作者： admin

Bajan ballers bound for historic FIFA stage

Barbados’ young football hopefuls are in the final stretch of intensive preparations, gearing up to make history as one of the competing nations at the first-ever FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival kicking off later this month in Baku, Azerbaijan. The newly installed Technical Director of the Barbados Football Association, Philip Marin, officially confirmed the nation’s participation and ongoing training efforts during a media briefing this Thursday, noting that the country’s national U-15 side, nicknamed the Tridents, will take the pitch between October 24 and 30 for the landmark tournament.

In an interview with local outlet Barbados TODAY shortly after his formal introduction to press, Marin broke down key details of the groundbreaking competition. Unlike traditional 11-a-side youth football, this inaugural tournament will be played in an 8v8 format across more than 900 total matches, a scale made possible by the unprecedented level of global participation. FIFA extended invitations to all 211 of its member associations to join the event, and to date, 191 member nations have accepted the call to compete. Marin explained that the massive participating field has been organized into 32 groups: 31 groups made up of six teams each, and one final group of five to accommodate the 191-team total.

Barbados has been drawn into Group E, where it will face off against some of the most promising youth football programs in the world, headlined by global football powerhouse Spain, which currently holds the number one global ranking. Rounding out Group E alongside Barbados and Spain are Chile, Congo, Kuwait, and Tajikistan. While Marin acknowledged that the young Tridents enter the group stage as statistical underdogs, he emphasized that the match-up against top-ranked Spain offers an unparalleled opportunity for global exposure. With millions of viewers expected to tune into the tournament across global broadcasting platforms, the young Barbadian players will have a chance to showcase their skills to a massive international audience.

With roughly four weeks remaining until the tournament kicks off, Marin said the team is focusing on sharpening its tactical organization, refining offensive strategies, and solidifying defensive structures ahead of their first match. He also shared that the squad is led by head coach Stefan Stephan King, a highly capable leader who has been working closely with Marin to structure the team’s preparation plan.

FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, legendary football figure Arsène Wenger, also shared his perspective on the tournament in an official FIFA statement released Thursday, highlighting the event’s long-term transformative impact on youth football development. Wenger noted that raw football talent exists in every corner of the globe, but young athletes from smaller nations and less-resourced federations rarely get the same chance to test their skills against top international competition at an early age. This new U-15 tournament was created specifically to fill that gap, bringing together emerging young talents from every continent to compete against one another. Wenger explained that by gathering U-15 teams from across the world, the tournament gives young players access to high-stakes meaningful matches, exposes them to diverse playing styles and global football cultures, and creates valuable learning experiences that will support their growth as athletes throughout their careers.

19 9 月, 2026
Calendar for 60th Independence anniversary launches

Barbados is preparing to mark two landmark national moments – six decades of independence and five years as a republic – with a packed, inclusive schedule of public events and community projects that was officially launched to the public this Friday at Ilaro Court.

Addressing journalists at the launch of the National Calendar of Independence Celebrations, Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams framed the dual milestone as a unique chance to bring together Barbadians across every generation and community, fostering shared memories that will last for decades to come. “The countdown to 60 and five is officially on,” Abrahams told attendees. “Our entire planning team has been buzzing with ideas, preparations are well underway, and today we’re excited to share that momentum with the whole country.”

He emphasized that the anniversary carries different meaning for different cohorts of the population: for older Barbadians, it is a chance to reflect on the historic moment when the country’s flag was first raised in 1966, while for younger generations, it will likely stand as the first major national milestone they remember clearly. “This is an opportunity to give those young people memories they will carry for the rest of their lives,” Abrahams said. “We want every Barbadian, no matter their age or where they live, to feel they have a role to play in these celebrations.”

Two core community-led initiatives anchor the celebration schedule: *Let We Paint Barbados* and the National Clean Up Campaign, both designed to bring neighbours together to spruce up public and private spaces across the island. “Just imagine what a difference local communities can make when they come together to help a family paint their home or tend to a shared neighborhood green space,” Abrahams noted.

Beyond these projects, Abrahams encouraged widespread participation in *Barbados Day Fridays*, calling on residents to wear the country’s national colours, fly the national flag, and make a personal “promise to Barbados” – a small, meaningful commitment to strengthening national and community bonds. These personal pledges can range from teaching a young person a marketable skill, to spending regular time with an isolated elderly neighbour, to establishing new unifying family traditions, he explained.

Senator Shane Archer, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office with oversight for Youth and Culture, detailed the newly unveiled official anniversary logo, which was designed to honor Barbados’ national heritage while projecting confidence in the country’s future. “The logo brings the numbers 60 and 5 together under a rising golden Trident, with the Pride of Barbados flower – our national emblem – set at its base in our national colours of blue and gold,” Archer explained. “It celebrates who we are as a nation, and looks boldly toward what comes next. We want every Barbadian to feel proud to display this logo.”

Archer also announced major retail discounts to support the *Let We Paint Barbados* initiative, open to all Barbadian residents starting this coming Monday. Leading paint supplier Harris Paints will offer discounts of up to 30 percent on most products, with selected items marked down by 60 percent on specific celebration days. Rival brand Sherwin Williams will match the offer, providing 30 to 60 percent off select paint lines for the initiative. Additionally, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has offered to provide volunteer labour for painting projects at 60 low-income homes across the island, a contribution Archer welcomed as a key example of community partnership.

Other scheduled events include the *My Voice, My Barbados* national oratory competition, which will open to participants from primary, secondary, and tertiary education institutions to give young Barbadians a platform to share their vision for the country’s future. Archer also highlighted the annual Prime Minister’s Cup football tournament, which this year will add a women’s division for the first time in the event’s history. The women’s champion will take home a top prize of $100,000 Barbadian dollars, with the final match scheduled to be held on November 30 – the date that will cap off the country’s months-long 60/5 anniversary celebrations.

19 9 月, 2026
Antigua and Barbuda PM Browne Holds CHOGM Talks With UK Caribbean Minister

As final-stage preparations ramp up for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has held high-stakes diplomatic discussions with the United Kingdom’s top official for Caribbean affairs, moving the landmark event one step closer to its planned 2026 launch.

The closed-door talks, held September 15 during Browne’s official visit to the UK, paired the Antiguan leader with Uma Kumaran, the UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with oversight for Caribbean relations. This meeting marked the second key diplomatic engagement of Browne’s trip, coming on the heels of separate bilateral discussions with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband earlier in the visit.

At the core of the conversation between Browne and Kumaran was operational planning for the upcoming 2026 summit, which is set to be hosted by Antigua and Barbuda for the first time. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to delivering a well-organized, productive summit that addresses the pressing priorities of the Commonwealth bloc.

Scheduled to run from November 1 to 4, 2026, the summit will bring together heads of state, government leaders, and senior policymakers from all 56 member nations of the Commonwealth. The gathering will center on the official theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”, with discussions expected to focus on boosting cross-bloc economic collaboration, expanding sustainable investment, and tackling shared challenges ranging from climate adaptation to inclusive economic growth.

This latest round of coordination underscores the ongoing collaborative relationship between host nation Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom, a founding Commonwealth member, as planning efforts enter their final phase ahead of the high-profile global gathering.

19 9 月, 2026
Police Interview Several People as Search Continues for Missing 36-Year-Old Keisha Conrell

In St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, law enforcement agencies are working around the clock to trace a 36-year-old local woman who has vanished without a trace for seven days. Keisha Conrell, a resident of the Briggins community, has not been in contact with friends or family since mid-September, prompting an official missing person investigation launched by the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda.

So far, investigative teams have conducted a series of targeted canvassing and search operations. Searches have covered Conrell’s home neighborhood of Briggins, adjacent residential communities, and multiple other unconfirmed locations across the area that could potentially hold clues to her whereabouts. As of the latest update, these efforts have not yielded any breakthrough leads to locate the missing woman.

According to official timelines released by police, Conrell was last documented to be seen by members of the public on Saturday, September 12. Five days later, on Thursday, September 17, concerned parties filed a formal missing person report with the force’s Criminal Investigations Department, which opened an official case into her disappearance.

As part of ongoing procedural steps, investigators have already interviewed multiple people connected to the case to gather statements and potential evidence. However, law enforcement has declined to release any details about the identities of these interviewees, and has not clarified whether any of the individuals interviewed are considered formal suspects or persons of interest in the investigation.

With the search effort still active, police are issuing a public appeal for community assistance to help bring Conrell home safely. Any person who spotted Conrell after September 12, or holds any information—even minor details that seem unimportant related to her current location is urged to contact investigators. Tips can be submitted via phone at 462-3913, 462-3914, or by visiting the closest local police station. Authorities emphasize that even seemingly insignificant information can prove critical to advancing the investigation and locating the missing woman.

19 9 月, 2026
Antigua and Barbuda equips justice officials to fight human trafficking

From September 14 to 18, 2026, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) partnered with Antigua and Barbuda’s national Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Unit to host a groundbreaking Advanced Multi-Disciplinary Trafficking in Persons (TIP) training programme for the country’s justice sector officials. The initiative, tailored specifically for experienced legal and law enforcement practitioners, aims to close coordination gaps across the justice system and strengthen the Caribbean nation’s ability to tackle modern slavery through more effective investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of trafficking cases.

Unlike basic introductory anti-trafficking workshops, this five-day advanced programme deep dives into the complex practical challenges that arise in high-stakes trafficking investigations and court proceedings, prioritizing skill-building in critical analysis and strategic, real-time decision-making. More than 30 participants were drawn from across Antigua and Barbuda’s public safety and justice ecosystem, including officers from the Royal Police Force, Forensic Services, Immigration Department, Customs and Excise, the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy, senior prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and sitting members of the national judiciary.

What sets this training apart from standard capacity-building courses is its immersive end-to-end simulation structure, which follows a single hypothetical trafficking case from the initial report of a victim through to final courtroom adjudication. Over the first two days, participating investigators worked in teams to build their case, conduct cross-border inquiry drills, analyze complex financial and digital evidence, and adapt their strategies to evolving, high-pressure scenario developments that test on-the-job decision-making. On the third day, prosecutors took over the investigative case files, honing their skills in evidence assessment, charging strategy, and compliance with legal disclosure requirements. The fourth day focused exclusively on judicial capacity, with a peer-led working session exploring best practices for managing trafficking proceedings, including tailored protections for vulnerable victims and child witnesses. The programme concluded with a full integrated simulation that brought investigators, prosecutors, and judges together to test the entire case process from start to finish.

Roughly 60 percent of the programme’s content was hands-on practical training, with all curricula aligned to Antigua and Barbuda’s 2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act (including its subsequent amendments) and the country’s national anti-trafficking action plan. Throughout the week, facilitators emphasized three core pillars of effective anti-trafficking work: a victim-centered approach to all cases, the principle of non-punishment for victims who are forced to commit offenses as part of their exploitation, and the critical importance of cross-border cooperation to disrupt transnational trafficking networks.

Lt. Col. Michael Jones, Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS, explained that successful anti-trafficking work requires far more than strong individual investigations—it demands seamless coordinated action across all parts of the justice system, from the moment a victim is first identified to the final resolution of the case. “Investigators, prosecutors, the judiciary, and victim-support services each have distinct roles to play, but unaddressed gaps between these groups can undermine both victim protection and access to justice,” Jones noted. “For CARICOM IMPACS, a whole-of-justice-system approach means strengthening those connections, both at the national level and across our region, while upholding core principles of judicial independence and due process. Our collective success should not be measured only by how many cases we bring to court, but by whether we deliver actual justice, hold traffickers accountable, and give survivors the support they need to rebuild their lives,” he added.

Mrs. Phillisha Pardo, Acting Director of Antigua and Barbuda’s Trafficking In Persons (Prevention) Unit, reaffirmed the national government’s unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking in all its forms. “We will continue to advance public education, raise awareness, and build strategic partnerships to prevent this crime from occurring in our communities and strengthen our national response. When trafficking is identified, we will conduct thorough, rigorous investigations, prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law, and ensure that survivors receive the protection, support, and justice they are entitled to,” Pardo assured stakeholders.

The programme was facilitated by a team of seasoned anti-trafficking practitioners from across the CARICOM region, drawn from Guyana and Jamaica. It forms part of a broader regional initiative led by CARICOM IMPACS to build coordinated national and regional capacity to counter human trafficking across all 15 CARICOM member states.

Established in July 2006 during the 27th Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government held in Bird Rock, St Kitts and Nevis, CARICOM IMPACS serves as the operational implementation arm of the regional body’s crime and security action agenda. Its Training and Development Centre is the primary regional body delivering capacity-building programmes for border security, law enforcement, and justice sector agencies across all CARICOM member states.

19 9 月, 2026
Young Innovators Share Their Journey with EducationMinister Ahead of Global Robotics Challenge

Five young female innovators from Antigua and Barbuda are putting the final touches on their competition robot, gearing up to make history as the nation’s first all-girls robotics team at the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge in Incheon, South Korea. Ahead of their international debut, the team sat down for a working meeting with Daryll Matthew, the country’s Minister of Education, Science and Technology, to walk through their months of preparation and discuss their journey into STEM.

During the session, the student team guided Matthew through every detail of their robot’s core functionalities, from collecting and storing game pieces to climbing structures and scoring points. The students explained how their design has transformed through dozens of rounds of building, testing, and adjusting, highlighting how every failed prototype helped them refine their approach. They also emphasized a key rule of the FIRST competition: to advance to the final rounds, teams must build robots that can collaborate seamlessly with international competitors, reinforcing the event’s focus on global partnership.

The conversation naturally centered on a core lesson the team has already learned through the process: groundbreaking innovation almost never comes together perfectly on the first try. Minister Matthew expanded on this idea, sharing that persistence through early failure is one of the most valuable skills young people can develop.

“One of the things that we take for granted is critical thinking,” Matthew told the students. “Just because your first version doesn’t work, doesn’t mean you should give up, you should always keep innovating.” Drawing from his own personal experience, he encouraged the young engineers to reframe unsuccessful attempts not as defeats, but as critical stepping stones toward stronger, more robust solutions. He added that this problem-solving mindset extends far beyond robotics, helping students excel in all areas of academics and future careers.

Every step of the team’s iterative design process is carefully documented in their shared engineering notebook, where each student takes a daily turn logging challenges, adjustments, and key insights as the robot evolves. Beyond technical preparations, Matthew took time to connect with each team member individually, learning about what first sparked their interest in STEM fields and what career paths they hope to pursue after their competition. He congratulated the team on their groundbreaking progress and urged them to keep chasing the ideas that inspire them.

Matthew also encouraged the students to look beyond the competition itself, and embrace the full experience of representing their nation on a global stage. Meeting young innovators from different cultural backgrounds, exchanging ideas, and building long-term cross-cultural friendships will help them expand their worldviews and grow as professionals, he noted.

Now, the team is in the final stretch of refining their robot ahead of the Olympic-styled international event, which carries the theme “Igniting Innovation.” The 2026 FIRST Global Challenge will bring more than 190 national student teams together to apply STEM principles to real-world inspired challenges, while fostering global collaboration and cultural exchange. For these five young women preparing to carry Antigua and Barbuda’s flag, the competition is more than a technical contest: it is a chance to show the world what the next generation of Caribbean innovators can accomplish on the global stage.

19 9 月, 2026
HC Kevin Isaac celebrates St. Kitts and Nevis’ 43rd Independence with diaspora in London – WIC News

On the cusp of St. Kitts and Nevis’ 43rd anniversary of sovereign independence, nearly 200 members of the country’s UK-based diaspora gathered in London to mark the milestone with High Commissioner Kevin Isaac and his mission staff. Centered on the unifying 2026 celebration theme “one people, one vision, endless possibilities,” the event brought together multigenerational Kittitians and Nevisians from across the United Kingdom, turning the London gathering into a call for cross-border collaboration for national progress.

The day of commemoration opened with a solemn interlude at London’s iconic Westminster Abbey, where visiting nationals joined High Commissioner Isaac in a service of prayer for the island nation’s government and people, honoring the legacy of sacrifice that paved the way for independence in 1983. Moving from reflection to collective action, the main celebration shifted to a focus on the diaspora’s underrecognized role in shaping the country’s future.

In his keynote address to the assembled crowd, Isaac framed independence not just as a historic achievement of political freedom, but as an ongoing shared responsibility. “While Independence gave us political freedom, it also gave us the responsibility to determine our own future; to build a country worthy of the sacrifices of those who came before us,” he told the gathering, emphasizing that the national theme carries special meaning for community members living thousands of miles from the twin islands.

Isaac laid out a concrete vision for diaspora engagement, centering three core pathways to contribution: professional mentorship, targeted investment, and knowledge-sharing. He painted vivid examples of the impact cross-border connection could deliver: a London-based physician or nurse mentoring the next generation of healthcare leaders in the capital Basseterre, and a Birmingham-based engineer partnering on local development projects across Nevis. He urged attendees not to underestimate their value to the nation’s growth, rejecting the idea that distance erodes a diaspora member’s stake in national progress.

“You may live thousands of miles away. But you are not disconnected. You are not forgotten,” Isaac emphasized. “Your knowledge matters. Your relationships matter. Your investment matters. Your voice matters. Your children matter. And your ideas matter.” The celebration comes as St. Kitts and Nevis continues to prioritize inclusive nation-building, with recent domestic milestones including a 20-year low in national homicide rates, reinforcing the momentum Isaac highlighted for collective progress across home and diaspora communities.

19 9 月, 2026
‘Mogelijk’ US$ 1.693.800 betaald voor overname rechten op 9.410 hectare landbouwgrond

A leaked 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Braganza Marketing Group and a group of Mennonites from Belize has pulled back the curtain on opaque financial arrangements tied to thousands of hectares of earmarked land for large-scale agricultural development in Suriname, contradicting public statements made by Braganza’s leadership. Dated November 27, 2025, the document was shared with regional outlet Starnieuws by environmental activist John Goedschalk, who has long tracked controversial land development projects in the country. Its contents directly conflict with written claims Braganza Director Lionel Blokland provided to Starnieuws just last week.

The core terms of the MoU outline a structured financial deal that would see the Mennonite group acquire 100% of the shares in a local Surinamese company called Agriculture New Surland N.V. Once the share acquisition is complete, land rights for roughly 9,410 hectares of territory would be transferred to the company. The total price tag for this transaction is listed as US$1.693 million, and the agreement names key representatives from both sides: Jacob Olfert Friesen and Heinrich Hamm for the Mennonites, and Christiaan Rudolf Souverein for Braganza. Additional signatories include Peter Schmidt alongside the named Mennonite representatives.

Most notably, the MoU directly contradicts Blokland’s categorical denial to Starnieuws last week that Braganza was selling any land to the Mennonite group. When asked if Braganza or any affiliated party was receiving per-hectare payments for the land, Blokland avoided a direct answer, noting only that there were agreements in place regarding investments and mutual financial obligations, but that these details were not open to public scrutiny. The leaked MoU confirms that as of late November 2025, a concrete financial structure had already been finalized that explicitly links the share transfer to land rights for the 9,410-hectare plot.

The payment schedule laid out in the document is equally revealing. According to the MoU, the Mennonites had already transferred US$250,000 to the bank account of Braganza Marketing Group N.V. by the time the agreement was signed. A second payment of US$596,900 would be made directly to Braganza next, bringing the total paid to 50% of the overall sum. A third installment of US$423,450 would follow one year after the transaction closes, with a fourth and final payment of the same amount due two years post-transaction. All installments are designated to be deposited into Braganza’s accounts, adding up to the total sum of US$1.693 million. Notably, the US$250,000 down payment and the overall US$1.69 million total were first reported earlier this year by the international environmental news platform Mongabay, which also reviewed a copy of the MoU related to the Mennonites’ relocation and development plans in Suriname.

When broken down by the total acreage, the per-hectare price works out to roughly US$180. This figure conflicts with the US$150 per hectare figure recently cited to journalists by Belizean Mennonite representative Peter Petersen. The MoU does not clarify where Petersen’s US$150 figure originated, but it does confirm that a large sum of money is directly tied to the land rights deal for the 9,410-hectare plot.

Blokland’s response last week attempted to distance Braganza from the Mennonites’ internal financial arrangements, claiming that any internal accounting within the Mennonite communities was a private matter. He did acknowledge that Braganza and Mennonite-owned entities had agreements for investments and mutual financial obligations, but refused to disclose any specific dollar amounts. The leaked MoU, however, includes concrete figures, explicit payment deadlines, and names Braganza as the direct recipient of all payments. At the same time, Starnieuws cautions that it cannot confirm based on this single document whether all the terms laid out in the November 2025 MoU have been implemented unchanged, or whether subsequent agreements have altered the original terms.

The phrasing surrounding the 9,410 hectares of land also raises new questions about compliance with existing public land regulations. A separate January 13, 2026 agreement between Braganza and Suriname’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) states that the Surinamese government retains full ownership of the state land in question, and Braganza only holds a functional, non-transferable right of use. Any transfer of rights to third parties requires prior written approval from the LVV. This creates a clear conflict with the November 2025 MoU’s plan to transfer land rights via a share sale to the Mennonite group, raising questions about how the two agreements align.

For Goedschalk, the contradictions between Braganza’s public statements and the terms laid out in the leaked MoU demand full transparency. The activist has monitored large-scale agricultural development and the Mennonites’ planned expansion in Suriname critically for several years. Back in 2023, he released public documents detailing land applications tied to Terra Invest and Ruud Souverein, noting at the time that he was not claiming the land had already been allocated, only that applications had been submitted. Now, with this new leaked document in hand, Goedschalk is renewing his call for complete public disclosure of all financial and legal structures behind the current wave of agricultural development projects in Suriname.

19 9 月, 2026
Tobago mom wants justice for slain son

It has been more than 12 weeks since 23-year-old Jalon “Lolo” Graham was gunned down in a brazen daytime attack on a residential road in Tobago, but no arrests have been made, no motive has been confirmed, and his heartbroken mother Quisianna Graham is refusing to stay silent until the full truth of her son’s killing comes to light.

Graham, a resident of Union Village who was an aspiring footballer and former pupil of both Whim Anglican Secondary School and Mason Hall Secondary School, was just hours away from starting a promising new job when he was killed on the evening of May 29. According to official police accounts, Graham and a friend had just picked up food from a local outlet and were walking along Old Whim Road, close to the area’s community centre, when an unidentified gunman crept up behind them and opened fire, striking Graham multiple times. First responders from the Emergency Health Services arrived at the scene within minutes, but the young man was pronounced dead immediately after the attack. He was laid to rest at Plymouth Cemetery weeks later.

In an exclusive interview with local outlet *Express* earlier this week, Quisianna Graham raised unsettling inconsistencies in the case details that have left her searching for answers. She points to several odd observations she made when she arrived at the scene moments after getting the news of her son’s shooting, after rushing from her home to see what had happened. When she got there, she found Graham’s pockets turned inside out, his smartphone stolen by the attacker – but the takeout food he had been holding was still placed neatly on a nearby park bench. “If I am walking and I get shot in the back, would not my food be thrown on the ground and scattered away?” she asked, questioning the official narrative of the attack. Graham also told reporters that she immediately attempted to administer CPR to her son when she arrived, but was unable to save him, an experience she described as permanently traumatic. “It’s very hurtful to go in the morgue and see your child sewn up, it’s a hurtful experience that will never go away,” she said.

The grieving mother pushed back hard against any unconfirmed speculation that her son was involved in gang activity or criminal behavior, noting that Jalon had never been arrested, never appeared in court, and had no known ties to local gangs. She acknowledged that like many young people, Jalon had posed for playful photos that appeared to show him with a gun, but argued that this did not make him a dangerous person. Turning to other parents in the community who may be hiding information about the killing, she called out those who protect children who have committed violent acts out of fear they will face legal consequences. “It is the same way allyuh know allyuh child commit murder and hush allyuh mouth because allyuh don’t want allyuh child to go in jail,” she said.

Quisianna Graham told reporters she believes a critical confrontation that happened the Friday before her son’s murder holds the key to solving the case, and is calling on every witness or person with any information about what led to the shooting to come forward to law enforcement. She described Jalon as a well-mannered young man who was on the cusp of building a stable life for himself: he was days away from his first day at a new job, and was already planning to invest in a sheep farming business to build long-term prosperity. “He was well-mannered and coming into a good young man, now looking to buy sheep and prosper a bit. And allyuh just come and take this boy life with no explanation,” she said. “I would not stay silent about it and I am pushing for answers.”

When reached for comment by the *Saturday Express*, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rishi Singh confirmed that the investigation into Graham’s murder remains open and active, with officers continuing to follow leads and interview witnesses in the case.

19 9 月, 2026
Young warns of ‘police state’

A fiery parliamentary debate over the revised Special Operations Bill 2026 has sparked major constitutional controversy in Trinidad and Tobago, with former National Security Minister Stuart Young launching a scathing attack on the ruling United National Congress (UNC) administration led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Speaking on the floor of parliament Wednesday, Young issued a stark warning that the updated legislation — a revised version of the earlier withdrawn Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) bill — will effectively reconfigure the twin-island nation into an overt police state, eroding core constitutional protections for all citizens.

Young went further than claiming democratic backsliding is on the horizon, telling legislators that authoritarian rule has already arrived in the country. “It is not creeping. We are in a dictatorship. That is clear,” he said, arguing that the public has gradually become desensitized to repeated encroachments on fundamental rights, allowing authoritarian practices to spread unchecked.

Rejecting Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s public reassurance that law-abiding residents have nothing to fear from the new law, Young dismissed the claim as “complete rubbish”. He argued the legislation contains provisions that would enable authorities to detain individuals without sufficient evidentiary justification, echoing harms that he said already played out during the country’s two recent consecutive states of emergency, the second of which concluded on September 17.

According to Young, the past six months of emergency rule already exposed the public to a pattern of rising authoritarianism and systemic rights suppression, with multiple documented cases of innocent citizens having their liberties violated through the use of preventive detention orders. He claimed the UNC administration has already made clear it has no coherent strategy to address violent crime beyond stripping citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed rights, and that the current bill is just the latest step in this deliberate campaign to restrict fundamental freedoms.

Young stressed that while the constitution does allow for limited temporary infringements on rights in extraordinary circumstances, it also explicitly enshrines these protections as inalienable for all citizens. To prevent misuse of the sweeping powers laid out in the bill, he argued the legislation must be required to pass with a special majority vote in the Lower House, rather than a simple majority.

The former minister outlined that the bill frames expanded policing powers through newly established “policing districts”, with wording that would allow every part of Trinidad and Tobago to be designated as such a district. “The UNC is passing legislation here today that makes Trinidad and Tobago nothing less than a police state, with a trampling on constitutional rights here of all citizens, not just those who engage in criminality,” he added.

A core point of contention for Young is the bill’s permit system for movement in so-called “closed areas” — a rebranding of the original ZOSO framework. He raised alarm that the Prime Minister would hold unilateral authority to designate closed areas and deploy law enforcement to enforce movement restrictions, a power he called incompatible with democratic governance.

In one of the most striking comparisons of his speech, Young drew a parallel between the proposed permit system and the segregationist movement control laws of apartheid-era South Africa, saying “This bill mirrors that.” He explained that authorities would be able to cordon off any area based on the presence of a small number of suspected criminals, operating outside the normal safeguards of civilian law, and require every person entering, exiting or residing in the area to hold an official government permit.

Young highlighted the real-world risks this system would create for vulnerable citizens, pointing to the community of Morvant as an example. He questioned how elderly residents would access emergency care, how caregivers would reach people in need of assistance during a crisis, and what would happen to people who are unaware their neighborhood has been designated a closed area — whether they need to reach their home during a fire emergency or access urgent care during a curfew. He reminded law-abiding citizens that violating the closed area rules would carry criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment, meaning ordinary people could face punishment simply for trying to access their own homes during an unannounced closure.

19 9 月, 2026