Carib Scope

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  • Leftist Mamdani begins first day as New York mayor

    Leftist Mamdani begins first day as New York mayor

    NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist who emerged from relative obscurity to claim America’s most prominent municipal office, was formally inaugurated as New York City’s mayor during a historic ceremony commencing the new year. The swearing-in ceremony occurred precisely at midnight within a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall, symbolizing both the city’s infrastructure heritage and Mamdani’s grassroots political origins.

    The inauguration events continued Thursday with a ceremonial celebration featuring prominent progressive allies including Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The production anticipated approximately 4,000 ticketed attendees with additional public viewing areas accommodating tens of thousands of spectators along Broadway, reflecting Mamdani’s commitment to accessible governance.

    In his initial remarks, Mamdani characterized the mayoralty as “the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” while political analysts immediately began scrutinizing his capacity to implement an ambitious progressive agenda featuring rent stabilization, universal childcare, and fare-free public transportation. The administration’s trajectory appears inevitably intertwined with national politics, particularly given Mamdani’s strained relationship with former President Donald Trump.

    Despite Trump’s previous characterization of Mamdani as a “communist lunatic” and threats to reduce federal funding, the two conducted unexpectedly cordial discussions at the White House in November. Columbia University political analyst Lincoln Mitchell noted the meeting exceeded expectations for Mamdani, though he cautioned about the relationship’s volatility, especially regarding impending immigration enforcement actions.

    The mayor, who has labeled Trump a fascist, has simultaneously pledged to protect immigrant communities, setting the stage for potential jurisdictional conflicts. Mamdani’s oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who recently successfully prosecuted Trump for civil fraud, adding another layer of political symbolism to the transition of power.

  • Golding says Opposition will champion transparency, accountability in 2026

    Golding says Opposition will champion transparency, accountability in 2026

    In a comprehensive New Year’s address, Jamaican Opposition Leader Mark Golding outlined a vision of accountable governance and national unity while reflecting on the catastrophic Hurricane Melissa that devastated the nation in 2025. The People’s National Party (PNP) leader emphasized reconstruction with resilience as Jamaica enters 2026, promising intensified parliamentary scrutiny of government operations.

    Golding acknowledged the extraordinary humanitarian response that followed the natural disaster, noting that ‘Jamaicans at home and abroad demonstrated unprecedented generosity through container shipments and relief missions to affected communities.’ He described how citizens rallied behind national colors in ‘a torrent of love, caring and support for our fellow Jamaicans in need.’

    The Opposition Leader highlighted significant electoral gains made by the PNP in the September general elections, where the party gained approximately 100,000 additional votes and doubled its parliamentary representation to 28 seats. ‘This mandate indicates many Jamaicans seek leadership embracing integrity, accountability, and responsive governance,’ Golding stated, adding that the strengthened opposition position enables more forceful scrutiny of government actions.

    Rejecting partisan approaches to disaster recovery, Golding committed to constructive opposition: ‘We have avoided any temptation to make political mileage out of this disaster. We recognize national unity is desired and needed.’ He outlined specific priorities including transparent distribution of relief resources, restoration of critical infrastructure, and expanded mental health support for trauma victims.

    Golding emphasized the dual challenge of physical reconstruction and trust-building, stating: ‘The Jamaica we are striving to rebuild must be one where investment decisions are people-centered, opportunities are accessible to youth and persons with disabilities, women are empowered, the elderly supported, and vulnerable families strengthened.’

    The PNP leader concluded with a personal pledge to prioritize national interest and responsible governance, urging Jamaicans to ‘live with purpose and kindness’ while supporting local businesses and hurricane-affected communities throughout the recovery process.

  • Tunapuna Chamber: Customs hike will squeeze SMEs, consumers

    Tunapuna Chamber: Customs hike will squeeze SMEs, consumers

    The Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GTCIC) has issued a stark warning regarding the recently implemented doubling of customs fees, asserting that the measure will impose severe financial pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and ultimately lead to increased consumer prices. The fee adjustments, formally gazetted on December 25, 2025, came into effect on January 1, 2026, significantly raising the cost of importing goods.

    Under Legal Notice 472, the customs declaration fee per package has surged from $40 to $80. Concurrently, Legal Notice 473 mandates a substantial increase in container examination charges, which have jumped from $375 to $750 for standard containers and from $525 to $1,050 for larger units. Although these changes were initially outlined in the 2025/26 national budget, the GTCIC emphasizes that prior announcement does not equate to operational or financial preparedness for the business community.

    In an official statement, Chamber President Ramon Gregorio highlighted the particular vulnerability of SMEs, which typically operate on narrow profit margins and possess limited cash flow flexibility. These businesses are already contending with a multitude of economic challenges, including freight volatility, foreign exchange shortages, elevated financing costs, and persistent inflation. The chamber cautions that the additional financial burden from customs fees threatens to decelerate business activity, postpone expansion initiatives, and undermine confidence among smaller operators.

    The GTCIC further projects that a significant portion of these increased costs will be transferred to consumers, especially within the retail and distribution sectors. E-commerce enterprises and courier-dependent businesses are expected to face disproportionate impacts, as the revised fee structure imposes greater strain on digital business models and emerging entrepreneurs who rely on frequent, low-volume imports.

    While acknowledging the government’s legitimate revenue requirements and the necessity of cost-recovery mechanisms in fiscal management, the chamber insists that such measures must be carefully balanced against the imperative of business sustainability and broader economic growth. The GTCIC advocates for tangible enhancements in customs operations—including accelerated processing times, fully digitized clearance procedures, and ongoing stakeholder engagement—rather than mere fee increases. The chamber also recommends implementing relief mechanisms or tiered fee structures specifically designed for SMEs and low-value shipments.

    The Finance Ministry has estimated that the new customs fees, alongside other adjustments, will generate approximately $1 billion in additional state revenue. However, the GTCIC maintains that SMEs should not be expected to bear this fiscal burden without commensurate support and operational improvements. The chamber reaffirms its commitment to constructive dialogue with policymakers, aiming to collaborate on solutions that ensure efficient customs administration while protecting business viability and national economic development.

  • Welcome to 2026 – for better and for worse

    Welcome to 2026 – for better and for worse

    As Trinidad and Tobago enters 2026, the nation stands at a remarkable crossroads of global achievement and domestic challenges when measured by per capita metrics. With approximately 1.4 million citizens, this dual-island nation has demonstrated extraordinary impact across multiple domains, from Olympic gold medals and World Cup qualifications to cultural innovations that have reshaped global music through the invention of the steelpan—the only acoustic instrument created in the 20th century.

    The nation’s economic performance has similarly exceeded expectations for its size, consistently ranking among the Caribbean’s highest GDP-per-capita countries driven by energy resources including oil, natural gas, and the world’s largest natural asphalt deposit at Pitch Lake. This economic strength, combined with cultural influence in beauty pageants, Carnival arts, and diaspora impact, presents a picture of a nation punching far above its weight class.

    However, the same per capita measurements reveal troubling contradictions. Trinidad and Tobago now ranks among the region’s most dangerous nations for violent crime, with homicide rates reaching alarming levels that disproportionately affect small communities. The country also scores poorly on global corruption indices, where governance and accountability challenges create particularly damaging consequences in a small society with limited capacity to absorb institutional failures.

    Additional indicators reveal deeper societal patterns: excessive vehicle ownership per person overwhelming infrastructure, and concerning digital behavior patterns including high rates of online pornography consumption that signal gaps in education and privacy awareness.

    Amid these challenges, artificial intelligence represents the defining test of this era. While the nation has historically adapted well to technological changes, its education system remains anchored in rote learning methodologies ill-suited for the AI revolution. As routine jobs face automation threats, the imperative grows for educational reform that emphasizes critical thinking, innovation, and problem-solving skills.

    Geopolitical tensions between the United States and Venezuela add another layer of complexity, with potential implications for Trinidad and Tobago’s energy markets, migration patterns, and regional security. The current US military posture in the region appears focused on containment strategy rather than direct confrontation—a approach familiar to Trinidadians who understand the strategic game of draughts.

    For a small nation, these challenges require particularly careful navigation, where every policy decision carries magnified consequences and there is little margin for error in balancing global opportunities with domestic realities.

  • PM acting decisively to save lives

    PM acting decisively to save lives

    Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration is facing scrutiny over its reversal on traffic penalty policies, with government supporters mounting a vigorous defense of the controversial measures. The policy shift, which saw certain traffic fines increased by December 2025, represents a significant departure from campaign promises made in April 2024 when the opposition leader pledged reductions.

    The justification for this policy reversal centers on deteriorating road safety conditions throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Official reports indicate a troubling escalation in reckless driving behavior and persistently high traffic fatalities, with 109 road deaths recorded within the year preceding the policy change. This alarming statistic prompted what government advocates characterize as necessary and decisive intervention.

    In an editorial communication, Leisha S Dhoray argues that true leadership necessitates adaptability when confronting emerging public safety crises. The correspondence emphasizes that the Prime Minister’s response demonstrates courageous governance rather than political inconsistency, noting that circumstances had fundamentally changed since the original campaign commitment.

    The defense further contends that substantial penalties serve as essential deterrents in jurisdictions worldwide that prioritize road safety. The administration maintains that the primary objective remains saving lives rather than political point-scoring, with the measures representing a proportionate response to what officials have classified as a national safety emergency.

    Regarding criticisms about fine magnitudes, the position asserts that meaningful deterrence requires financially significant penalties. The communication concludes that responsible driving eliminates any burden of increased fines, positioning the policy as ultimately placing public welfare above political convenience.

  • Two injured in Grande accident

    Two injured in Grande accident

    A violent morning collision disrupted the post-celebration calm in Sangre Grande on January 1st, resulting in significant injuries for two individuals. The incident occurred at approximately 9:05 AM when a white sedan traveling southbound on Picton Road veered out of control and collided with a concrete culvert.

    The tremendous impact of metal striking concrete reverberated through the residential neighborhood, startling residents still recuperating from New Year’s Eve festivities. While the front-seat passenger managed to extricate himself from the wreckage despite sustaining a dislocated arm, the driver presented a more grave condition—unresponsive and bleeding heavily from a head wound.

    Fire and emergency personnel were first on the scene, undertaking the delicate operation of extracting the trapped driver. The injured man, showing signs of disorientation, groaned in apparent agony as rescuers worked to free him. With ambulance services reportedly distant and responding from St. Augustine, first responders made the critical decision to transport the driver to Sangre Grande Hospital utilizing the tray of a pickup truck.

    An ambulance ultimately reached the location nearly an hour after the initial crash, by which time both casualties had already been transported to medical facilities via alternative means. Local law enforcement has launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

  • Saudi Arabia sets executions record in 2025, putting 356 people to death

    Saudi Arabia sets executions record in 2025, putting 356 people to death

    Saudi Arabia recorded its highest number of executions in a single year during 2025, with 356 individuals put to death according to documented figures. This alarming statistic represents the second consecutive year the kingdom has broken its own execution record, surpassing the 338 executions carried out in 2024.

    Analysts identify Riyadh’s intensified ‘war on drugs’ as the primary driver behind this surge, with many cases originating from arrests made several years ago now reaching final verdicts and implementation. Official government data indicates that drug-related cases accounted for 243 of the total executions in 2025 alone.

    In a significant demographic shift, foreign nationals constituted the majority of those executed for the first time in Saudi history, according to the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights. The Berlin-based monitoring group confirmed the record numbers and noted that migrant workers appear to be disproportionately affected by the anti-drug campaign.

    Duaa Dhainy, a researcher with the organization, characterized the escalating execution rates as evidence that Saudi Arabia’s promises regarding human rights reforms lack substance. She further stated that the executions function as tools of ‘intimidation and fear’ targeting various groups including minors and political dissidents.

    Saudi Arabia resumed capital punishment for drug offenses in late 2022 after approximately three years of suspension. The nation represents one of the largest markets for captagon, an illicit stimulant that previously served as Syria’s primary export during Bashar al-Assad’s regime before his ouster in December 2024.

    The intensified anti-drug campaign has featured increased police checkpoints along highways and border crossings, resulting in millions of confiscated pills and numerous trafficking arrests. Saudi authorities maintain that the death penalty remains essential for preserving public order and is applied only after exhaustive legal appeals processes.

    This persistent use of capital punishment continues to draw international condemnation from human rights organizations, which describe the practice as excessive and contradictory to Saudi Arabia’s simultaneous efforts to project a modernized global image through massive tourism investments and high-profile sporting events like the 2034 World Cup.

  • Claxton Bay takes $6.4m Lotto jackpot

    Claxton Bay takes $6.4m Lotto jackpot

    A transformative fortune has descended upon a fortunate Trinidadian citizen who secured the multimillion-dollar LottoPlus jackpot on New Year’s Eve. The life-changing winning ticket was procured from the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) outlet situated at St Margaret’s Junction in Claxton Bay on December 31st.

    The National Lotteries Control Board officially confirmed the monumental win through a press communication issued on January 1st, 2026. The announcement revealed that the staggering prize amount totaled $6,444,024.06, instantly catapulting the anonymous winner into millionaire status at the dawn of the new year.

    The combination that unlocked this substantial fortune consisted of the primary numbers 16, 20, 29, 31, and 34, complemented by the crucial Powerball number 7. This numerical sequence proved to be the key to financial transformation for the lucky ticket holder.

    Meanwhile, the NLCB has announced the continuation of its lucrative Lotto Plus offerings with a guaranteed $2 million jackpot scheduled for drawing on December 3rd at 8:30 PM. This ongoing opportunity ensures that the prospect of instant wealth remains accessible to lottery participants across Trinidad and Tobago.

    The latest winner joins an exclusive group of jackpot recipients who have experienced sudden wealth through the national lottery system, highlighting the life-altering potential that these games represent for ordinary citizens.

  • Trinidad central bank warns US/Venezuela tension affecting local economy

    Trinidad central bank warns US/Venezuela tension affecting local economy

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) has identified escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Venezuela as a significant factor contributing to mounting economic uncertainty in the domestic economy. This assessment was detailed in the bank’s year-end Monetary Policy Statement released Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

    While acknowledging that inflation remains well-contained, credit growth reasonable, and liquidity conditions improved, the CBTT characterized the nation’s economic recovery as ‘somewhat tentative.’ The bank reported that gains from increased energy production in Q2 2025, driven by two new natural gas fields (bpTT’s Cypre and bpTT/EOG’s Mento fields), were partially undermined by a non-energy sector showing signs of deceleration across multiple sub-sectors.

    Energy sector output surged 10.4% year-on-year, with natural gas production increasing 11.7% and crude oil output rising 8.9%. The petrochemical industry demonstrated mixed results with ammonia production expanding 23.6% and urea output jumping 51.3%, while methanol production continued its decline with a 12.7% contraction.

    The Central Bank noted concerning softness in distribution, construction, and manufacturing sectors, though these were partially counterbalanced by improvements in finance and utilities. Inflation metrics remained favorable, with headline inflation measured at 0.5% in November 2025 compared to 1.5% in June. Core inflation (excluding food prices) rose moderately by 0.5%, while food inflation decelerated to 0.8% due to lower international food prices and minimal weather-related disruptions to domestic agricultural supplies.

    Financial conditions presented a nuanced picture: system liquidity constraints eased substantially with commercial banks’ excess reserves at the Central Bank climbing from TT$3.5 billion in October to TT$5.3 billion by mid-December. Conversely, private sector credit expansion slowed to 6.3% year-on-year in October from 8.6% in June, primarily influenced by more modest business credit growth.

    The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to maintain the repo rate at 3.50%, citing softness in the non-energy sector, low inflation environment, and narrowing interest rate differentials with the United States. The bank emphasized that safeguarding international reserves remains paramount given the country’s high import propensity, with foreign reserves strengthening from US$4.6 billion in October to US$5.3 billion as of December 19, 2025.

    The MPC committed to actively monitor the effects of recent wage adjustments on aggregate demand and import growth in coming months, standing ready to implement necessary monetary policy actions to balance foreign reserve protection with maintaining favorable funding conditions for domestic economic activity.

  • Marabella man murdered on Old Year’s night

    Marabella man murdered on Old Year’s night

    In a tragic conclusion to 2025’s violent crime statistics, Dexter Griffith, a 53-year-old laborer from Isaac Avenue, Plaisance Park, became what authorities believe to be the year’s final homicide victim during a New Year’s Eve ambush in Marabella.

    The fatal incident occurred approximately at 9 pm on December 31st, while Griffith was socializing with family members at the intersection of Charles Street and George Street. According to police reports, an unidentified vehicle abruptly stopped near the gathering, from which an armed assailant emerged.

    Eyewitness accounts indicate that Griffith’s common-law wife, daughter, and another male companion immediately fled through a nearby pathway upon recognizing the imminent threat. During their escape, multiple gunshots echoed through the neighborhood.

    Law enforcement personnel from the Marabella Police Station responded promptly to emergency calls. Upon arrival, officers discovered Griffith’s lifeless body at the scene. Official medical confirmation was provided by a District Medical Officer who subsequently pronounced death.

    Forensic experts from the Crime Scene Investigation Unit conducted a thorough examination, recovering substantial ballistic evidence including seven discharged 9mm cartridge casings and one live round of the same caliber. The investigation remains ongoing with no established motive for the targeted killing at this preliminary stage.

    The homicide adds to Trinidad and Tobago’s ongoing challenges with violent crime, particularly highlighting the persistent issue of firearm-related violence in community settings. Local authorities continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward with any information that might assist in identifying the perpetrators.