials.

    Eversley formally submitted the sweeping freedom of information request on Tuesday through his legal representative, attorney Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal. The request was filed with two top government officials: the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, and the Chief Immigration Officer. The documents being sought cover a broad range of materials, including internal policy guidelines, formal legal opinions, confidential Cabinet records, statistical datasets, and other official documents related to every stage of diplomatic and official passport processing — from initial issuance and ongoing retention to temporary suspension and permanent revocation.

    The filing comes at a moment of rising public scrutiny over the current government’s management of diplomatic passports, with growing public conversation centered on whether decisions regarding these credentials for former public office holders have been applied fairly and consistently across political transitions.

    In the cover letter accompanying the official request, Sagramsingh-Sooklal emphasized that Eversley’s push for documents is not rooted in partisan political gain, but rather a broader push for greater transparency and accountability in how executive branch power is exercised. “My client neither approaches this matter from a partisan perspective nor seeks to advance any political narrative,” the attorney wrote in the filing. “Rather, he seeks to ascertain whether the powers entrusted to the Executive have been exercised consistently, lawfully, rationally and in accordance with established legal principles over successive administrations.”

    Sagramsingh-Sooklal further noted that diplomatic and official passports are far more than standard travel documents. They are formal instruments through which a state extends sovereign privileges and official international recognition to specific designated office holders, giving the public’s right to know about their distribution significant weight. She argued that there is an “overwhelming public interest” in answering core unaddressed questions: who qualifies for these elite passports, what formal criteria are used to approve applications, under what conditions recipients may retain their credentials after leaving public office, what legal framework governs cancellation or revocation, and what safeguards exist to ensure executive power is applied consistently across all administrations.

    The FOI request is structured to cover three distinct time frames: January 1, 1981 through April 28, 2025; May 2, 2025 through May 3, 2026; and May 4, 2026 through the date the ministry issues its formal response to the request.

    Beyond the core categories of documents already outlined, Eversley is also seeking all internal policy manuals, formal circulars, and executive directives governing passport administration, rosters of eligibility categories for these credentials, documentation outlining which government authorities hold power to approve, renew, cancel, and recover passports, full Cabinet notes and formal decisions related to eligibility standards, all legal opinions prepared by the foreign ministry, the Chief State Solicitor, or the Attorney General, and complete statistical records tracking how many diplomatic and official passports have been issued, cancelled, and remain in active circulation. The request also specifically asks for records detailing whether spouses, children, and other dependents of current and former office holders qualify for diplomatic or official passports, as well as all documentation related to policies requiring the surrender or recovery of passports following resignation, retirement, dismissal, loss of elected office, or a change in governing administration.

  • Woman charged with businessman’s murder

    Woman charged with businessman’s murder

    A fatal violent incident in Trinidad’s Woodford Gardens neighborhood has led to a formal murder charge for a 25-year-old local woman, following weeks of investigative work and legal review. Aaliyah Naipal, a resident of the Woodford Gardens area at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Coconut Drive, has been accused of killing Gregory Reece, a local Chaguanas businessman who died from multiple stab wounds on the night of June 28.

    Naipal made her first court appearance on Monday before a High Court Master, after Director of Public Prosecutions officials reviewed the case file and provided formal legal advice authorizing the murder charge. Following the brief hearing, the accused was remanded into state prison custody to await further legal proceedings in the capital case.

    Law enforcement investigators have outlined the timeline of the fatal incident: Reece traveled to the Woodford Gardens apartment the evening of June 28, and shortly after his arrival, he became involved in a verbal altercation with an individual at the property. During the confrontation, Reece was stabbed multiple times.

    Emergency Health Services first responders were dispatched immediately to the scene after emergency calls were placed. When they arrived, medics found Reece already unresponsive, and he was officially pronounced dead at the apartment by medical personnel. Naipal was taken into police custody at the scene directly after the stabbing, and has remained in detention throughout the ongoing investigation.

    Reece, a 50-something-year-old local businessman, was laid to rest in a public funeral service held this past Sunday. Court records also show Reece had a prior interaction with the Trinidad and Tobago justice system: in 2017, he was arrested and charged with two criminal offences – uttering forged valuable securities and obtaining funds by false pretences. Those charges stemmed from allegations that more than TT$1.4 million in fraudulent cheques, issued from an official account controlled by the Arima Borough Corporation, were illegally deposited into a commercial bank account linked to Reece. At the time of his death, that earlier 2017 case was still pending in the court system.

  • FERRY FEARS

    FERRY FEARS

    A plan announced by Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister to launch a temporary regional cargo ferry service aimed at cutting inter-island trade costs has sparked concerns from top Tobago business leaders, who warn that domestic transportation capacity for the island is already stretched dangerously thin. The proposal was brought forward by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the wake of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom held in St Lucia, where she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to easing regional cargo expenses by offering a Trinidad and Tobago-owned vessel for cross-regional cargo movement.

    In comments following the announcement, Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John told local media on Thursday that the prime minister had extended the offer of ferry access to Caricom member states, and confirmed the government has a actionable plan to roll out the regional service. But Diane Hadad, a prominent Tobago businesswoman and former head of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, is pushing for clear answers before the government moves forward with implementation. Hadad says she broadly supports efforts to strengthen regional trade, but argues that putting Tobago’s already overburdened domestic seabridge at risk is not an acceptable trade-off.

    Hadad pointed to the fragile state of Tobago’s current cargo infrastructure, noting that the island relies on just one dedicated cargo vessel, the Blue Wave Harmony, whose reliability she described as precarious. “It is only in God we trust that it performs right,” she told reporters. Hadad says her working assumption is that the government plans to reassign one of the country’s existing fast ferries to the new regional route, but she questions whether any vessel can be pulled from domestic service without crippling Tobago’s supply chains. She highlighted that Tobago already struggles with inadequate service during peak travel periods, including long weekends, summer holidays, and the Easter and Christmas seasons, when additional sailings are rarely approved by the Port Authority.

    Tobago depends entirely on the Blue Wave Harmony for consistent cargo movement, Hadad explained, with fast ferries only used to carry limited extra cargo when the dedicated vessel is out of service for maintenance or repairs. “When that cargo vessel goes down, we then rely on any one of the fast ferries that they allow us to put certain tonnage vehicles on, and that’s what brings the necessary items across. Other than that, we are crippled,” she said. Hadad says she remains unconvinced that the country’s existing ferry fleet can support both the new regional service and meet Tobago’s domestic transportation needs. “I’m not sure what capacity we have to go up the islands and make food cheaper for anybody,” she said. “I think a lot more information needs to be given so that we can make informed decisions. There has been no proper communication with the real stakeholders.”

    She also raised additional concerns about the reliability of the country’s existing ferry fleet: the Galleons Passage, while capable of carrying cargo, has drawn frequent complaints from passengers over its poor performance in rough seas compared to older vessels the Buccoo Reef and APT James. Meanwhile, the T&T Spirit remains out of service for unspecified reasons, and the operational status of the T&T Express is unclear, Hadad added.

    Curtis Williams, current chairman of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, echoed Hadad’s measured approach. Williams welcomed the regional ferry proposal in principle, calling it “a positive and forward-thinking initiative” that has the potential to cut transportation costs, expand regional trade, stimulate cross-Caribbean tourism, and bring down the overall cost of living across the region. But like Hadad, he says the success of the project hinges entirely on whether Trinidad and Tobago actually has the excess maritime capacity to sustain the new service without harming domestic operations.

    Williams noted that the idea of a regional ferry service is not new – a similar plan was proposed by the previous national administration but never moved forward. He says ongoing concerns about vessel availability and reliability persist, particularly because the domestic seabridge between Trinidad and Tobago has already dealt with regular service disruptions caused by mechanical failures and a limited active fleet. “The Government must first ensure that there is sufficient maritime capacity, reliable vessels, adequate maintenance arrangements and a sustainable operational model before committing to such an undertaking,” Williams said in a written response to media inquiries.

    Williams added that long-term success for any regional ferry service depends on consistent, uninterrupted operations. “Businesses and travellers must have confidence that schedules will be maintained and that the service can operate without recurring interruptions. Without these assurances, the initiative could face the same challenges that prevented previous proposals from becoming a reality,” he said.

  • PDOs for 5 kidnap accused

    PDOs for 5 kidnap accused

    Nearly four months after a dramatic high-seas rescue foiled a cross-border kidnapping plot in Trinidad and Tobago, five men have been formally charged with the abduction of 73-year-old landlady Tara Poliah from her San Juan residence. The accused, identified as Hakeem Amzad Ali, Hector Jimenez, Reynaldo Alexander Martinez, John Evans and Johniken Gonzales, have remained in preventive detention at Golden Grove Prison in Arouca since authorities first disrupted the scheme in March. On July 9, investigators from the country’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by Woman Corporal Rajkumar, carried out the formal charging process at the prison, with a Spanish interpreter on hand to assist with procedural communications. The five defendants are scheduled to make their first court appearance next week before a master of the District Court in North Trinidad. The investigation into the kidnapping has been overseen by a team of senior officers led by ASP Lazarus, Inspector Phillip, Sgt Katerson and Rajkumar.

    The kidnapping unfolded on March 25, when four assailants confronted Poliah inside the garage of her San Juan home, forced her into a waiting vehicle, and fled the area. By midnight that same day, investigators confirm the kidnappers had moved Poliah to a small vessel, with plans to sail her across the Caribbean to Venezuela. The plot was derailed before it could be completed, however, when the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard intercepted the boat roughly one nautical mile off the country’s North Coast, acting on advance radar intelligence that tracked the vessel’s movement. Poliah was recovered unharmed from the vessel, and multiple suspects were taken into custody immediately during the interception. Authorities later confirmed that eight people—six Venezuelan nationals and two citizens of Trinidad and Tobago—were on board the intercepted boat.

    In additional details of the operation, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force confirmed that two other suspects tried to avoid capture by jumping overboard during the coast guard chase. The pair was rescued by a local fisherman the following day, March 26, and turned over to the coast guard before being transferred to police custody. In total, law enforcement detained 11 suspects in connection with the kidnapping: the eight intercepted at sea, plus three additional suspects—two men and one woman—who were arrested at Tyrico Bay shortly after the interception. While unofficial police sources have confirmed that some detainees were released without charge, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has not issued an official public update on the status of the other six detainees not named in the recent charges.

    The five charged men were first listed in 23 preventive detention orders (PDOs) signed by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander on April 13. In those orders, 12 people total were identified as members or associates of a dedicated kidnapping enterprise that operates across national borders. The five charged men, alongside seven other uncharged co-conspirators named in the PDOs, are accused of participating in coordinated, multi-offender criminal operations that rely on cross-border infrastructure, including dedicated maritime vessels and pre-established land transport networks. The PDO documents outline that different network members take on specialized roles: some act as facilitators, others as drivers or coordinators, while core participants directly carry out the abduction, transport and holding of kidnap victims. Of the five men now formally charged, only Martinez is listed as having a residential address in Venezuela. The seven other people named in the April 13 PDOs are Diogenes Adrian Arcia, Crystal Le Blanc, Daniel Williams (also known as “Kimba”), Eduardo Jose Febres Rodriguez, Ishmael Salvary, Nathaniel Rojas, and Jorge Casadilla Caldea.

    Shortly after the March rescue and arrests, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro announced that law enforcement had successfully dismantled a well-established transnational kidnapping ring. “This successful operation represents a significant breakthrough in our ongoing efforts to dismantle organised criminal groups involved in cross-border kidnappings,” Guevarro said in a statement following the operation. “The speed, precision, and professionalism displayed in this rescue demonstrates that Trinidad and Tobago’s law enforcement agencies are prepared, united, and resolute in protecting our citizens.”

  • Noodherstel Van ’t Hogerhuysstraat bijna afgerond

    Noodherstel Van ’t Hogerhuysstraat bijna afgerond

    Paramaribo, Suriname – July 11, 2026 – Emergency rehabilitation work on one of Suriname’s busy urban corridors, Van ’t Hogerhuysstraat, is progressing strictly according to schedule and is on track to wrap up several days ahead of the official July 16 completion deadline, project officials confirmed this week.

    Rodney Wongsosoeparto, project manager for the rehabilitation initiative, announced that nearly the entire stretch of the roadway has already been resurfaced with a fresh layer of asphalt. The final segment of the road’s eastbound lane, stretching from the existing roundabout toward the Surmac district, is scheduled to be paved on Friday evening. Once that work is complete, only the short section between the roundabout and the Slangenhoutstraat intersection will remain to be finished.

    According to an official press statement from the Communication Service of Suriname, the scope of the emergency repairs covers three core phases: removal of the crumbling old asphalt surface, leveling and stabilization of the underlying road base, and application of a new five-centimeter thick asphalt layer. Workers are also upgrading connecting road surfaces at the Slangenhoutstraat junction to boost overall traffic flow through the high-traffic area.

    Project leadership noted that unseasonable rain showers and adjustments to temporary traffic diversion routes have presented minor logistical challenges during the repair process, but these disruptions have not altered the project’s timeline. To minimize impacts on daily commuters and maximize work efficiency, the majority of resurfacing operations are carried out during evening and overnight hours, when traffic volumes in the area are at their lowest.

    While emergency repairs near completion, planning work is already well underway for a far more extensive full reconstruction of the entire Van ’t Hogerhuysstraat corridor. The planned overhaul will widen the key section between Surmac, Slangenhoutstraat and Willem Campagnestraat from four lanes to six lanes, split evenly into three lanes in each direction. Slangenhoutstraat itself will also gain an additional travel lane to accommodate increased traffic, and the current roundabout will be reconfigured into a larger, more efficient traffic square. The section of roadway running from Willem Campagnestraat toward Molenpad will remain largely unchanged under the current plans.

    Right now, technical pre-construction preparations for the full reconstruction are in full swing. Work teams are mapping out the position of all underground utilities and cables, holding coordination meetings with local utility providers, and getting ready for planned sewer system upgrades tied to the project. Wongsosoeparto reported that collaboration with participating utility companies has been smooth so far, emphasizing that close, proactive coordination is a non-negotiable requirement to deliver the large-scale project successfully and on schedule.

    Even though the current emergency repairs are only a temporary fix to address immediate safety and usability issues, Wongsosoeparto stressed that quality control remains a top priority for the work. Both the application process and the material quality of the new asphalt are subject to continuous inspection to ensure the repair work delivers a durable, long-lasting result until full reconstruction can begin.

    In the coming week, crews will focus on wrapping up the final resurfacing work at the Slangenhoutstraat junction, while pre-construction activities for the full corridor reconstruction will continue at full pace with no interruptions.