Carib Scope

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  • Judiciary reform plans ‘approved in principle’

    Judiciary reform plans ‘approved in principle’

    At the official opening of the 2026–2027 Barbados legal year, Chief Justice Leslie Haynes made a landmark announcement: island nation’s cabinet ministers have signed off in principle on a sweeping restructuring of the country’s judicial administration system, a reform widely labeled as the most transformative change to the justice sector since Barbados gained independence. The overhaul centers on the creation of two new governing bodies: the Department of the Judiciary and the Court Services Council, designed to consolidate and centralize the management of all court operations across the country.

    For decades, the island’s judicial branch has relied on the Supreme Court Registry, an administrative unit historically housed within the Attorney General’s Office and overseen by the Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice. This structure has long meant that the judiciary itself held no direct control over the core administrative body that powers court operations, leaving effective governance dependent entirely on a constructive working relationship between the Chief Justice and the appointed Registrar, according to Haynes.

    Global common law systems around the world have already recognized the flaws in this outdated governance model, leading many nations to restructure their court administrative frameworks. A key shift widely adopted has been the introduction of a court executive administrator role, which takes over the bulk of general court management responsibilities. This separation of duties frees the Registrar to focus on the growing list of quasi-judicial functions they already handle, eliminating the conflicting administrative workload that has stretched the role thin for years.

    Under the new approved model, the Supreme Court Registry will be removed entirely from the executive branch’s oversight. Instead, all supreme court administration will report directly to the newly created Court Services Council, which will be chaired by the Chief Justice himself, placing administrative control firmly in the hands of the judicial branch.

    Haynes shared that the reform process has already moved past the initial planning stage, with broad stakeholder consultations completed that yielded dozens of valuable insights and recommendations from across the legal sector. Work is currently underway on a full organizational human resources assessment, designed to map staffing needs across all administrative units, after which a comprehensive financial assessment will be conducted. The full findings of both assessments will be compiled into a formal report to be submitted to Cabinet for final approval in the coming months.

    Beyond structural governance changes, the overhaul is explicitly designed to modernize Barbados’ court system, supporting the long-planned transition from outdated analogue administrative procedures to fully digital operations. By redesigning workflows and updating job descriptions to align with 21st-century digital practices, judicial leaders aim to boost overall operational efficiency, increase public accountability for court services, improve the visibility of judicial processes, and make the system more responsive to the needs of Barbados residents and legal professionals.

    Haynes emphasized that the assessment phase is critical to ensuring every department within the new administrative structure has adequate staffing to meet its new mandates. He committed to full transparency throughout the rest of the reform process, pledging that all stakeholders and interested parties will receive regular updates as the agenda moves forward, following the completion of the human resources and financial assessments.

  • International Day of Democracy 2026

    International Day of Democracy 2026

    September 15 marks the annual International Day of Democracy — a global observance created to honor democratic governance and reaffirm the core values that form the foundation of free, inclusive and equitable societies around the world. For the Caribbean nation of Grenada, democratic practice is not an imported framework, but a system deeply rooted in local principles: widespread public participation, intentional inclusion, equal rights, equitable justice, fundamental human freedoms, the rule of law, and inclusive sustainable development. At its core, the nation’s democratic vision holds that every Grenadian deserves to live in a community that guarantees personal safety, equal access to opportunity, and all the conditions required for individuals and communities to thrive. shaped by its unique history of overcoming slavery and colonial rule, Grenada’s democracy remains a constantly evolving project. It is guided directly by the lived experiences, cultural identity, collective aspirations, and sovereign will of the Grenadian people, who continue to actively shape and refine the version of democracy that best serves their national needs. The country’s Constitution, its governing and parliamentary institutions, and the shared values that anchor these structures provide a stable legal and social framework for this ongoing democratic development. Grenadian authorities remain unwavering in their commitment to advancing broad social equality, consistent and just application of the law, and universal access to basic needs including food, quality education, personal safety, and economic opportunity for all residents. This 2026 observance of the International Day of Democracy carries a clear, unifying message for the nation: every Grenadian matters. The responsibility to protect and strengthen the country’s democratic system does not fall only to leaders — it rests in the hands of every citizen. Each person, the statement emphasizes, acts both as a builder of democracy and a beneficiary of its gains. Grenada’s Parliament plays an indispensable role in nurturing the nation’s democratic life, through core functions including crafting inclusive legislation, deliberate review and oversight of the national budget, and holding the executive branch accountable through parliamentary checks and balances. On this International Day of Democracy, the two Houses of Grenada’s Parliament extend warm greetings to democratic societies, governments, institutions and people across the globe. The body also offered special recognition to like-minded international parliamentary partners, including the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The sustained partnership and engagement of these organizations, the statement notes, have contributed significantly to the ongoing growth and maturation of Grenada’s national democracy. The statement closes with a formal celebration of the global observance: Happy International Day of Democracy 2026! This release was issued by the Houses of Parliament of Grenada. NOW Grenada, the platform carrying the statement, notes that it is not responsible for the opinions, statements or third-party content shared by contributors, and provides a channel for users to report content that violates platform policies in cases of abuse.

  • The UWI Success Story: Responding to Nicolette Lewis and all UPP Operatives

    The UWI Success Story: Responding to Nicolette Lewis and all UPP Operatives

    In recent weeks, public discourse surrounding the University of the West Indies (UWI) has intensified, driven by critical comments from Nicolette Lewis and other operatives affiliated with the United Progressive Party (UPP). This public pushback has prompted a closer examination of UWI’s decades-long legacy of institutional achievement and its ongoing contributions to regional development across the Caribbean.

    Nicolette Lewis, a prominent UPP figure, has raised a series of claims targeting UWI’s governance, resource allocation, and institutional relevance to contemporary Caribbean needs. Joined by other party operatives, she has argued that the regional university has strayed from its founding mandate, failing to address pressing economic and social gaps across member states. These allegations have circulated widely in local media and political circles, framing UWI as a stagnant institution disconnected from the priorities of ordinary Caribbean citizens.

    However, a review of UWI’s recent and historical performance tells a far different story. Since its establishment in 1948, the university has grown from a small medical college into a leading global regional institution, enrolling more than 50,000 students across four campuses and multiple distance learning centers. It has produced generations of regional leaders, from heads of state to public health practitioners, engineers, and educators who have underpinned the development of every Caribbean nation. In recent years, UWI has expanded its research focus to address urgent regional challenges, including climate adaptation, public health resilience post-COVID-19, and youth unemployment, launching targeted programs that partner with local governments and international development organizations to deliver tangible results.

    Critics from the UPP have particularly focused on questions of funding, arguing that Caribbean governments’ annual subventions to UWI represent a poor return on investment for public resources. But institutional data shows that every dollar invested in UWI generates more than four dollars in long-term economic impact across the region, through skilled workforce development, research-driven policy innovation, and the university’s role as a magnet for international academic collaboration and tourism. UWI has also diversified its funding base dramatically over the past two decades, reducing reliance on government contributions by expanding private philanthropy, international research grants, and tuition revenue from non-regional students, easing the financial burden on member states.

    What underpins this criticism is widely understood by regional political analysts to be part of a broader opposition strategy to erode confidence in public institutions that have historically been seen as non-partisan public goods. For the UPP, targeting UWI offers an opportunity to frame the incumbent government as wasteful and unaccountable, ahead of upcoming electoral cycles in several Caribbean member states. Yet defenders of the university note that UWI’s institutional autonomy and commitment to regional development has remained consistent across changing political administrations, serving all citizens regardless of partisan affiliation.

    As the debate continues, supporters of UWI are calling for constructive dialogue rather than partisan grandstanding. They note that while any large, complex institution has room for improvement, UWI’s success story as a unifying regional project that has delivered unprecedented access to higher education and research for Caribbean people remains unchallenged. Rather than dismissing the institution’s achievements for political gain, critics are being urged to engage with UWI’s leadership to propose evidence-based reforms that strengthen its mandate for future generations.

  • $4,000 Reward Offered for Recovery of Stolen Honda Fit

    $4,000 Reward Offered for Recovery of Stolen Honda Fit

    Law enforcement and the vehicle’s owner have issued a public appeal for community assistance in locating a stolen car, with a substantial $4,000 cash reward promised to anyone who provides details that result in the vehicle’s safe recovery. The stolen automobile is a 2010 model of Honda Fit, recognizable by its distinct purple exterior, and carries the registration plate number A75471. According to the latest available information, the vehicle was most recently spotted in the Clear Hall district, specifically in the vicinity of Clear Hall Secondary School. Officials are urging any resident who may have seen the car in recent days, or who holds any tip that could help investigators pinpoint its current location, to reach out with their information as quickly as possible. There are two contact channels available for people to share details: interested parties can either connect directly with local law enforcement, or reach the vehicle’s owner directly at the phone number 725-1359. In a critical safety advisory, members of the public have been strongly warned against taking any independent action in relation to the stolen vehicle. Authorities emphasize that civilians should not approach or attempt to confront anyone they believe may be connected to the stolen car, to avoid the risk of violence or unnecessary harm. Instead, all members of the public are instructed to pass any information they have to trained police officers, who will handle the recovery process. The $4,000 reward will only be disbursed after the stolen Honda Fit is successfully recovered, confirming the validity of the information provided.

  • Guyana intensifies efforts to eliminate infectious diseases, strengthen health system

    Guyana intensifies efforts to eliminate infectious diseases, strengthen health system

    As Guyana charts a bold course to rid its population of multiple high-burden infectious diseases, the country is pursuing sweeping upgrades to laboratory infrastructure, healthcare workforce training, and national clinical quality standards, according to Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony.

    Dr. Anthony laid out these sweeping public health initiatives during opening remarks at the two-day *Strengthening Clinical Capacity for the Management of Advanced HIV Disease in Guyana* workshop, which convened September 14–15, 2026 in the Ministry of Health’s Brickdam boardroom. The gathering brings together healthcare providers to refine care protocols for one of the country’s priority public health concerns, while serving as a platform to announce broader system-wide improvements.

    Addressing attendees, the minister outlined targeted progress toward elimination for five key pathogens: lymphatic filariasis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, malaria, and hepatitis C. For lymphatic filariasis, Guyana is currently undergoing the final evaluation phases required for official international elimination certification, and Dr. Anthony shared that the country is closing in on that milestone. Work to scale up interventions for leishmaniasis and leprosy continues apace, while national malaria policy is undergoing a strategic shift from long-term outbreak control to full elimination, he added.

    One of the most notable breakthroughs has come in hepatitis C response, where the historically prohibitive cost of curative treatment created a major gap in care for diagnosed patients. For years, Guyanese health authorities could only identify hepatitis C cases during routine blood transfusion screening, with no viable path to connect patients to life-saving treatment. That barrier has now been removed through a collaborative partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which has secured access to treatment for less than $100 USD per patient. The minister noted that the policy focus now turns to building care linkage programs that ensure every diagnosed patient can access affordable, curative treatment.

    Beyond targeted disease elimination programs, Dr. Anthony outlined major capital investments in national public health infrastructure, most notably a new national reference laboratory currently under construction. The facility will be outfitted with cutting-edge molecular diagnostic technology, drastically expanding Guyana’s capacity for early disease detection and routine molecular surveillance of existing and emerging pathogens. “These investments will strengthen Guyana’s capacity to respond to emerging infectious diseases,” the minister said, adding that the upgraded lab could eventually serve as a regional reference hub for specialized disease testing. He emphasized that integrating new diagnostic technologies into routine care will be a core priority to speed up detection and response for all public health threats.

    Sustained investment in healthcare human resources is equally critical to building a resilient, high-performing health system, Dr. Anthony stressed. To that end, the government has secured new training and fellowship opportunities for Guyanese clinicians through international partnerships with leading academic and medical institutions across Brazil, the United States, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. Participating institutions include Harvard University, Mount Sinai Health System, Northwell Hospital, McMaster University, and Apollo University, among other global collaborators. Additional flexible online training opportunities are also available through United Kingdom-based university programs, and the minister urged all practicing physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals to take advantage of these opportunities to build their skills and improve patient outcomes across the country.

    To raise the standard of clinical care across all national hospitals, the Ministry of Health is launching a new formal clinical quality governance initiative. Under the program, mobile review teams will conduct regular on-site audits of patient medical records to assess whether care aligns with evidence-based national clinical guidelines published by the Ministry. Where gaps in care or deviations from protocol are identified, the teams will work directly with local care teams to address deficiencies and update clinical practice. The long-term goal is to ensure all facilities consistently meet national care standards, with targeted follow-up action for facilities that fail to sustain adherence to protocols. The Ministry is also partnering with Joint Commission International (JCI) on a structured pathway program to help national hospitals meet international quality care standards.

    Throughout all these system-wide improvements, Dr. Anthony emphasized that patient-centered care must remain the core guiding principle. “Ultimately, the people that we should have in focus are our patients,” he said, noting that all upgrades to the health system are designed to deliver the best possible health outcomes for Guyanese communities.

    Taken together, the minister explained that the full portfolio of initiatives—from expanded HIV care capacity to improved disease surveillance, upgraded laboratory infrastructure, workforce training, and clinical quality governance—are designed to build a more resilient national health system capable of addressing both long-standing infectious disease priorities and new emerging health threats. He closed by urging workshop participants to bring the new knowledge and skills they gained back to their home facilities, a step that will advance the broader national goal of delivering high-quality care to all Guyanese and building the capacity to prevent, diagnose, treat, and ultimately eliminate the country’s priority infectious diseases.

  • Guyana’s oliefonds passeert voor het eerst G$1 biljoen

    Guyana’s oliefonds passeert voor het eerst G$1 biljoen

    Fresh data released by the Bank of Guyana has revealed a dramatic surge in inflows to the country’s Natural Resource Fund (NRF) in August, driven by a three-fold jump in profit oil receipts that pushed the sovereign wealth fund’s balance to its highest level since it was established.

    Last month, the NRF received 161.86 billion Guyanese dollars in profit oil, far outpacing the 48.4 billion Guyanese dollars recorded in July. Supplementing this major inflow were 2.85 billion Guyanese dollars in investment returns generated by the fund’s assets, plus a small 20.85 million Guyanese dollar signature bonus from new oil operations. Even after the government transferred 52.125 billion Guyanese dollars from the NRF to the state’s Consolidated Fund to cover public spending commitments, the fund’s total balance still grew to a new record, the central bank confirmed.

    The skyrocketing inflows coincide with a pivotal expansion phase for Guyana’s fast-growing offshore oil sector. Four production platforms are currently operational at the Stabroek Block, the country’s core oil-producing region, delivering a combined output of roughly 900,000 barrels of crude per day. In August, the fifth floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, the Errea Wittu, arrived in Guyanese waters, and is on track to push total national production above 1 million barrels per day once fully commissioned.

    A second key factor boosting August inflows is a rising share of production profits allocated to the Guyanese government, as international oil operators have now recovered the vast majority of their upfront capital investments in the country’s offshore projects. Data from Guyana’s Ministry of Natural Resources shows the government’s share of total production rose to 39.8% in August. Separate central bank figures put total August oil-related revenue at approximately $778 million U.S. dollars, the vast bulk of which came from profit oil allocations.

    Established to manage revenues from Guyana’s nascent oil and gas sector in a transparent, rule-based framework, the NRF collects all resource-related earnings and only allows transfers to the national budget through formal statutory procedures. The Bank of Guyana publishes regular updates on the fund’s performance on a monthly and quarterly basis.

    The rapid growth of the fund underscores the transformative economic impact of offshore oil development for the small South American nation. At the end of 2025, the NRF held approximately $3.25 billion U.S. dollars in total assets. Just eight months later, despite regular transfers to cover government spending, that value has climbed to $4.89 billion U.S. dollars. The Guyanese government initially projected total 2026 profit oil revenue of $2.4 billion U.S. dollars, plus an additional $375.3 million U.S. dollars in royalties. With production expanding faster than forecast and the government’s profit share growing, ongoing tracking of NRF inflows has become a critical indicator for the country’s 2026 fiscal outlook.

  • TSTT rejects Cox misconduct claims

    TSTT rejects Cox misconduct claims

    A major telecommunications firm in Trinidad and Tobago is pushing back forcefully against a wave of misconduct allegations brought by its former interim top executive, drawing clear lines around contractual terms and corporate governance standards in a formal legal response.

    Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) has issued a comprehensive rebuttal to pre-action letters submitted by attorneys representing Keino Cox, the company’s former acting chief executive officer. In the response filed Thursday, September 10—addressed to two pre-action protocol letters dated August 26 and September 8 from Cox’s legal team—company representative Samantha Singh-Poona, TSTT’s attorney, voiced disapproval over the widespread circulation of Cox’s correspondence among employees who have no direct connection to the dispute, labeling the move “wholly improper”.

    The firm pushed back against any negative speculation stemming from its request for extra time to craft a response, noting that a full, thorough legal review of the complex claims required additional lead time. At the core of TSTT’s argument is a clear breakdown of the terms of Cox’s temporary appointment: the company emphasized that Cox’s tenure as acting CEO was set to expire on July 31, 2026, and carried no implicit or explicit contractual or legal guarantee that the role would be renewed. Per TSTT’s official position, the company’s board and chairman retain full discretionary authority to end an acting appointment at any time, for any reason or no reason at all.

    Cox’s allegations of misconduct in public office were rejected outright, with the firm clarifying its legal status: TSTT is a private sector entity governed by general company law, not a public authority exercising sovereign state power, meaning its executives and directors cannot be categorized as public officers. The company also dismissed Cox’s reliance on a prior legal precedent, the TSTT v Ravi Balgobin Maharaj case, calling the citation “misplaced”.

    Underlining core corporate governance principles, TSTT noted that company directors hold fiduciary duties to the organization as a whole, not to individual staff members. Any formal obligations to Cox, the firm added, are exclusively outlined in his standard employment contract, with no additional obligations implied.

    The company also came to the defense of its Corporate Secretary, Viveka Pargass, who has been targeted by multiple allegations from Cox. After the company’s full board reviewed all claims of misbehavior against Pargass, no evidence of wrongdoing was uncovered, TSTT confirmed. Allegations of a conflict of interest tied to Pargass’s other directorship were also refuted: the company confirmed the role was properly disclosed to Cox, who acknowledged the information upfront. On claims related to unapproved hiring, TSTT explained that Pargass only acted on formal guidance provided by the company’s human resources department, and any minor procedural gaps rest with the HR team, not the Corporate Secretary. The firm went a step further, suggesting that Cox’s allegations against Pargass are retaliatory, timed in response to her push for stricter adherence to proper governance protocols at the firm.

    TSTT also addressed the decision to place Cox on administrative leave, explaining the move was a standard procedural step to protect the integrity of an ongoing independent investigation into internal matters. The firm confirmed that Cox continues to receive full remuneration and has not lost any of his contractual entitlements during the leave period.

    The company denied claims of chairman interference and procurement irregularities, noting it will issue additional comment once it receives more detailed information about these specific allegations. It also pushed back on claims of improper conduct and insufficient documentation tied to a recent bond refinancing process, releasing a full timeline of events to clarify Pargass’s limited role: the Corporate Secretary’s only responsibility in the process was distributing documents drafted by external legal counsel, TSTT confirmed.

    On Cox’s request for pre-action disclosure, TSTT argued that the demand is legally unfounded and premature, noting that the former acting CEO has not demonstrated any provable quantifiable loss or damage stemming from the company’s actions. The firm added that it will fully uphold procedural fairness standards in any future legal proceedings tied to the dispute.

    In closing, TSTT rejected every allegation brought by Cox in its entirety. The company confirmed it is fully prepared to vigorously defend itself against any future legal action Cox may initiate, and reserved its right to submit evidence of potential criminal misconduct to relevant law enforcement authorities should the situation warrant it.

  • Seized at sea

    Seized at sea

    In a landmark strike against transnational drug trafficking, Trinidad and Tobago law enforcement agencies have intercepted a massive cocaine shipment off the country’s north-western coast, seizing more than 440 kilograms of the illegal narcotic valued at an estimated $204.5 million and taking four suspects into custody. The operation, carried out early yesterday morning by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), targeted a small fishing vessel identified as the *FISH POT BOY* near Huevos Island, in the northern zone of the Gulf of Paria.

    According to official law enforcement details released to local outlet the *Express*, the interception unfolded at approximately 5:56 a.m., roughly 600 feet northeast of Umbrella Rock off Huevos Island. The intercepted vessel features a white hull, grey gunwale and grey interior, and is powered by three Yamaha 200-horsepower two-stroke outboard engines. When TTCG officers boarded the craft, they found four men — three Trinidadian nationals and one Venezuelan national — alongside 394 individually plastic-sealed packages holding a white powder substance.

    The vessel was immediately escorted to TTCG headquarters at Staubles Bay in Chaguaramas for a full search operation, and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) Special Investigations Unit was called in to process the seizure. Forensic testing later confirmed the powder was cocaine. All four suspects, along with the contraband and the vessel, were transferred to TTPS and other relevant law enforcement bodies for ongoing investigation and legal processing.

    To calculate the street value of the seizure, authorities used the local estimated retail rate for cocaine in Trinidad and Tobago, which stands at roughly $464,640 per kilogram. Applied to the 440.20-kilogram haul, that puts the total estimated retail value at approximately $204.5 million.

    Responding to the successful operation, Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge praised the ongoing work of the country’s law enforcement community, stressing that authorities are gaining ground in the fight against transnational drug cartels. Sturge acknowledged that the enormous profits of the illegal drug trade will continue to incentivize traffickers to attempt smuggling operations into Trinidad and Tobago, but emphasized that security forces will remain relentless in their efforts to intercept shipments and disrupt criminal networks.

    “Drug trafficking is lucrative for the cartels so they will continue to try to find ways to evade law enforcement. It is our job to be one step ahead of the cartels and to anticipate them. We are winning at this point and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep on top of our game,” Sturge said in an interview with the *Express*. He added that continued smuggling attempts are “par for the course” in this work, but agencies will sustain their aggressive anti-trafficking operations. This seizure marks one of the largest maritime drug busts in recent months for Trinidad and Tobago.

    In an official statement released yesterday, the TTCG reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to protecting the country’s territorial waters and maritime borders. “The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain, executing duties in accordance with our motto of Service Before Self,” the statement read.

    Yesterday’s high-value bust comes just two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced a renewed, aggressive crackdown on drug and gun trafficking gangs. Speaking on Sunday, the Prime Minister targeted what she called “filthy, greedy” criminal networks operating out of upscale Trinidadian neighborhoods including Westmoorings, St Clair and Federation Park, which she accused of flooding the country with illegal narcotics and weapons. She also clarified that the government’s aggressive anti-crime campaign will not end when the current national state of emergency is lifted on September 17, noting that her administration is working closely with international law enforcement partners to target both local traffickers and wealthy criminal figures who believe they are beyond prosecution.

    This seizure is the latest in a string of major narcotics recoveries recorded since the Persad-Bissessar administration took office in May 2025. Since that time, combined operations by land and maritime law enforcement agencies have intercepted hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana across the country.

  • NIB executive director retires early

    NIB executive director retires early

    After 23 years of dedicated service to the National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago (NIBTT), including 12 years at the organization’s helm as executive director, Niala Persad-Poliah has formally confirmed her early retirement from the role, effective December 13, 2026.

    The retirement announcement came via a formal letter addressed to NIBTT Chairman Judy Kalloo, dated one day prior to public confirmation. In the correspondence, Persad-Poliah framed her decision as the outcome of extensive careful reflection, emphasizing that her decades of work with the state social insurance agency had been a profound privilege.

    “This decision was a difficult one and was made after careful reflection. It has been a privilege to serve the organisation, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to its mandate and strategic direction,” Persad-Poliah wrote in the letter. She added that throughout her entire tenure, her core priorities remained centered on delivering high-quality service to the agency’s beneficiaries and workforce, while safeguarding the long-term financial sustainability of the National Insurance Fund. “My passion has always been service to our customers and staff, and for 23 years, including 12 years as executive director, I have approached my responsibilities with a deep commitment to those we serve, and strong advocacy for the preservation of the Fund,” she stated.

    To ensure uninterrupted operations for the thousands of Trinidad and Tobago residents who rely on NIBTT benefits, Persad-Poliah pledged full support for a seamless leadership transition ahead of her departure. “As I prepare to proceed on retirement, please be assured of my commitment to facilitating continuity of leadership and operations,” she added. Notably, the letter did not include any specific explanation for her choice to retire earlier than expected. When contacted via WhatsApp for additional comment, Persad-Poliah confirmed the letter was authentic but declined to share further details. As of Tuesday, repeated attempts to reach Chairman Kalloo for a response on the retirement announcement were unsuccessful.

    Persad-Poliah’s career with NIBTT spans more than two decades, having first joined the organization in 2003. Over the course of her tenure, she worked her way through a series of progressively senior leadership roles, including legal officer, Manager of Legal Services, Executive Manager, Corporate Secretary with oversight for corporate communications, and Deputy Executive Director, before being appointed to the top executive role on December 2, 2014. She succeeded former executive director Karen Gopaul in the position.

    Persad-Poliah’s departure comes at a critical juncture for NIBTT, which has been grappling with growing financial strain driven by shifting demographic patterns and steadily increasing benefit payout costs. Data from the agency’s recently released 2025 annual report shows that total National Insurance Fund reserves stood at TT $27.36 billion as of June 30, 2025, representing a 2.6% decline from the TT $28.09 billion recorded at the same point the previous year. Total agency assets also fell over the 12-month period, dropping 2.32% from TT $28.47 billion in 2024 to TT $27.81 billion in 2025.

    Despite the overall decline in total reserves and assets, NIBTT saw a welcome rebound in contribution income during the 2025 fiscal year. In her introductory remarks to the annual report, Persad-Poliah highlighted the agency’s resilience in the face of ongoing headwinds, noting that contribution income rose 5.3% year-over-year to hit TT $5 billion. “This growth, alongside a steady rise in long-term beneficiaries and benefit recipients more generally, reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting working persons and their dependants with relevant social insurance benefits,” she wrote.

    The annual report also confirmed that the total number of benefit recipients across all programs grew by 4,104, or 1.81%, to reach 230,722 in FY 2025, up from 226,618 in the prior fiscal year. Even with the solid growth in contribution income, however, the revenue gain was not large enough to offset the consistent expansion of benefit expenditure that has plagued the system for more than a decade. “Despite the growth in Contribution Income, demographic trends continue to exert pressure on the National Insurance System (NIS). The increased number of beneficiaries relative to contributors has resulted in Benefit Expenditure consistently exceeding Income since FY 2013,” Persad-Poliah explained in the report. For the 2025 fiscal year, NIBTT recorded a total revenue-expenditure shortfall of TT $1.6 billion.

  • Typische tropische dag, warm, benauwd met mix van zon en wolken

    Typische tropische dag, warm, benauwd met mix van zon en wolken

    On September 15, Suriname will face a day defined by sweltering tropical heat paired with high atmospheric humidity, according to local weather forecasts.

    In the capital city Paramaribo and its surrounding districts, the day will open with extensive cloud cover, and the early morning hours may bring thin haze or light fog that reduces visibility slightly for early commuters.

    Temperatures will climb steadily through daylight hours, peaking between 34 and 35 degrees Celsius. Overnight temperatures will remain mild, dropping only to 23 to 24 degrees Celsius, meaning little cooling relief after sundown. The combination of high heat and thick humidity will push the apparent temperature, or how hot conditions actually feel to the human body, as high as 37 degrees Celsius – far above the actual thermometer reading.

    Winds across most of the country will blow predominantly from the east to southeast, with sustained speeds ranging from 10 to 25 kilometers per hour. As the afternoon progresses into the evening, the chance of scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will increase significantly, with inland areas facing the highest risk of storm activity. For Paramaribo, the probability of precipitation sits at around 39 percent, though forecasters do not expect heavy or widespread downpours that would cause flooding or major disruption.

    Along the nation’s coastline, including the district of Nieuw Nickerie, conditions will remain warm but slightly more bearable. Coastal temperatures will hover between 25 and 29 degrees Celsius, tempered by steady, strong onshore winds blowing in from the ocean. In the southern and eastern regions of Suriname, including the areas around Stoelmanseiland and Sipaliwini, light rain is expected to develop later in the day.