分类： politics

In 1946, Alphonso Theophilus James achieved a historic milestone by becoming Tobago’s first elected representative to Trinidad and Tobago’s Legislative Council through universal adult suffrage. A fierce advocate for Tobago’s development, James personally delivered a groundbreaking memorandum to Sir Arthur Creech Jones, Secretary of State for the Colonies, on June 2, 1948. This document, crafted with collaborative input, detailed systemic grievances after 59 years of union with Trinidad and the devastating impact of World War II.

The memorandum presented Tobago as being in a “grievous condition” due to administrative neglect. James criticized the prevailing colonial policy that viewed Tobago as a financial burden, where expenditures were considered losses and improvements were seen as draining Trinidad’s resources. This mentality created significant barriers to progress, with officials merely maintaining inadequate services rather than pursuing genuine development.

Facing legislative indifference, James self-funded his journey to London to appeal directly to imperial authorities. His proposed development program represented Tobago’s first comprehensive development strategy, emphasizing maximization of the island’s comparative advantages through resource-based development to reduce import dependency, conserve foreign exchange, and create employment opportunities.

James advocated for radical agricultural reform through land redistribution, reducing estate sizes to allocate plots for peasant vegetable gardens that could supply local markets. He recognized this would face opposition from plantation owners but insisted it constituted sound agricultural policy requiring enhanced Department of Agriculture staffing and capabilities.

The memorandum identified significant potential in animal husbandry, recommending scientific breeding methods, stock feed education, long-term loans for farmers, and veterinary support to develop meat and dairy production. James also noted Tobago’s fishing industry suffered from antiquated methods despite its popularity, suggesting canning facilities could revolutionize the sector.

James opposed systems making Tobago merely a primary producer for Trinidad, highlighting unexploited potential in fiber industries for mattress and cushion production. He advocated for local processing factories for coconut oil, soap, lard, and margarine.

The document detailed how inadequate infrastructure hampered the cocoa industry, with northern growing areas poorly served by roads and shipping facilities. Tobago’s road and water systems were the colony’s worst, discouraging investment despite repeated appeals for improvement.

A comprehensive road-development scheme was proposed to facilitate transportation, agricultural commerce, and healthcare access—ending the dangerous practice of carrying sick persons in hammocks over treacherous terrain. The memo connected poor roads to increased import dependency.

Healthcare deficiencies were highlighted, with only three medical officers serving the entire island while also covering other territories. The recommendation called for eight medical officers attached to district hospitals, increased health centers and nurses, improved swamp drainage for malaria control, and additional sanitary inspectors.

Housing conditions provided the most visible evidence of neglect, with most homes described as dilapidated and uninhabitable. The memorandum urged immediate government action through a housing scheme similar to Trinidad’s, emphasizing construction loans rather than rental units to address the crisis.

The United States has formally declared a strategic pivot to reclaim its historical dominance across the Western Hemisphere through a newly articulated foreign policy framework. This initiative, detailed in the National Security Strategy document signed by President Donald Trump and released by the White House, marks a significant shift from what it describes as ‘years of neglect’ in regional engagement.

Dubbed the ‘Trump Corollary’ to the Monroe Doctrine, the strategy aims to reinforce American pre-eminence by enlisting established regional allies to combat transnational threats, including narco-terrorism, cartels, and illegal migration. The document explicitly states intentions to deny non-hemispheric competitors—an apparent reference to global powers like China and Russia—the ability to position military assets or control strategic infrastructure in the region.

Geographically integral to this hemisphere, Trinidad and Tobago finds itself directly implicated in these developments. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has publicly endorsed the U.S. military presence, including the recent establishment of an advanced AN/TPS-80 radar system at the ANR Robinson International Airport. This system, capable of detecting aerial threats and monitoring maritime activity, has already aided local authorities in a significant drug bust valued at $171 million.

The U.S. strategy emphasizes cultivating partnerships with nations aligned with its principles, while not excluding governments with differing outlooks where shared interests exist. It also outlines considerations for targeted military deployments, including potential lethal force, to secure borders and control key transit routes. This approach has generated mixed reactions among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders, with some, like Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, expressing concerns over maintaining the region’s status as a ‘zone of peace.’

The policy publication follows a substantial U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean, featuring destroyers, a nuclear submarine, an aircraft carrier strike group, and Marine Expeditionary Units. This deployment, officially an anti-narcotic operation, has raised questions about sovereignty and extra-judicial actions after military strikes on alleged drug vessels.

Historical context adds complexity, as seen in Grenada’s cautious response to a U.S. request to host military radar. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell remains deliberative, mindful of the 1983 U.S. invasion codenamed Operation Urgent Fury. The U.S. maintains that its revitalized doctrine is a ‘common-sense restoration of American power’ essential for regional stability and security.

Tobago’s political landscape witnesses a remarkable transition as former national football captain Karyn “Baby” Forbes steps into the electoral arena. The celebrated athlete, boasting 15 years and over 70 appearances representing Trinidad and Tobago, has been officially nominated as the People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for Plymouth/Black Rock in the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly elections scheduled for January 12.

Forbes will contend against Kern Alexis of the Tobago People’s Party in what marks a significant career shift from athletic leadership to political service. In an exclusive interview, Forbes emphasized that her political engagement evolved gradually rather than emerging as a sudden impulse. “This decision grew out of years of listening,” she stated. “Leadership doesn’t end when the game is on pause – it deepens.”

The Plymouth native articulated her alignment with PNM as a choice grounded in principle rather than convenience. “I chose the PNM because I believe in building things that last,” Forbes explained. “Not handouts. Not season promises. Real structures that serve generations.”

Forbes demonstrates acute awareness of her constituency’s challenges, noting struggling families, particularly single-parent households, youth lacking clear pathways despite their abilities, and elderly residents feeling increasingly marginalized. She prioritizes addressing deteriorating sports facilities and community infrastructure requiring urgent attention.

Her political philosophy combines realism with visionary planning. “I don’t pretend to have magical solutions. What I bring is structure and follow-through,” Forbes asserted. Her agenda emphasizes people-first governance, family empowerment, community space revitalization, and leveraging sports, education, and entrepreneurship as opportunity gateways.

If elected, Forbes commits to establishing robust foundations within her first year: “Systems that work, spaces that feel alive again, and people who feel seen. Because service is not about power: It’s about responsibility.”

The athlete-turned-candidate views her role as bridging sports and community development. While embracing her athletic identity, Forbes stresses that “empowerment doesn’t end with sport.” She prepares to release two books—”Woman of Substance” and “Beyond the Whistle”—sharing her journey including mental battles, setbacks, and moments of faith to demonstrate that “success is not linear, and strength isn’t perfection.”

Forbes considers her candidacy fundamentally inspirational: “My candidacy is about showing young people that your background doesn’t box you in. Whether you come from the field, the classroom, the block, or the church, you belong in leadership spaces too.”

She characterizes Tobago’s current situation as pivotal, demanding “stamina, empathy, and integrity” alongside practical understanding of “teamwork and accountability, not in theory, but in practice.”

Despite recently suffering a fractured ankle during training before Trinidad and Tobago’s October 28 friendly against Jamaica, Forbes has begun rehabilitation therapy following cast removal. She remains technically available for national team selection while transitioning toward political service.

Forbes acknowledges the challenges ahead: “Sport has clear rules; life doesn’t. But the same courage it takes to step onto the pitch against stronger opponents is the courage needed to step into leadership when change is necessary.”

She believes football instilled essential values for public service—discipline, accountability, and respect for team roles—understanding that “you may not always score the goal, but your position still matters.” Forbes applies the athletic principle that “preparation beats talent when talent stops working” to governance, emphasizing that “we don’t need more noise. We need preparation, planning, and consistent delivery.”

Ultimately, Forbes frames her political engagement not as power pursuit but responsibility continuation: “I’m not here because it’s comfortable. I’m here because it’s required.” Her perspective redefines leadership as commitment extending far beyond the football pitch, embracing broader community stewardship.

The political landscape of Trinidad and Tobago has lost one of its most distinguished voices with the passing of Ferdinand “Ferdie” Ferreira at age 93. A former key advisor to founding Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams, Ferreira represented a vanishing breed of political thinkers who viewed governance as genuine public service rather than political theater.

Ferreira’s remarkable journey began humbly on the Port of Spain docks, where his formal education ended at age 14. His political awakening commenced in 1946 as a member of Butler’s Army of Liberation, with his informal education unfolding through vigorous debates at Woodford Square—the renowned open-air university that shaped generations of Trinidadian thinkers.

Despite his unwavering identification as a PNM loyalist, Ferreira distinguished himself through his uncommon willingness to engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints. He transformed political disagreement into an art form, consistently maintaining civil discourse without descending into rancor or personal attacks. His commitment to principled governance sometimes placed him at odds with his own party, most notably in 1980 when he was expelled from the PNM for questioning Dr. Williams’ demand for undated resignation letters from cabinet members.

This principled stance led Ferreira to help establish the Organisation for National Reconstruction and later contribute to building the National Alliance for Reconstruction before returning to the PNM fold in 1992 under Patrick Manning’s leadership. Throughout his six decades of political engagement—expressed through columns, letters to editors, and interviews—Ferreira never tempered his advocacy for transparent governance and mutual respect in parliamentary proceedings.

Even in his final years, he remained an outspoken commentator, challenging political conventions and amplifying dissenting voices within his party. His fearless commentary following the PNM’s April defeat and his balanced assessment of Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles demonstrated his enduring commitment to honest political discourse.

The University of Trinidad and Tobago recognized his contributions with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2021, while his published works—including “Political Encounters 1946-2016” and his 2022 autobiography “Portrait of a Patriot”—stand as testaments to his intellectual legacy.

In a significant address to United National Congress (UNC) supporters during a fundraising Christmas dinner in Couva on December 13, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar outlined a demanding roadmap for the coming year. The Prime Minister characterized 2026 as a pivotal period for both the nation and her political party, emphasizing substantial work ahead without detailing specific challenges.

Reflecting on the UNC’s recent electoral victory on April 28, which ended a decade-long opposition status from 2015 to 2025, Persad-Bissessar acknowledged the loyalty of party members during difficult years marked by ‘intense pressure, hostility and challenges.’ She credited their sustained efforts for enabling the UNC to celebrate its first Christmas as the governing party.

The Prime Minister reported significant governmental progress within seven months of administration, citing restored ‘seriousness, stability and competence to national decision making.’ She highlighted legislative achievements including crime-fighting measures, enhanced public safety protocols, and institutional reforms aimed at rebuilding trust in state mechanisms.

While acknowledging bureaucratic delays affecting some initiatives, Persad-Bissessar reaffirmed her commitment to fulfilling the electoral mandate. She specifically addressed previous leadership doubts within party ranks, expressing gratitude to members who maintained support ‘out of conviction and genuine love’ rather than convenience.

Drawing from biblical teachings on servant leadership, the Prime Minister pledged to continue governing with ‘integrity, courage and care.’ She concluded by urging continued discipline and loyalty from UNC members as Trinidad and Tobago approaches what she described as a decisive period in national development.