As the twin-island Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of its iconic annual Carnival, event organizers are actively evaluating a proposed pay-per-view streaming model to broadcast the celebration to a global audience. For seven decades, Antigua and Barbuda’s Carnival has stood as one of the region’s most vibrant cultural gatherings, blending colorful parades, calypso competitions, pageantry, and traditional folk performances that draw tens of thousands of in-person visitors to the islands each year. This year’s milestone anniversary, however, has prompted organizers to rethink accessibility, responding to growing demand from international fans and diaspora communities who are unable to travel to attend the landmark event. The proposed pay-per-view model would offer high-definition live streams of the festival’s flagship events, including the Parade of Bands, the Calypso Monarch final, and the Carnival Queen pageant, granting remote viewers access to the full slate of celebration from anywhere in the world. Organizers note that the digital model would not replace in-person attendance, which remains the core of the Carnival experience, but would serve as an additional revenue stream to fund future events, improve infrastructure for attendees, and support local artists and cultural groups that rely on Carnival for income. Early discussions have centered on balancing affordable pricing for remote viewers with fair compensation for the performers and production teams that bring the anniversary event to life, with a final decision on the streaming plan expected to be announced in the coming months. This move reflects a broader trend across Caribbean cultural events, where organizers are increasingly embracing digital distribution to expand their global reach while preserving the authenticity of the region’s most beloved cultural traditions.
作者： admin
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Police training chief retires after nearly five decades
After nearly five decades of dedicated service spanning every rank within the institution, Commandant Rodney Archer of the Regional Police Training Centre (RPTC) formally announced his retirement on Thursday during a celebratory passing-out parade for the centre’s 150th recruit course. The momentous occasion drew crowds of dignitaries, fellow officers, family members, and media to the RPTC’s Sewell Christ Church campus, where graduating recruits entertained attendees with novelty performances during their ceremonial march past.
Archer’s career journey at the training centre began as a new recruit back in 1978, and he climbed the organisation’s ranks steadily over the decades: progressing from recruit to entry-level instructor, then chief instructor, deputy commandant, and ultimately the post of commandant. He will officially step down and hand leadership of the centre to incoming Commandant Roderic Walcott on July 29, closing out 28 years and three months of full service at the institution.
In a reflective address to attendees, Archer described his decades at the RPTC as a deeply fulfilling and rewarding experience. “My attachments at the Regional Police Training Centre… have been mostly enjoyable. No doubt I will miss the training centre, its ambience, and everything that goes with it. My time has come,” he said, earning a standing ovation from the assembled crowd for his decades of service. Over the course of his career, Archer took part in 36 of the RPTC’s 150 total passing-out parades, a legacy unmatched by any other officer in the institution’s 70-year history.
Archer’s retirement announcement coincided with the graduation of Recruit Course 150, which ran from January to July 2026 and delivered a historic milestone for the 70-year-old training centre. When the course kicked off, 52 recruits were enrolled, 27 of whom were women and 25 men. This marked the first time in RPTC history that female enlistment outnumbered male enlistment, part of a growing four-year trend of increasing female participation in police training across the region. The unexpected demographic shift required quick logistical creativity: one of the centre’s existing male dormitories had to be converted to female housing to accommodate the larger-than-usual intake of women recruits.
By the end of the grueling six-month training programme, two female recruits had withdrawn, leaving 50 graduating officers split evenly between 25 women and 25 men. The RPTC’s foundational recruit curriculum is famously rigorous, requiring recruits to complete 70 distinct modules covering subjects from the sociology of crime and criminal psychology to English language proficiency, officer safety protocols, and road policing. Training days start as early as 4:30 a.m. and often run past 8 p.m., with additional coursework required on weekends to meet programme requirements. Despite the intense physical and mental demands of the course, every graduating recruit met the mandatory 60 percent minimum pass mark. In a first for Archer’s tenure as commandant, every recruit also passed the course’s critical firearms qualification module. The top honour of Best Recruit was awarded to Police Constable 2574 Arika Parsons, who earned an aggregate score of 85.47 percent across all modules.
Beyond training new Barbadian police recruits, the RPTC fulfills a critical regional security mission, hosting 24 advanced leadership courses and skills workshops that have trained 497 law enforcement personnel from neighboring Caribbean nations and territories including Saint Lucia, Grenada, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
As the centre marks its 70th anniversary, long-planned major infrastructure upgrades are currently underway to expand capacity and modernize the aging campus. Though construction of two new dormitories has experienced minor delays, the projects are on track to be completed by September 2026. Once finished, the expansion will boost the centre’s maximum training capacity to 152 students, helping regional police forces including the Barbados Police Service address persistent staffing deficits. “These upgrades will further transition the Regional Police Training Centre from the 1950s to somewhere in the 21st century,” Archer noted in his final training report.
In his final address to the 50 new graduating officers, the outgoing commandant offered a message of guidance and responsibility, urging each new officer to uphold the integrity of their profession. “Each of you graduated officers has an individual service number. It is your responsibility to guard that number. You will encounter good and bad examples during the course of your apprenticeship. Choose your mentors wisely… and take good care of your mental and physical health,” he advised.
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Government Considers Using CCTV Cameras to Issue Traffic Tickets
The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is exploring a notable expansion of its ongoing national closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance initiative, with officials floating the idea of integrating automated traffic enforcement into the existing network. However, government representatives have made clear that multiple critical hurdles — including required updates to national legislation and the development of supporting digital infrastructure — must be addressed before the new camera system can be used to issue official traffic citations to violating motorists.
The prospect of adopting automated speed and red-light ticketing, a system already in use across dozens of countries worldwide, was brought to public attention during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing held this Thursday. Communications Director General Maurice Merchant fielded questions from reporters on whether the administration had evaluated the automated enforcement models successfully deployed in other jurisdictions, opening the door to formal discussions of the policy.
Merchant confirmed that the proposal to add traffic enforcement capabilities to the national CCTV network is currently under active review by government officials, but emphasized that the country has not yet completed the groundwork necessary to launch the program. Beyond technical and regulatory changes, he noted, policymakers are also confronting practical challenges that come with introducing this new form of enforcement. These obstacles include building public acceptance for the expanded surveillance use, as well as establishing the full back-end administrative systems required to process citations and manage cases efficiently.
One core technical requirement that must be fulfilled before implementation, Merchant explained, is the creation of a comprehensive, fully functional national vehicle database. This system would need to reliably track registered vehicle owners and store time-stamped camera evidence that meets legal standards for supporting traffic enforcement actions in court. Without this foundational infrastructure, the government cannot move forward with issuing ticketing based on camera footage.
On the regulatory side, Merchant added that amendments to Antigua and Barbuda’s existing body of traffic and surveillance legislation will almost certainly be required. Currently, national law does not allow police to issue formal traffic tickets based solely on CCTV evidence without an officer stopping a motorist directly at the time of the violation. To resolve this legal gap, Merchant pointed to a proven regulatory model already in place in the country’s Development Control Authority legislation. Under that framework, official notices are considered legally valid and served as long as there is documented proof of delivery, even if the intended recipient disputes that they actually received the notice. A parallel regulatory structure could be adapted to govern automated traffic citations, Merchant suggested, creating the legal standing needed for camera-issued tickets.
This discussion of expanded surveillance capabilities comes as the Antigua and Barbuda government continues the phased rollout of its original national CCTV program. During this week’s Cabinet meeting, officials received an update confirming that 42 high-priority strategic locations across both Antigua and Barbuda have been selected for the installation of new high-definition security cameras. The full installation process is projected to be completed by the final week of August. Once operational, the new cameras will primarily serve to strengthen national crime prevention efforts, and will be fully integrated into the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s existing public surveillance network.
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Nigerian man denies escape charge, faces deportation
A 38-year-old Nigerian national facing allegations of escaping official immigration custody has formally rejected the charge against him, with a Barbadian court ordering his remand ahead of imminent deportation proceedings.
Dennis Ikenna Nwogbu, who lists his permanent address as Bishops Court Avenue in New Owerri, Nigeria, made his first appearance before the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court this week. The charge filed against him alleges that he fled lawful detention between June 28 and 29, after being taken into custody at a secured facility operated by the Barbados Immigration Department.
When presiding Magistrate Manila Renee read the allegation aloud in court, Nwogbu entered a straightforward not guilty plea. Speaking directly to the court on his own behalf, the defendant outlined his recent travel history to the Caribbean nation. He told officials he first arrived in Barbados last December, but immigration authorities ordered his deportation just 24 hours after his arrival, instructing him to resolve outstanding documentation issues before seeking re-entry.
According to Nwogbu’s statement, he re-entered Barbados on June 28 this year with the explicit goal of filing a formal asylum claim. Following the court proceeding, Magistrate Renee granted a remand order, transferring Nwogbu to Dodds Prison to await processing. He is scheduled to be turned over to Barbados Immigration Department officials next week to carry out the deportation order. No additional details on the status of his asylum application have been released publicly as of this reporting.
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OP-ED: Caribbean Bridges – When the Caribbean helped build global justice
Every July 17, the global community observes the International Day of Justice, a date chosen to commemorate the 1998 adoption of the Rome Statute — the landmark treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC). This year’s commemoration arrives at a defining moment for the court: the current U.S. administration has ramped up its long-running opposition to the ICC, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly stating Washington aims to “dismantle” the institution and pressuring other nations to withdraw their backing. Amid this growing tension, the anniversary offers a critical opportunity to highlight a transformative Caribbean contribution to global governance that has long been underrecognized by the international community.
Contrary to common assumptions, one of the lead architects of the permanent International Criminal Court was not a leader from a major global power. That visionary was Arthur N.R. Robinson, the late former Prime Minister and President of Trinidad and Tobago, a fact that remains a source of enduring national and regional pride for Caribbean people.
Decades before the ICC opened its doors, Robinson recognized that the international system lacked a permanent, independent judicial body to hold actors accountable for the most severe crimes against humanity. In 1989, the government of Trinidad and Tobago formally revived a decades-dormant proposal to create such a court. While Robinson’s immediate priority was addressing the rampant transnational drug trafficking threatening Caribbean stability, his single initiative reopened global negotiations that would ultimately reshape the landscape of modern international law. Nearly ten years after that 1989 push, global delegates gathered in Rome finalized and adopted the Rome Statute, turning Robinson’s decades-long vision into a functional global institution.
For a small island developing nation to play such a central role in creating one of the 21st century’s most important global legal institutions stands as one of the Caribbean’s most significant diplomatic achievements. The ICC was founded to prosecute four core crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. A core principle baked into the Rome Statute from the start is the Principle of Complementarity, which enshrines that national judicial systems hold primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting these severe crimes. The ICC only assumes jurisdiction when a national court system is proven to be genuinely unwilling or unable to carry out that responsibility. This carefully negotiated safeguard was critical to convincing dozens of nations that the court would complement, rather than undermine, national sovereignty.
Like all large international institutions, the ICC has faced its share of legitimate criticism. Observers have argued that its proceedings move at an unacceptably slow pace, questioned individual prosecutorial decisions, and raised concerns about a perceived disproportionate focus on African nations. A small number of states have withdrawn from the Rome Statute in recent years, even as other nations continue to seek membership. These debates are healthy: no major global institution should be beyond scrutiny and improvement. But targeted criticism of the court’s performance is a fundamentally different act than seeking to erase the institution entirely.
The United States has never ratified the Rome Statute, and successive U.S. administrations have maintained the long-held position that the ICC should not exercise jurisdiction over American personnel. While this position is not new, the current administration’s open push to dismantle the court has ramped up pressure on the institution’s future, creating an uncertain new landscape for global justice efforts.
Regardless of one’s stance on Washington’s current campaign, this moment should serve as a prompt for Caribbean governments to reflect on the extraordinary regional legacy tied to the ICC. Trinidad and Tobago did not only help found the court — it has maintained a consistent, distinguished contribution to its work for decades. Since the ICC became fully operational in 2002, Trinidad and Tobago has always held a seat on the court’s bench. Karl Hudson-Phillips served as one of the court’s first judges, followed by Anthony Carmona, who later went on to become President of Trinidad and Tobago. Today, Judge Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor continues that unbroken tradition of service at the ICC’s headquarters in The Hague. Few countries, large or small, can boast such a sustained record of leadership within one of the world’s most prominent international judicial bodies.
This legacy is a powerful reminder that Caribbean excellence extends far beyond the region’s globally celebrated contributions to athletics, music, and culture. Small island states of the Caribbean have also made enduring, transformative contributions to global diplomacy, international law, and global governance. Too often, the global community underestimates the outsized influence that small states can wield on the global stage. Arthur N.R. Robinson understood that global influence is not measured solely by military strength or economic output — it is shaped equally by bold ideas, unwavering persistence, and moral leadership.
The ICC stands as the clearest example of Caribbean diplomacy reshaping the international order for the better. That does not mean the court is perfect; like every human institution, it must continue evolving: reforming procedural bottlenecks, strengthening global confidence in its impartiality, and addressing legitimate concerns about its effectiveness. Supporting the cause of international justice has never required unthinking acceptance of every single decision the court issues. But abandoning the entire project of holding perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes accountable would represent a far greater global failure.
For small states in particular, a rules-based international order provides critical protections that raw military and economic power can never guarantee. That is why Robinson’s vision remains as urgent and relevant today as it was nearly 40 years ago, when he first revived the push for a permanent international criminal court. As global governments debate the future of the ICC, the Caribbean region must not forget that it helped bring this vital institution into existence.
Nearly four decades after Trinidad and Tobago reignited the campaign for a permanent court, and almost 30 years after the Rome Statute was adopted, July 17 is far more than a symbolic date on the global calendar. It is a reminder that history is not always written by the largest, most powerful nations. Sometimes, it is shaped by small countries with the courage to champion universal principles that the rest of the world eventually comes to embrace. That is the lasting legacy of Arthur N.R. Robinson — and one of the Caribbean’s greatest gifts to the global cause of justice.
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Nevisian artist Vaughn Anslyn featured on WINAIR’s inflight magazine cover – WIC News
Acclaimed Nevisian visual artist Vaughn Anslyn has reached a new career high, with his work selected to headline the July–December 2026 edition of Windward Islands Airways (WINAIR)’s inflight magazine, marking a major milestone that brings his Caribbean-centered work to an international audience of air travelers.
The issue opens with a cover featuring one of Anslyn’s signature pieces, a work that showcases his trademark bold color palettes, intricate layered patterns, and unmistakeable Caribbean cultural identity. Inside, a three-page featured profile titled *Painting the Spirit of Nevis* traces Anslyn’s creative evolution, breaks down his unique artistic philosophy, and explores the profound impact his work has had on the cultural landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Central to the profile is Anslyn’s explanation of his rooted creative inspiration, drawn entirely from the natural and cultural heritage of his home island. “Nevis is a beautiful place. Everywhere I look, the island feels like a postcard. But it goes much further than landscapes and seascapes. The marine life, the birds, goats, donkeys and monkeys are all willing subjects. Then there is the history. Sugar plantation ruins dot the island, making me feel a deep responsibility to preserve this history,” Anslyn shared in the interview.
Anslyn’s body of work spans an extraordinarily diverse range of mediums and scales, from large-scale public murals that transform community spaces to detailed wildlife portraits, sculptural works, and collaborative community art initiatives. While his pieces are permanently displayed across public and private collections in his home country of St. Kitts and Nevis, his work has also earned international exhibition placements in major global cultural hubs including London, Miami, New York, and Dubai.
This latest feature from WINAIR arrives amid a string of growing international recognitions for the artist. Earlier in 2026, one of his most celebrated works, *Mosaic – A Woman of Power in an Everyday World*, was selected as the official poster for the Organization of American States’ IX Inter-American Week for People of African Descent. Following the event, the piece was acquired for the permanent collection of the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C., cementing his status as a leading voice of Caribbean contemporary art.
In a public post shared to his personal Facebook page following the magazine’s release, Anslyn expressed gratitude and excitement for the honor: “I am so proud to see my art on the cover of WINAIR magazine as well as a 3 page article inside. Thank you so much.”
Beyond marking a personal win for Anslyn, the feature is being celebrated as a point of national pride for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, offering a powerful opportunity to showcase the country’s rich cultural talent and the broader diversity of Caribbean art to a global audience of travelers.
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Currie: geen examens in vakken waarin leerlingen geen les hebben gehad
A ongoing teacher shortage crisis across Suriname, particularly affecting schools in inland and southern districts, has prompted the country’s education minister to announce targeted policy adjustments to protect students from being penalized for systemic failures. The announcement came in response to pressing questions raised by National Assembly member Silvana Afonsoewa of the NDP party during a Thursday parliamentary sitting, where she highlighted the severe disruptions to learning caused by prolonged teacher vacancies at multiple schools.
Afonsoewa emphasized that many students have been forced to cram months of missed curriculum content into far shorter timeframes than official education guidelines require, creating an inherently unfair testing environment. “This is not a level playing field,” she told the assembly. “It is not the students’ fault that there were no teachers to stand in front of their classrooms, and they should not have to pay the price for systemic shortcomings.” Afonsoewa pushed the government to outline clear measures to prevent students from being punished for circumstances completely outside of their control.
In his official response, Education, Science and Culture Minister Dirk Currie confirmed that students who received no formal instruction in specific subjects due to teacher shortages will not be required to sit final exams in those untaught courses. He added that the ministry has completed a school-by-school assessment of the shortage impact, and has already rolled out a series of interim mitigation measures to reduce learning gaps as much as possible. These interventions include bringing in retired teachers and part-time educators to fill vacancies, and extending instruction to Saturdays at affected schools to give students extra time to cover missed content.
“No student will be forced into a disadvantageous situation that they had no power to prevent,” Currie stressed, adding that fairness and equity are the core guiding principles of the new policy. “We will not place any child in a situation they did not choose. Fairness and justice come first.”
The minister’s announcement prompted further clarifying questions from fellow parliamentarians. NPS lawmaker Poetini Atompai asked whether students would automatically receive their diplomas without completing credits for untaught subjects, referencing a previous policy adjustment for geography exams. Currie clarified that automatic exemptions are not the default approach. Instead, students who missed significant instruction will be given extended time to catch up on coursework and take a delayed resit exam, rather than sitting the standard scheduled exam alongside their peers.
“They will not participate in the regular exam session, but will get enough time to complete the required curriculum before taking the resit exam,” Currie explained.
A20 party leader Steven Reyme then raised the case of a second affected group: students who received partial instruction in a subject, only attending classes for part of the school year due to late teacher appointments or mid-term vacancies. Currie confirmed that the ministry will apply individualized, customized solutions for this group as well. Each affected school will conduct its own assessment of student progress to determine the most fair evaluation approach, ensuring that no student suffers consequences for a staffing crisis they did not create.
“We review every school that has experienced teacher shortages and find tailored solutions for each context,” Currie said. “No child should be made a victim of a situation for which they are not responsible.”
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Mason family pledges continued support for Newtown Youth Development Program
At the official launch of the Newtown Youth Development Programme (NYDP) held July 10 in Dominica, Irving “Tosh” Williams, speaking on behalf of the philanthropic Mason family, announced the family’s ongoing commitment to the youth-focused initiative, framing it as a life-transforming project with the potential to set a benchmark for community development across the island.
Williams emphasized that the family’s initial contribution to NYDP is far from the end of their involvement. “This is not the first or the last contribution that will be made by the Mason family,” Williams stated. “Sports is something that is at the heart of the Mason family, and we want to see young people really get involved in athletics and advance in whatever path they choose to pursue.”
The effort to back NYDP grew out of months of conversations between Roy Mason, who currently resides in the United States, and NYDP Chairman Joffre Faustin, centered on expanding opportunity for young residents of Newtown. Roy Mason, alongside his wife Anthea, daughter Tyra, grandson Jayden, his sister Yolanda and Yolanda’s husband Birdy Shillingford, led the fundraising and donation drive, with additional support pouring in from family members and friends spread across the U.S. and Canada.
For decades, the Mason family has carried out quiet, private philanthropic work supporting individual families and communities across Dominica. The launch of NYDP marks one of the first times the family’s charitable work has been featured in a public setting, Williams noted. He shared that he initially questioned whether the family could pull together the full list of requested supplies for the program, but within just a few weeks, the network of supporters assembled a large shipment of critical materials: ranging from professional sporting gear and coaching resources to personal toiletries for participating youth.
Williams extended sincere congratulations to Faustin and the entire NYDP executive team for turning the idea of a community youth program into a tangible, operational initiative. “I am truly touched by the magnitude of what has taken place here,” Williams said, noting he is confident the donations will deliver meaningful benefits to both NYDP’s organizing committee and the young people it serves.
Along with his in-person remarks, Williams shared a formal written statement from the Mason family that further laid out the group’s vision for the program. The statement praised NYDP’s leadership for launching what the family calls a “meaningful and impactful initiative” that addresses critical gaps in youth opportunity. The family expressed clear hope that NYDP will become a replicable model for other communities across Dominica, by delivering safe recreational spaces, structured activity, and educational opportunities for young Newtown residents.
In the message, the family directly addressed participating youth, urging them to take full advantage of the program by leaning on the guidance of coaches and mentors, while committing to consistent hard work to reach their personal and professional goals. The statement also encouraged parents to play an active role in the initiative: supporting their children’s participation, volunteering with fundraising, tracking progress, and instilling the belief that young people can achieve any goal they set their minds to.
The Mason family closed their statement by expressing gratitude for the chance to contribute to NYDP, thanking the program’s committee for welcoming their involvement in what they called “a small role in such a powerful and uplifting initiative.” Williams closed the launch event remarks by reaffirming the family’s long-term commitment to the program, saying family members will continue to mobilize their extended networks of relatives and friends across North America and the Caribbean to back NYDP’s core mission. He closed by wishing the program every success, expressing unwavering confidence that it will leave a lasting, positive mark on youth development in the Newtown community for generations to come.
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St Kitts withdraws 2027 Carifta Games bid
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — In an unexpected development that has left the country’s sports community reeling, the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has formally pulled its bid to host the 2027 edition of the CARIFTA Games, the Caribbean’s most prestigious annual junior track and field competition.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ Sports Minister Samal Duggins confirmed the decision to withdraw the bid this Wednesday, wrapping up months of public speculation that followed the federation’s initial expression of interest in hosting the event. Duggins explained that after high-level consultations with the St. Kitts-Nevis Athletics Association and the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee, the national administration determined 2027 was not an opportune moment for the small island nation to take on the logistical and financial commitments of hosting the championship.
“Alongside our partner institutions, especially the Olympic Committee, we have concluded that next year would not be the most ideal time for us to stage the Games,” Duggins told reporters. He added that the federation has formally requested to defer its hosting ambitions to a future, unannounced date, a move that has done little to ease disappointment among local athletic stakeholders who had looked forward to welcoming the Caribbean’s top young talent back to the islands.
St. Kitts and Nevis is no stranger to the CARIFTA Games, having previously hosted the event in 2008 and again in 2015. The 2015 edition, however, left the federation grappling with significant lingering financial challenges, a history that added extra pressure to the 2027 bidding process.
The lead-up to the 2027 host selection has been fraught with uncertainty from the start. When the process opened ahead of the NACAC Congress, no formal bids were submitted by the deadline. Only St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago stepped forward as potential hosts during the 2026 CARIFTA Games held in Grenada, leaving the two as the only remaining contenders.
In response to past financial difficulties that have left local athletics associations holding massive debt after hosting the Games, NACAC President Mike Sands implemented new, stricter bidding rules requiring all candidates to provide binding guarantees from either their national government or major event sponsors to cover potential cost overruns. These tightened requirements ultimately led St. Kitts and Nevis to step back from the 2027 race, leaving Trinidad and Tobago as the only active candidate for the hosting rights.
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THA receives pre-action protocol letter
Nearly three months after 28-year-old Angelica Jogie lost her life in a jet ski accident at Tobago’s popular Pigeon Point beach, the island’s governing body has confirmed it has received formal pre-action protocol correspondence from the Jogie family’s legal team, kicking off a potential legal battle over the fatal incident.
The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Legal Affairs Secretary Adanna Joseph-Wallace verified the receipt of the documents in an interview with local media outlet Express on Thursday, noting the court-precursor papers arrived Wednesday afternoon, shifting into the early evening. While she declined to share further details on the document contents at this early procedural stage, she confirmed the THA would follow standard legal protocol moving forward.
“At this point, this is only the pre-action stage of any potential claim,” Joseph-Wallace explained. “We will respond formally to the family’s legal team at the appropriate time, and we will allow the regular legal process to unfold as it should. It is too early for me to make any formal pronouncements on the substance of the claim.”
She added that the filing did not come as an unexpected development, as the family’s intent to pursue legal action had already been communicated publicly. “People have every right to pursue any legal avenue they believe serves their best interest following a tragedy like this, and it is not my place to comment on whether they should or should not have initiated this process,” she said.
The Jogie family is targeting three parties in their prospective legal action: the THA, Pigeon Point Heritage Park Ltd, and the individual jet ski operator involved in the April 8 accident. The operator was previously released from police custody, and investigators are currently preparing a new submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine whether criminal charges will be filed in the case.
According to the pre-action letter, both the THA and Pigeon Point Heritage Park Ltd hold responsibility for the management, safety oversight, and regulation of all recreational activities at the beach facility, including jet ski and other watercraft operations. The family alleges that the two responsible entities failed to put in place, enforce, and maintain sufficient safety protocols to protect beachgoers from the well-documented hazards of jet ski operations near swimming and bathing areas. The legal team argues that local governing bodies knew, or should reasonably have known, of the significant risks posed by unregulated or poorly supervised jet ski activity close to recreational swimmers.
Amid the ongoing legal process, a local marine industry leader has announced new safety improvements for the Tobago Marine Park. Ricardo Alfred, owner of a local jet ski business and president of the Tobago Water and Trails Association, confirmed that targeted upgrades have already been deployed to boost marine safety at popular recreational sites. “We have installed new solar-powered lighting along the Gibson jetty to improve visibility after dark, a Coast Guard patrol vessel is currently undergoing repairs to support expanded marine patrols, and fuel has been allocated to the Coast Guard to keep their patrol operations active,” Alfred said.
The developments come as the community of Tobago continues to process the high-profile fatal accident, with safety advocates pushing for more consistent enforcement of marine recreation rules across the island’s popular tourist beaches.