作者： admin

Titans Keep Three-Peat Dream Alive, Set Up Championship Clash with Unbeaten Money Team by Brent Simon

The National Pool Players Association (NPPA) is gearing up for what many analysts are hailing as the most anticipated team championship final in its modern history, after back-to-back defending champions Titans outlasted a gritty Billiard Kings side 5-3 in Monday’s semifinal clash to book their third consecutive appearance in the title decider.

What stands between the Titans and an unprecedented three-peat of NPPA crowns is arguably the most formidable outfit of the 2024 campaign: Money Team, who enter the final riding a scintillating 19-match unbeaten run and carrying all the momentum of an undefeated season that has cemented their status as the league’s breakout powerhouse. The upcoming showdown shapes up as a classic battle of eras: a established dynasty hungry to etch its name permanently into the record books against a hungry rising force desperate to dethrone the champions and claim its own first title.

Monday’s semifinal was a back-and-forth thriller that lived up to its playoff billing from the opening rack. The Billiard Kings got off to a flying start, with their star player nicknamed Demolition Man delivering a straight-rack sweep over Chapo to put the underdogs up 1-0 early. The two-time champions wasted no time responding, however: B.A.D, who fell to Henry in an earlier head-to-head matchup this season, turned the tables with a dominant straight-rack win of his own to level the score at 1-1. Next up, SES, who has built a reputation as the Titans’ most clutch playoff performer, lived up to his billing by dismantling Killer in two straight racks to push the defending champions ahead 2-1.

Never willing to fold under pressure, the Billiard Kings fought back to retake the lead. Mac-10 secured a blank win over Marzack to draw the match level again, before Sniper notched a victory over Peck to put the Kings up 3-2 — marking the second time in the night that Billiard Kings held the advantage and looked poised to close out the upset.

That is when championship pedigree showed through. With the entire season hanging in the balance, Scarface delivered one of the most impressive performances of the night, dispatching Grim in straight racks to tie the match once more. The win carried extra weight: it stopped Grim from repeating the match-winning heroics that had carried the Billiard Kings to two earlier playoff victories this postseason.

With momentum shifting firmly back in the Titans’ favor, Charbel delivered the turning point that would ultimately decide the fixture. After dropping the opening rack to Jahson, Charbel showcased ice-cold composure to rally back and take the next two consecutive racks, putting the Titans one win away from the final. That set the stage for Cue Ball Rickie, who was looking to rebound from a disappointing performance in his previous outing, to seal the deal. Rickie delivered in emphatic fashion, sweeping Metro in straight racks to lock in the decisive fifth point, securing the Titans’ spot in the final and cutting the match short before the scheduled final bout between Nalda and Tonic Man.

Monday’s win keeps the Titans’ historic quest for a third straight NPPA title alive, a goal the team publicly declared it would achieve before the season even kicked off. But standing across the table from them is a Money Team side with its own lofty ambitions. Unbeaten through 19 straight matches, Money Team has emerged as the undisputed team to beat this season, and has made clear it has no plans to let the Titans’ dynastic run continue. Its flawless campaign has been built on unwavering consistency, deep roster talent, and relentless shot-making, setting up what fans and analysts alike are already calling a dream final.

The question on every pool fan’s mind heading into the decider is simple: Will the Titans’ years of big-match experience and championship pedigree be enough to deliver the historic three-peat? Or will Money Team cap a perfect season by ending the defending champions’ reign and write its own first chapter of NPPA glory? One side will leave the final with its legacy strengthened; the other will see its title dreams dashed.

Before the main event kicks off, the Billiard Kings will face off against Cue Action in the third-place playoff starting next Monday, as both sides compete for the final spot on the season’s podium. Fans can catch every shot of the NPPA Team Championship Final live on TikTok via the account @The Cueshop_268, to watch the league’s biggest rivalry of the season unfold in real time.

3 7 月, 2026
Temporary traffic delays expected at Moliniere on Friday, 3 July

Grenada’s National Water and Sewerage Authority (Nawasa) has issued a public advisory alerting residents and commuters to upcoming large-scale concrete pouring operations at the Moliniere Reservoir construction site, scheduled for Friday, 3 July 2026. This work is a core milestone for Lot 1 of the transformative Southern St George Water Supply Expansion Project (SSGWEP), a national infrastructure initiative aimed at upgrading the island’s water access network.

As a critical step in building the new, expanded reservoir, the operation will require a constant stream of heavy ready-mix concrete trucks traveling to and from the work zone throughout the workday. This increased heavy vehicle traffic will lead to temporary slowdowns and delays for motorists and other road users traveling through the Moliniere area, expected to last from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the day of the pour.

To mitigate safety risks and keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible, the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) will deploy on-site personnel to manage traffic flow throughout the entire construction operation. Nawasa has issued a set of clear guidance for road users planning to travel through the area: all commuters are asked to exercise extra caution when passing the work zone, follow all directions issued by police and on-site traffic management staff, build extra time into their travel itineraries to account for delays, and consider using pre-planned alternative routes if those options are convenient for their trip.

The Moliniere Reservoir expansion is not an isolated project: it forms a key part of the broader SSGWEP, which receives full funding from the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF). Once completed, the initiative will deliver long-term upgrades to Grenada’s core water infrastructure, drastically boosting the reliability and climate resilience of the island’s water supply network for thousands of residential and commercial customers across the Southern St George region.

In closing the advisory, Nawasa extended a sincere apology for the temporary inconvenience that the traffic disruptions will cause for local residents and passing commuters. The authority also thanked the public for their ongoing patience, understanding and cooperation as it works to deliver this high-priority national infrastructure project that will benefit communities for generations to come.

3 7 月, 2026
Gov’t racked up $11.8m fuel tab to shield consumers, PM tells Parliament

In a tense parliamentary session this week, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Godwin Friday has clarified that the government’s EC$11.8 million net outstanding debt to two major domestic fuel suppliers is the direct fiscal cost of a deliberate policy to protect ordinary citizens from the full impact of skyrocketing global oil prices driven by ongoing geopolitical instability.

Responding to questions from Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves, Friday explained that the accumulated liability to suppliers Sol EC Ltd. and Rubis West Indies Ltd. has formed under the country’s long-standing bonus-malus fuel price stabilization mechanism, a regulatory framework designed to smooth out sharp swings in domestic pump prices for consumers.

Breaking down how the system operates, Friday told the House of Assembly that the arrangement applies exclusively to dutiable sales of gasoline and diesel, excluding aviation fuel and liquefied petroleum gas. Under the framework, fuel importers first submit a detailed price build-up (PBU) — a full breakdown of all costs including freight, insurance, import duties, taxes and the company’s operating margin that sets the supplier’s actual wholesale price — to the Ministry of Finance, which then forwards the documentation to the Customs and Excise Department for review.

Each month, importers prepare bonus-malus statements comparing their actual wholesale price to the government’s regulated wholesale price, set under the Price Distribution of Goods Act. If a supplier’s actual price comes in below the government’s set price, the difference is paid to the government as a “bonus”. When the supplier’s actual cost exceeds the regulated price, the government must reimburse the difference to the company — a “malus” that counts as a liability for the state. Over time, these monthly credits and debits are netted to determine whether the government or the supplier owes an outstanding balance.

Friday presented detailed account figures updated through April 30, 2026, revealing a stark divergence between the two licensed importers. For Rubis West Indies Ltd., a surplus of EC$6,681,793 carried over from the end of 2025, combined with a January 2026 bonus of EC$125,103.04, offset malus charges recorded between February and April 2026 totaling EC$3,638,345.56. This leaves Rubis with a net credit of EC$3,168,551.22 payable to the government as of the end of April.

The situation is drastically different for Sol EC Ltd., where the government’s outstanding liability has grown rapidly in the first four months of 2026. Starting with a debt of EC$6,398,540.94 at the end of 2025, every month from January to April 2026 brought new malus charges, as regulated prices remained far below Sol’s rising wholesale costs. As of April 30, 2026, the government owes Sol a total of EC$15,022,621.67.

When the balances of both companies are combined, the government holds a net liability of EC$11,854,070.45 — approximately EC$11.8 million — to the two fuel suppliers.

Friday tied the rapid growth of this malus liability to ongoing global market volatility, specifically citing the Gulf war as the primary external driver of spiking landed fuel costs. He explained that rather than passing the full burden of international price increases directly to consumers through immediate pump price hikes, the government chose to absorb a portion of the higher costs through the bonus-malus framework, only passing a partial increase to domestic consumers to avoid excessive financial hardship for households.

“That $11.8 million effectively is what the government has been holding the price down, in a sense, and subsidising the public,” Friday told lawmakers. He added that while the policy has shielded Vincentian consumers from the worst of global oil shocks, neither the government nor the private fuel importers can absorb these elevated costs indefinitely if global oil prices remain volatile.

“The longer the war goes on, the more volatile the oil price situation becomes. The greater hardship it imposes on all of us, not just in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but all over the world,” he said.

The parliamentary exchange grew tense when Gonsalves pressed Friday for projections of malus costs for May and June 2026, which he suggested could match or exceed April’s high figures, and asked for clarification on the pricing benchmark the government uses to set its regulated wholesale price. Friday rejected the request for future projections, noting that Parliament does not address hypothetical scenarios, and that no final figures for the two months are yet available.

“When we have those facts at our disposal, we’ll make a facts-based decision,” he said. Gonsalves pushed back, arguing his question focused on the pricing benchmark rather than speculative future figures, but House Speaker Ronnia Durham-Balcombe ruled that the Prime Minister had already responded and ordered parliamentary business to move forward.

3 7 月, 2026
Overseas-based basketball personalities attend Bequia youth camp

On the Clive Tannis Hard Court in Port Elizabeth, a grassroots basketball development initiative is quietly but steadily growing: the Bequia Basketball Association (BBA)’s weekly youth basketball camps, which have drawn young athletes from across the island to build fundamental skills, strengthen collaborative teamwork, and foster a lasting passion for the sport. Organization leaders have expressed clear satisfaction with the consistent progress the program has made in nurturing local talent.

The most recent Sunday session stood out as a particularly memorable gathering, thanks to the attendance of three high-profile Vincentian basketball personalities. The guest group included Craiglee Sam, a Vincentian coach based in Taiwan who founded the Breakthrough Basketball Academy; Austin Derrick, a player who has built a professional career competing in leagues across Taiwan and Hong Kong; and Shem Ollivierre, a referee officially certified by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

In an official press statement, the BBA shared deep gratitude for the three guests, noting that their willingness to share hard-earned expertise and mentor young participants has been a powerful inspiration for the next generation of Bequia’s basketball hopefuls. The session also received a notable visit from Prime Minister Godwin Friday, who toured the camp to observe young players’ progress firsthand and publicly voiced his support for the program’s ongoing expansion.

Beyond the visiting guests, the BBA also extended sincere recognition to its core team of dedicated local volunteer coaches, who commit their personal time each week to run the camps. The group includes Kelan Edwards, Denroy Hutchins, Keithroy Lavia, and Jermaine John. The association highlighted John in particular: this July, he will step onto the regional stage as a member of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Men’s Senior National Basketball Team, competing in the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers hosted in Guyana.

The BBA also expressed thanks to key program volunteers Diane King and Alana Phillips, as well as former player Adonal Foyle, who generously donated new basketball jerseys for the young camp participants.

As the association makes final preparations for the 24th Annual Bequia Basketball Tournament, organizers are preparing to split current camp participants into competing teams, giving the young athletes the chance to gain valuable real-game experience by taking part in the iconic local event. Beyond the tournament, the BBA has also planned an upcoming referee training workshop, designed to cultivate a new cohort of local officials and reinforce the long-term sustainability of basketball development across Bequia.

From its grassroots youth camps to professional development for officials and elite regional competition, the Bequia Basketball Association reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to creating accessible, life-changing opportunities for young people through sports. Organization leaders say they are eager to watch the youth program continue to expand, empower more young athletes, and deliver lasting success for the Bequia community.

3 7 月, 2026
St. Kitts breaks ground on new cruise terminal, eyes cruise home-porting by 2027 – WIC News

On July 1, 2026, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis launched official construction on a transformative new cruise terminal at Basseterre’s Port Zante, marking a key milestone in the nation’s plan to become a full-service Caribbean home port for cruise lines by November 2027. The infrastructure project, led by the St. Christopher Air & Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), is framed as a public-private partnership-driven investment designed to reshape the country’s tourism economy and advance long-term economic diversification goals.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew emphasized that large-scale, industry-transforming projects like this cannot be delivered by government alone. He highlighted that the initiative relies on intentional collaboration between national government bodies, local tourism industry stakeholders, and international partners, turning a project once seen as out of reach for the small island nation into a tangible development underway. Unlike the existing facility that only accommodates St. Kitts as a temporary port of call for passing cruise itineraries, the new terminal is purpose-built to support home-porting operations, meaning cruise ships will start and end full voyages at Port Zante.

This shift in operations is expected to deliver widespread economic benefits across multiple sectors of the local economy. Drew explained that home-porting will drive higher overall visitor spending, increase demand for overnight hotel stays, boost airlift activity to the island, and create new, high-wage employment opportunities for local workers across the entire tourism supply chain. From taxi operators and local vendors to tour guides and hospitality staff, Drew stressed that the gains from this public investment are intended to be shared broadly across the community, rather than concentrated among a small group of stakeholders.

The new terminal is designed with cutting-edge infrastructure to support its expanded role, including modern high-capacity passenger processing systems, advanced security and baggage screening technology, and upgraded digital immigration processing. In line with the government’s focus on balancing efficiency with national security, Drew noted that the upgraded border management systems will deliver a seamless, frictionless experience for cruise passengers while upholding the country’s strict security standards, with the ultimate goal of establishing St. Kitts and Nevis as the most preferred starting and ending point for Caribbean cruise vacations.

This project forms a core component of the Drew administration’s broader economic diversification strategy, which aims to reduce the nation’s economic vulnerability by expanding and strengthening the tourism sector. It also aligns with the government’s Sustainable Island State Agenda, which prioritizes building a more resilient, diversified economy that delivers inclusive, long-term prosperity for all citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis. At the conclusion of his remarks, Drew extended congratulations to Minister of Tourism Honourable Marsha Henderson, the SCASPA team, and all contributing stakeholders for their work to bring the project to the construction phase.

Tourism Minister Henderson echoed Drew’s optimism, noting that the new terminal cements St. Kitts and Nevis’ position alongside leading Caribbean cruise hubs such as Antigua and Barbados as a top transit and home port for the global cruise industry. “This new cruise terminal represents vision, partnership, innovation and confidence in the future of Saint Kitts and Nevis as one of the Caribbean’s premier cruise destinations,” Henderson said. For the small Caribbean nation, the project represents more than just infrastructure: it is a strategic bet on long-term tourism growth that is expected to deliver shared economic opportunity for years to come after its scheduled completion in 2027.

3 7 月, 2026
Earthquake disaster ‘heartbreaking’

Last week, two powerful back-to-back earthquakes tore through Venezuela, leaving a trail of widespread destruction, thousands of fatalities and a nation grappling with unthinkable loss. As search and recovery efforts continue, the Venezuelan diplomatic mission in neighboring Trinidad and Tobago has turned into a hub for solidarity and aid coordination, with diplomats from across the globe gathering to honor the victims and organize relief supplies for the disaster-stricken country.

Speaking at the Venezuelan Embassy on Victoria Avenue in Port of Spain on Monday, Alvaro Sanchez Cordero, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and dean of the local diplomatic corps, described the catastrophic scene that has shaken his homeland. “It’s very sad. Really heartbreaking. A lot of devastation. The tall buildings have crumpled. Then you have the aftershocks. It’s another challenge,” he said of the disaster.

Cordero was joined by his wife Monica Rey, alongside senior diplomats from China, the United States, Ghana and Spain, to sign an official condolence book opened to commemorate the lives lost in the tragedy. While Cordero confirmed none of his immediate family members were killed or injured in the quakes, he shared profound grief for those who lost their loved ones.

Rey put the scale of the disaster in stark perspective, comparing the impact of the tremors to the detonation of roughly 200,000 atomic bombs. She noted the event marked Venezuela’s worst seismic event since a major earthquake in 1812, the same year revolutionary leader Simon Bolivar vowed to press on with his independence campaign despite the disaster. She added that the global and local response to the tragedy has been a source of comfort for the Venezuelan community abroad.

As of current updates, the confirmed death toll from the June 24 earthquakes stands at 2,295, a number that continues to climb as recovery teams reach more affected areas. More than 11,000 people have been reported injured, and nearly 50,000 individuals remain unaccounted for, leaving thousands of families waiting for word on missing loved ones.

Cordero, a native of Caracas, had been planning a personal trip back to Venezuela with his wife and 15-year-old daughter the Sunday after the quakes hit, but immediately canceled the journey to coordinate relief efforts from his post in Port of Spain. He recalled the moment he learned the full scale of the destruction: after getting initial word of the quake, photos from his wife and footage from his 27-year-old adopted daughter Paulo, who is currently in Venezuela, revealed the full extent of the collapse. “The big buildings were falling. Everything was collapsing. I am scared,” Paulo told her father in the video. When Cordero saw the scale of damage and confirmed the epicenter was located on land rather than off the coast, amplifying the destruction, “My heart sank. Sheer destruction.”

For Cordero, the disaster comes as Venezuela already navigates intense political upheaval, a point he emphasized when he noted, “We were not expecting a doublet” of crisis. Though his own family is unharmed, many of his friends have lost loved ones, with dozens still missing, leaving him deeply shaken by the tragedy.

Venezuelan migrants residing in Trinidad and Tobago have also been overwhelmed by grief, Cordero explained, with many unable to contact family members back home, unable to locate missing relatives, or confirming that loved ones died in the collapse. The embassy has stepped in to support these migrants, assisting with registration for missing person reports and coordinating with local authorities to access any available support for affected communities. “I am happy for any assistance that the State is giving that would benefit the Venezuelans here,” Cordero said.

Instead of traveling to Venezuela, Cordero made the decision to “stay on the ground” in Port of Spain, where the lower wing of the embassy has been converted into a temporary collection depot for donated relief supplies. The government of Trinidad and Tobago has led coordinated relief efforts, with additional support coming from across the Caribbean, and from both private and public sector entities. Local concerned citizens have also turned out in droves to donate essential goods. As of Tuesday, a large shipment of supplies including bottled water from Blue Waters was scheduled to depart from the Port of Pt Lisas for Venezuela.

Cordero pushed back against widespread misinformation circulating about the disaster, countering claims that the Venezuelan government has failed to distribute food aid across affected areas by saying 97% of food aid is currently being distributed across the country. He also noted that false claims about the official death toll have been widely spread online and in some media outlets.

The condolence book at the Venezuelan Embassy will remain open to sign from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through July 9 for any members of the diplomatic community or public wishing to pay their respects.

3 7 月, 2026
Birchwood condemns MiLAT suspension

A sharp political dispute has erupted over the planned pause of Trinidad and Tobago’s Military-Led Academic Training Programme (MiLAT), after a senior opposition parliamentarian publicly condemned the government’s decision and pushed back against the official justification for the move.

Christian Birchwood, opposition MP for Laventille East/Morvant, leveled criticism at Defence Minister Wayne Sturge during an opposition press briefing on Wednesday, rejecting Sturge’s core claim that the program was suspended due to unsustainable economic costs. Sturge had first confirmed the temporary suspension publicly on Tuesday, emphasizing that the initiative had not been permanently terminated, and that the government was carrying out a full-scale restructuring of MiLAT before any potential relaunch.

Birchwood argued that Sturge had fundamentally misinterpreted the core mission of the program. In blunt remarks, he said: “It is my opinion had the minister done some research or some homework, he would understand that these programmes were designed to be socially viable, and there is a major difference there.” Birchwood dismissed Sturge’s framing of the suspension as nonsensical, noting that MiLAT was created explicitly to serve and uplift the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in Trinidad and Tobago’s society. He called the minister’s justification for the pause “extremely punitive and insensitive at the very least.”

The opposition MP also pushed back against Sturge’s implication that MiLAT had failed to reduce rising violent crime rates, a line of argument the defence minister had advanced to support the suspension. Birchwood called this claim “unadulterated nonsense,” noting that Sturge was incorrectly holding the standalone program responsible for stopping all violent crime across the country. He further challenged the minister’s cost-based reasoning, drawing a parallel to the country’s national police service: if rising crime amid high public spending justified suspending a program, Birchwood argued, the government would have to suspend the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) by the same flawed logic.

To back up his claim that MiLAT has delivered meaningful results, Birchwood highlighted recent academic performance data from the initiative. The 2024 cohort of MiLAT participants achieved an 86% pass rate in English Language and a 66.3% pass rate in mathematics, results he said demonstrated the program’s on-the-ground success. He closed by pressing the government to outline what support will replace MiLAT for vulnerable communities, noting that just like existing public employment and support programs CEPEP and URP, MiLAT disproportionately serves low-income and marginalized groups that will bear the brunt of its absence.

3 7 月, 2026
CoP revokes 17 police appointees

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) made a public announcement on Wednesday confirming that Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro has terminated the official appointments of 17 serving officers. In an official public notice distributed to media outlets, the TTPS confirmed that the dismissals were carried out in alignment with internal administrative guidelines set out by the Office of the Police Commissioner. The full list of affected officers has been released for public documentation: Tamara Boyce, Vijay Singh, Elliot Chin, Joanne Jadoo, Owen Hem-Lee, Jilann Holder, Kizzy Thomas, Karlon Murray, Christopher Gobin, Michael Alcala, Carlos Thorne, Devon Basant, Akiel Smith, Desron Dillon, Shaun Reid, Joff Awong, and Daryl Baksh. The service issued the notification to update public records and inform the general population of the personnel changes, but declined to share further context surrounding the revocations. No details have been provided regarding the underlying causes for the dismissals, nor has the TTPS confirmed the official effective date of the decisions. This move comes as part of a long-running agency-wide push to root out alleged officer misconduct, a topic Commissioner Guevarro addressed publicly just one month prior. During a media interview last month, Guevarro revealed that the TTPS currently holds roughly 290 officers on active suspension amid ongoing internal investigations into professional misconduct. He also acknowledged that one of the most persistent public relations and institutional challenges facing the service is the widespread public belief that police misconduct is rarely met with meaningful disciplinary action. Guevarro noted that while misconduct allegations against officers tend to draw heavy public and media scrutiny, the subsequent disciplinary and criminal legal processes that follow rarely attract the same level of public attention. This ongoing effort to clean up the TTPS’ ranks is not a new development: the last time a similarly large cohort of suspended officers was reported publicly was in 2020, when then-Commissioner Gary Griffith disclosed that approximately 280 suspended officers were still collecting full pay, costing Trinidad and Tobago taxpayers an estimated $50 million annually in unnecessary public expenditure.

3 7 月, 2026
Penny: One exam does not determine your future

As thousands of Trinidad and Tobago students prepared to receive their Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) results, two key education stakeholders—national Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA)—have delivered a shared message of reassurance: a single examination outcome cannot determine a young person’s worth or lifelong trajectory.

In a pre-result statement released ahead of the official scores release at 11 p.m. the previous night, Beckles emphasized to students that secondary school placement should never be allowed to box them in or limit their future ambitions. “I encourage every student to remember that the school you are placed in today does not determine your future success. Your character, commitment, resilience, and willingness to continue learning will shape the person you become,” she said, urging students to hold faith in their own abilities, maintain consistent effort, and reject the idea that any temporary setback can erase their full potential.

Beckles also opened with congratulations for the cohort, marking the SEA results release as a major milestone that caps years of consistent hard work, personal sacrifice, unwavering determination and quiet perseverance, and signals the start of an exciting new educational chapter. “As the clock strikes 11 p.m., many of you will take your first step toward new opportunities, new friendships, and new dreams. We are proud of all that you have accomplished,” she added.

She extended gratitude to the full network of support behind the students: teachers, parents, guardians and every other individual who guided learners through their entire SEA preparation period, noting that their dedication played an irreplaceable role in helping young people reach this key educational turning point. Turning to parents and guardians directly, Beckles called on caregivers to sustain their encouragement and support for their children, no matter what results they receive. “Your love, reassurance, and guidance will help them understand that one examination does not define their worth or determine the limitless potential of their future,” she said. She closed her statement with a prayer for divine blessing and guidance for the nation’s young people as they step into the next phase of their educational journeys.

TTUTA echoed this message of reassurance, echoing the call for parents to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on children over school assignments and to center encouragement regardless of outcome. In its official statement, TTUTA President Crystal Ashe extended congratulations to all 17,509 students who completed the 2024 SEA examination, repeating the core point that a secondary school’s reputation does not predetermine a child’s future success.

“Celebrate your child’s efforts and achievements regardless of the secondary school to which they are assigned. Please refrain from placing undue pressure on your children concerning school placement,” Ashe advised. “Remember that a child’s success is not determined by the name of a school, but by the values they uphold, the discipline they cultivate, the opportunities they embrace and the support they continue to receive from home and school.”

Ashe noted that the kind words and reassurance parents offer in this results period can leave a lasting positive mark on children’s confidence and long-term success, framing the completion of the SEA as the end product of years of hard work from students, enabled by consistent backing from parents, guardians, teachers, principals and the entire school community. He also extended public thanks to teachers for their extraordinary commitment and sacrifice in preparing students for the high-stakes examination.

“I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to every member of the Teaching Service for your yeoman service, unwavering commitment and countless sacrifices in preparing our nation’s children for this important examination. Your professionalism, dedication and passion continue to inspire excellence and shape the future of Trinidad and Tobago. TTUTA proudly salutes each of you for your outstanding contribution to education,” Ashe said.

For students, Ashe echoed Beckles’ message that school placement must not narrow their ambitions. “The school to which you are assigned does not determine your destiny. Success is achieved through discipline, perseverance, resilience and a commitment to continuous learning. Wherever you are placed, embrace every opportunity, work diligently, respect your teachers and classmates, and strive to become the very best version of yourselves,” he encouraged.

Describing the current SEA cohort as the nation’s future leaders, innovators, educators, entrepreneurs and nation builders, Ashe urged young people to dream boldly, work tirelessly, and never allow unanticipated obstacles to limit their potential. He also reaffirmed TTUTA’s longstanding commitment to advocating for improved educational standards across all of Trinidad and Tobago’s schools, noting that the union will continue collaborating with all key stakeholders—including the Ministry of Education, school leaders, teachers, parents, and education partners—to guarantee every child access to a safe, inclusive, and enriching learning environment, regardless of which school they attend.

Closing his statement, Ashe reminded students that the SEA is only the opening of their educational journey, not the final destination. “SEA is not the destination, it is simply the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Believe in yourselves, continue to work hard, pursue excellence in all that you do, and never stop reaching for your dreams,” he said.

3 7 月, 2026
US$2m cash haul seized at Piarco

In a major customs enforcement action that has sparked cross-border investigation, authorities in Trinidad and Tobago have launched a formal probe into the seizure of $2 million in U.S. cash intercepted at the South Terminal of Piarco International Airport on June 25, 2026. U.S. law enforcement agencies have already been brought on board to assist local officials in unpacking the circumstances of the suspicious shipment, according to local reporting from *Trinidad Express*.

The intercepted funds originated from a licensed local commercial bank in Trinidad and Tobago, and were slated for air cargo shipment to Miami, Florida, with a planned stopover in Jamaica. The seizure unfolded after officers from Trinidad and Tobago’s Customs and Excise Division flagged the shipment over what authorities described as “certain transactional and accountability deficiencies” that violated established shipping protocols.

Details of the operation are laid out in a June 29, 2026 report prepared by Dale Raymond, Deputy General Manager of the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, for Authority Chairman Aaron Henry. Per the report, senior Customs leadership received actionable intelligence on June 25 about the impending outbound cash shipment, scheduled to depart on Atlas Air Cargo Flight BW790, registered tail number N663GT. A joint tactical team consisting of Customs investigators and Airports Authority security officials was immediately deployed to Piarco’s South Terminal to intercept the shipment.

Customs Preventative Branch officers were positioned on the secure airside tarmac ahead of the shipment’s arrival. At approximately 6:30 p.m. local time, a G4S security van carrying the cash was spotted approaching the parked cargo plane, and was immediately stopped by waiting officers. The two drivers, both G4S corporals, confirmed they were transporting $2 million in U.S. currency. A search of the vehicle uncovered the full sum stowed inside a white crocus bag.

Shipping documentation confirmed the bag originated from the unnamed local bank, with ground handling firm Swissport listed as the official shipper. The security van was escorted to the Swissport bonded facility for further inspection, where an X-ray scan confirmed the cash was stacked in multiple neat piles. A line-by-line review of accompanying paperwork confirmed the initial red flags: multiple gaps in compliance and procedural documentation indicated that mandatory shipping and anti-money laundering protocols had not been fully followed.

Following the inspection, the entire cash shipment was secured inside the bonded facility under round-the-clock joint guard by Airports Authority Police Department officers and Customs personnel. Customs investigators formally verified the total amount, confirming it matched the declared sum of $2 million U.S. dollars. The funds have since been transferred to the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago for safekeeping while the investigation proceeds.

Central Bank officials confirmed to *Trinidad Express* that a formal investigation is underway, and senior representatives met with Customs leadership shortly after the seizure to coordinate next steps. Under Trinidad and Tobago’s existing financial regulations, authorized licensed banks are permitted to ship cash internationally under specific regulatory frameworks: common legitimate practices include shipping damaged or mutilated U.S. banknotes to overseas banks for replacement, with settlement processed via wire transfer, and importing new U.S. currency from U.S. financial institutions such as Bank of America to replenish local market demand for U.S. cash. Central Bank officials emphasized that this intercepted shipment differs materially from standard legitimate transactions, and that the involved bank will be required to provide extensive additional documentation and explanation for the shipment.

A senior anonymous international banking expert with expertise in Caribbean financial regulation explained that large U.S. cash transactions in the local system are subject to strict anti-money laundering (AML) rules. Under local law, any cash deposit exceeding $10,000 U.S. requires enhanced due diligence, and financial institutions are mandated to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) with the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (FIUTT) if there are reasonable grounds to suspect the funds are linked to money laundering or terrorist financing. This requirement is codified in the country’s Proceeds of Crime Act and Anti-Terrorism Act, which mandate all reporting entities including banks to file SARs when suspicion exists.

The expert noted that a $2 million U.S. cash deposit to a local financial institution would automatically qualify as a high-risk transaction requiring enhanced scrutiny under Trinidad and Tobago’s AML and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) regime. Whether a SAR is required hinges on whether the bank had reasonable suspicion that the funds are proceeds of criminal activity or connected to terrorist financing, the expert added, noting that more details about the origin of the funds and the bank’s internal due diligence are needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn about compliance.

*Trinidad Express* reached out to a representative of the involved bank for comment, who confirmed the institution planned to release an official statement on the matter by the evening following the seizure. As the investigation continues, authorities have not yet announced any formal charges or identified any persons of interest in connection with the seized shipment.

3 7 月, 2026