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In a significant judicial ruling, High Court Justice Devindra Rampersad has mandated the Trinidad and Tobago state to compensate a sporting apparel wholesaler with over $223,000 in damages, interest, and legal costs for unlawful detention and malicious prosecution during a 2018 traffic stop.

The claimant, whose identity remains protected due to security concerns regarding the country’s crime situation, was subjected to false imprisonment and malicious prosecution by officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service during a highway traffic exercise on June 23, 2018. Represented by attorney Joel Roper, the businessman successfully demonstrated that police officers violated his rights during what began as a routine traffic stop.

Justice Rampersad’s judgment detailed specific compensation awards: $50,000 for false imprisonment (including aggravated damages), $70,000 for malicious prosecution, and $25,000 as special damages. The court additionally granted interest on these awards while declining to award exemplary damages, noting that additional punitive measures were unwarranted. The state was further ordered to cover the claimant’s legal costs amounting to $34,410.41.

Court documents reveal the claimant was initially stopped while traveling to conduct business deliveries and photograph a wedding. After receiving tickets for speeding and tinted windows, he was stopped again minutes later, forcibly removed from his vehicle, handcuffed, searched, and transported to Cumuto Police Station. He endured approximately eight hours of detention without being informed of arrest reasons or afforded his constitutional rights, including access to legal counsel or telephone communication. The subsequently filed charges of using insulting language were dismissed by a magistrate, reinforcing the foundation for the malicious prosecution claim.

The Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association (TTBWA) has raised significant concerns regarding the exclusion of visually impaired citizens from the Housing Development Corporation’s (HDC) 2025 housing allocation program. Despite the distribution of over 120 housing units this year, not a single blind or visually impaired individual benefited from the national initiative.

In a December 25 media release, the advocacy organization emphasized that housing represents far more than mere shelter—it constitutes a fundamental component of independence, dignity, safety, and social inclusion. The association highlighted the particular vulnerability of blind and visually impaired individuals, who frequently encounter persistent barriers to employment, income stability, and accessible living environments.

The TTBWA articulated that persons with disabilities possess equal rights as citizens and legitimate expectations to benefit from public housing programs, especially when vulnerability and extended waiting periods are recognized as qualifying criteria for housing assistance.

The organization has called for deliberate inclusion measures in future housing distributions, improved tracking mechanisms for disabled applicants, and enhanced collaboration with disability representative organizations to develop truly inclusive housing policies. They emphasized that national progress should be measured not merely by the quantity of homes delivered, but by the inclusivity of that progress.

The TTBWA has expressed its readiness to constructively engage with policy-makers and housing authorities to ensure more equitable outcomes in future allocation cycles, advocating for systemic changes that recognize housing as a fundamental right for all citizens regardless of physical ability.

Residents of Piparo faced a disruptive Christmas as seismic activity from the local mud volcano intensified, prompting an urgent visit from Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John on December 25th. The minister emphasized that holidays become insignificant during crises as she assessed the damage firsthand.

The volcanic activity, which commenced on December 24th, has generated substantial infrastructure damage, including major fissures in roadways that have rendered them unusable. At least five households have been directly impacted by the eruption, which ejected heated mud and smoke into the atmosphere.

Fedell Solomon, a resident residing in close proximity to the eruption site, described the ongoing geological disturbances. While the volcanic noises have diminished, new fissures continue to emerge around his two-story property where he lives with his wife, three children, and elderly parents. Solomon reported complete water supply disruption due to damaged pipelines caused by ground movement.

Minister John committed to immediate infrastructure repairs, promising restored road access by the following Wednesday and coordination with relevant authorities to address the water crisis. The Rural Development and Local Government Ministry had previously issued warnings about restricted access to Piparo Road and advised alternative routes with heightened safety precautions.

This event echoes previous volcanic activity in October 2019 and a significant 1997 eruption that necessitated community evacuations. Solomon revealed that his family had been offered alternative housing during the 2019 incident but declined due to financial constraints, noting their home was constructed 38 years prior without any visible volcanic indicators.

The close-knit community has mobilized support efforts while residents and officials maintain vigilant monitoring of the evolving geological situation.

The festive spirit reached new heights at Trinidad’s healthcare facilities as Christmas morning witnessed the arrival of several special newborns, bringing joy and celebration to hospital corridors. The San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) became the setting for a remarkable double delivery event that captured the hearts of staff and families alike.

According to announcements made by the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) through their official social media channels, the maternity ward at SFGH welcomed two healthy infant girls within a remarkably short fifteen-minute interval. The first Christmas delivery occurred at 3:45 AM when Kimberly Singh and Azruddin Waseem Ali became parents to a beautiful baby girl. The emotional moment was captured in photographs showing the beaming parents cradling their newborn daughter.

Hospital staff marked the occasion with ceremonial gestures of celebration. Nurse Hazel Ann Mills, alongside Patient Care Coordinator Sandra Ramkisson-Bholai, presented the delighted couple with commemorative gifts representing the institution’s recognition of this special Christmas birth.

The celebration continued unabated as the maternity unit prepared for another imminent arrival. At precisely 4:00 AM, Yalizmar Moreno Mata delivered her daughter, completing the hospital’s remarkable Christmas morning double delivery. The newborn, comfortably swaddled in pink attire, became the focal point of another round of celebratory photographs and gift presentations by the medical staff.

Meanwhile, in the eastern region of Trinidad, the Sangre Grande Hospital Campus celebrated its own Christmas delivery milestone. Omella Gill gave birth to a five-pound baby boy, earning recognition as the first Christmas newborn in the eastern medical facility. The significance of the occasion prompted a personal visit from Eastern Regional Health Authority CEO Angelina Rampersad-Pierre and Deputy Chairman Dr. Stephan Bhagan, who presented the new mother with an extensive gift hamper containing toys, baby care products, and personal hygiene items. The delivery was successfully performed by Midwife Marella Mark, adding another successful birth to the hospital’s Christmas record.