分类： politics

Roseau North by-election set for September 7 as three candidates vie for the seat

A by-election to fill the vacant parliamentary seat for Dominica’s Roseau North constituency has been officially scheduled for September 7, 2026, following the recent resignation of the area’s sitting representative. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit confirmed the announcement on Sunday, July 9, 2026, noting he has formally advised President Sylvanie Burton to issue an official writ under the state’s public seal to formalize the contest.

The vacancy in the House of Assembly was created on June 12, 2026, when former parliamentary representative Hon. Miriam Blanchard stepped down from her position. Per Section 553 of the Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution, any vacant House seat that does not result from the full dissolution of the legislature must be filled via a by-election within three months of the vacancy occurring, unless the entire House is dissolved earlier. This timeline aligns with the scheduling of the September poll, as Skerrit emphasized the process adheres fully to Section 12 of the House of Assembly Elections Act, Chapter 201.

Three candidates have already been confirmed to contest the open seat. Daniel Lugay will stand for the United Workers Party (UWP), while Ashma McDougal is the nominee of the incumbent Dominica Labour Party (DLP). Sherman Boston is running as an independent candidate in the contest. Candidate nominations will officially be accepted on August 21, 2026, ahead of the September 7 polling day.

In his public statement on the by-election, Prime Minister Skerrit stressed that the constitutional democratic framework in place guarantees residents of Roseau North full opportunity to select a representative that will advance their interests in the national legislature and contribute to ongoing national development work. He also issued a call to all eligible voters in the constituency to take part in the democratic process, urging all participants and candidates to uphold a peaceful, orderly campaign centered on policy issues rather than conflict.

10 8 月, 2026
APNU tells CCJ President to resign amid internal rift over management style

On Sunday evening, Dr. Terrence Campbell, parliamentary head of Guyana’s main opposition bloc A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), issued a public call for Dr. Winston Anderson, the embattled president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), to step down. The demand comes following allegations of mismanagement leveled against Anderson by several of his fellow judges at the regional tribunal, which has served as a key final appellate body for a growing number of Caribbean nations.

Campbell framed the call around the core institutional values that underpin the CCJ’s legitimacy. “The Caribbean deserves a final court whose judges are free from political influence and whose President commands the confidence of his fellow judges, the legal profession, governments and the people of the region,” Campbell stated in his released statement. “Justice Anderson should therefore resign as President of the Caribbean Court of Justice.”

Campbell argued that the Trinidad-headquartered court currently faces a crisis of public confidence, as regional citizens, governments and legal practitioners expect the tribunal to uphold strict standards of independence, impartiality, and freedom from political interference. Emphasizing that the institution’s integrity outweighs individual tenure, he noted that Anderson’s resignation would not constitute an admission of wrongdoing, but rather an act of responsible institutional leadership that would clear the way for the court to address emerging concerns, repair public trust, and reaffirm its commitment to judicial independence.

“It would create the space for the CCJ to address the concerns that have emerged, restore confidence in its leadership, reaffirm the principle of judicial independence and demonstrate that the integrity of the institution must always take precedence over the tenure of any individual office-holder,” Campbell added.

Campbell also stressed that if the CCJ hopes to expand its role as the final court of appeal for additional Caribbean countries, it must first prove beyond any doubt that its own leadership meets the high standards of independence, impartiality, and collaborative governance that the role demands. “The restoration of confidence in the CCJ must begin with accountability at the highest level. Justice Winston Anderson should resign,” he reiterated.

In his statement, Campbell referenced a previously unpublicized engagement between Anderson and Aubrey Norton, Leader of the Opposition in Guyana, regarding the appointment of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice of Guyana. The appointment process has been roiled in controversy over the position of incumbent Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards. Campbell confirmed that Norton has verified Anderson reached out to him on the matter, expressed opposition to any move that would supersede Cummings-Edwards, and ended the discussion after determining the engagement was not in Guyana’s best interests.

Beyond the Guyana judicial appointment controversy, Campbell pointed to reporting from the *Trinidad Express* that uncovered a deep internal rift among CCJ judges, including widespread concerns about Anderson’s leadership style and allegations of unfair treatment of fellow jurists. These reports, he argued, raise systemic questions not just about a single intervention in Guyana’s domestic judicial affairs, but about how Anderson exercises institutional authority and interacts with his colleagues on the court.

These broader tensions have already played out in a high-profile extradition case involving two Guyanese billionaires: Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, who challenged a portion of their extradition proceedings before the CCJ. The case has been publicly cited as a key flashpoint in the rift between multiple CCJ judges and President Anderson.
According to the *Trinidad Express* reporting, an internal email among CCJ judges includes allegations from Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji that Anderson pushed to rush a decision in the Mohamed case. The case centered on the Mohameds’ challenge of a decision by Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, who authorized a magistrate to hear an extradition request from the United States on alleged financial crime charges. Anderson’s push for an early announcement, the allegation claims, stemmed from claims of political bias against Walrond.

The CCJ has not directly addressed the specific claims about Anderson’s management style and decision-making. In an official response to the *Trinidad Express*, the court did not outright discredit the newspaper’s reporting, only noting that the outlet did not have access to the full context of internal court dynamics. “The Court is mindful that questions and allegations presented without the benefit of context, background, or an appreciation of the nature of judicial deliberations, collegial discussions, and institutional governance may lend themselves to misunderstanding or mischaracterisation,” the regional tribunal said.

10 8 月, 2026
LISTEN: Antigua and Barbuda PM Says Ending China Ties Would Be a ‘Difficult Proposition’

In a recent public address on the locally broadcast Browne and Browne Show, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has made clear that cutting the Caribbean nation’s long-standing diplomatic relations with China would be an extraordinarily challenging step, due to Beijing’s consistent 30-year track record of financing and backing for transformative national infrastructure projects across the country.

During the discussion, Browne acknowledged the open possibility that Antigua and Barbuda’s close bilateral partnership with China could be linked to recent policy measures implemented by the United States that impact the small island nation. At the same time, he was careful to emphasize that he was not making a formal accusation that Washington is intentionally applying coercive pressure on his administration to cut ties with Beijing.

“If it is that the US is trying to force us to end our diplomatic relations with China, I would say here that that would be a difficult proposition,” Browne stated during the program. “And I’m not saying that they are.”

Expanding on the value of the bilateral relationship, the prime minister noted that China stands as one of the most significant contributors to Antigua and Barbuda’s infrastructure growth across the past two to three decades. “No other country, no other financial institution would have made a greater contribution towards the advancement of our country than China,” he asserted.

Browne went on to highlight specific, high-impact projects that would not have been possible without Chinese support, including the country’s primary commercial airport, major seaport facility, national university campus, and a wide range of other core public infrastructure projects that serve local communities every day.

The prime minister also explained the unique structural barrier that Antigua and Barbuda faces when seeking low-cost development financing from global multilateral institutions. The country’s relatively high per capita income, he noted, disqualifies it from accessing the concessional lending terms offered by bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, leaving a critical gap in funding for national development priorities.

China has stepped in to fill this unmet need, Browne confirmed, providing both grants and concessionary loans with terms that are simply not available from most other global lenders. He detailed the favorable terms of some Chinese financing packages: a 2% annual interest rate spread over a 20-year repayment period, paired with a five-year moratorium on principal payments that gives the country time to generate returns on invested infrastructure before beginning full repayments.

“No other entity, none in the world, has been so generous to Antigua and Barbuda,” he emphasized.

Beyond favorable financing, Browne noted that the partnership with China allows Antigua and Barbuda to maintain full sovereign ownership of its strategically important national assets, while directing revenue generated by those assets toward the next phase of the country’s development.

Finally, he clarified that the Caribbean nation’s diplomatic and development ties with Beijing are rooted entirely in Antigua and Barbuda’s own national development requirements. The relationship, he maintained, does not equate to hostility toward the United States, nor does it represent an alignment of Antigua and Barbuda with China against American interests.

10 8 月, 2026
Task Force Appeals for Cooperation as ‘Exercise Resilience’ Takes Place Today

As the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda advances its preparations to host the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this November, the national task force overseeing event planning has launched a public call for cooperation ahead of a major full-scale security readiness drill, dubbed Exercise Resilience. Scheduled to run from midday to 6:00 pm on Monday, August 10, the drill is being jointly coordinated by the task force’s Security Planning Sub-Committee and the CHOGM Business Forum Committee, with activity concentrated across three key sites: the Sticky Wicket Restaurant and Conference Centre at Barnacle Point, and the Copper and Lumber Store Hotel located in English Harbour.

In a public statement issued by the task force’s Media and Public Affairs Committee, a spokesperson emphasized that this large-scale simulation is an indispensable step in verifying the country’s ability to safely host one of the world’s largest international intergovernmental gatherings. The spokesperson acknowledged that temporary disruptions, particularly from scheduled road closures across multiple key routes, will inevitably cause inconvenience for local residents, motorists, and business operators. However, he noted that the drill is a core component of national preparations for the high-profile summit, which is expected to deliver widespread, long-term economic and diplomatic benefits to the entire nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

Beyond basic security checks, Exercise Resilience is specifically designed to evaluate and reinforce the country’s overall security posture, emergency response protocols, cross-agency coordination mechanisms, and end-to-end operational effectiveness in a controlled, real-world simulation environment. Over the course of the drill, participating national and local agencies will run through a full suite of real-time operational scenarios identical to those that will be executed during the official CHOGM program. These include simulated movements of VIP and VVIP motorcades, layered venue security deployments, enhanced entry screening procedures, response drills for unexpected emergency situations, and testing of coordinated operational protocols that will also apply to the official CHOGM Business Forum scheduled to take place at the Sticky Wicket site.

To help the public prepare, the task force has released full details of expected disruptions. Temporary road closures, traffic diversions, and restricted access will be implemented across multiple major arterial roads across the island. Restricted parking zones will also be enforced in and around the Sticky Wicket area, including stretches adjacent to the old terminal of V.C. Bird International Airport. Affected routes cover all roads leading to official venues and hotels across the island’s eastern, western, northern, and southern quadrants, including the Sir George Walter Highway, Sir Sydney Walling Highway, Old Parham Road, Friars Hill Road, Valley Road, all access roads to and from V.C. Bird International Airport, and the entire English Harbour and Dockyard area. Pedestrian movement will also be regulated in designated simulation zones throughout the drill period.

To minimize travel delays and confusion, law enforcement and security personnel will be deployed at strategic positions along all affected routes. Their roles will include assisting motorists, directing diverted traffic, and maintaining safe, orderly flow for both vehicles and pedestrians. Local authorities have issued clear guidance for all affected groups: motorists, airport passengers, local residents, and business owners are strongly encouraged to plan itineraries in advance, depart early for scheduled appointments where possible, and build extra travel time into their plans to avoid unplanned delays. The public is also urged to comply fully with all diversion signage, posted road markings, and instructions issued by on-site police and authorized security personnel, and to follow official government social media and media platforms for real-time updates and advisories before and during the exercise.

In closing, both the National Task Force overseeing CHOGM preparations and the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda have issued an apology for any temporary inconvenience caused by the required security measures, and extended sincere thanks to the Antigua and Barbuda public for their ongoing patience, understanding, and cooperation as the country works to ensure a safe, successful 2026 CHOGM summit.

10 8 月, 2026
Mulokot en partners: Vijfkilometerwet geen oplossing voor grondenrechten

On August 10, a coalition of seven civil society organizations led by Suriname’s Stichting Mulokot issued a public appeal to President Jennifer Simons and the national government, calling for an immediate halt to the rushed enactment of the Wet Bescherming Woon- en Leefgebieden — widely known as the five-kilometer law. The coalition, which represents Indigenous and Tribal communities across Suriname, argues that the proposed legislation fails to deliver adequate protection for marginalized ethnic communities and risks creating another unnecessary delay to the long-overdue legal recognition of these groups’ collective land rights.

While the coalition acknowledges the stated goal of the bill — safeguarding the living environments of Indigenous and Tribal communities — it stresses that the legislation does not address the core issue of formalizing collective land rights, a longstanding demand from these communities. Beyond this fundamental gap, the groups also criticize the law’s five-kilometer protected zone framework as deeply inadequate. Traditional Indigenous and Tribal territories are not rigid circular boundaries centered on village cores, they explain: hunting grounds, fishing areas, subsistence farm plots, sacred sites, and other culturally and economically critical lands often extend far beyond this arbitrary five-kilometer limit.

The organizations also raised sharp concerns about the slow progress the Surinamese state has made in fulfilling its obligations stemming from binding rulings by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on Indigenous land rights. They emphasize that enacting a temporary piece of legislation like the five-kilometer law must not be used as an excuse to further postpone the formal recognition of full collective land rights for affected communities.

A core principle highlighted in the appeal is that no decisions impacting the territories of Indigenous and Tribal peoples can be considered legitimate without the full, meaningful participation of these communities. The international standard of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), the coalition stresses, must be fully respected in this process. Communities need sufficient time and space to conduct internal deliberations and formalize their own collective positions before any legislation is advanced.

These concerns are rooted in Suriname’s own political history, the groups note. Decades of experience have shown that narrow political and commercial interests have often been prioritized over the public good, including the rights of Indigenous and Tribal groups. For this reason, the coalition argues that land rights must not be reduced to a political bargaining chip, and protection of these rights must not be dependent on the shifting priorities of sitting administrations.

In place of rushed enactment, the coalition is calling on President Simons and her government to first complete a comprehensive, meaningful consultation process with all impacted Indigenous and Tribal communities before moving forward with any legislation. The groups also demand that the government release a clear, binding timeline for implementing the Inter-American Court of Human Rights rulings and delivering full legal recognition of collective land rights.

“We do not accept a temporary fix that only delays a permanent solution,” the statement reads. “We demand recognition of our rights, protection of our traditional territories, and respect for our voice.”

The appeal was signed by Stichting Mulokot on behalf of all six partner organizations: the Organisatie van Inheemsen in Suriname (OIS), SCV Juku Jume Maro, Stichting Key Holders of Sustainable Environment, Vereniging van Saamaka Gemeenschappen, Making Waves, and Inheems Kollectief Suriname (IKSur).

10 8 月, 2026
60 years of ties, but no T&T mission in Japan

Roughly 300 citizens of Trinidad and Tobago build their lives nearly 9,000 miles from home across Japan, a gap that has grown increasingly problematic amid more than six decades of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations: to date, the Caribbean nation has never established a permanent diplomatic outpost in Tokyo. Currently, the closest diplomatic mission responsible for Japanese affairs is based 3,000 miles away in New Delhi, India, and the mandate to open a consulate or embassy on Japanese soil rests solely with the government of Trinidad and Tobago, local media outlet *Express* has confirmed. The question of a new mission came into focus during an official visit by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to Port of Spain this Friday, where he held bilateral talks with his Trinidadian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sean Sobers. While top Japanese foreign affairs officials confirmed that the creation of a Trinidadian mission in Tokyo was not raised during these high-level talks, they noted that a permanent presence would deliver widespread benefits to both nations. “Trinidad and Tobago has managed Japanese affairs through its New Delhi mission since the 1970s, while Japan maintains a full diplomatic mission in Port of Spain. If your government were to establish an independent mission in Tokyo, it would be very helpful for our bilateral cooperation,” explained Toshihiro Kitamura, Director General for Press and Public Diplomacy at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with *Express*. The absence of a local mission creates tangible administrative barriers that slow bilateral cooperation already. *Express* confirmed with multiple officials that without a registered diplomatic mission operating in Japan, the government of Trinidad and Tobago is unable to open an official bank account on Japanese territory. This technical barrier has repeatedly complicated Tokyo’s efforts to deliver direct financial assistance, including development grants, to Port of Spain. Over the past decade, the Japanese government has donated millions of dollars to support Trinidad and Tobago’s priorities, ranging from climate adaptation to disaster resilience infrastructure. But due to the lack of a local diplomatic presence, all funding must be routed through third-party international agencies rather than delivered directly to the Trinidadian government. For example, when Japan provided funding to address Trinidad and Tobago’s growing sargassum seaweed crisis, the donation was disbursed through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) rather than sent directly to Port of Spain. Japan also frequently uses the Caricom Secretariat as an intermediary for disaster prevention assistance, Kitamura confirmed. The gap also leaves Trinidad and Tobago’s own citizens residing in Japan without timely access to consular support. During a reporting trip to Tokyo in late 2025, *Express* spoke with local Trinidadian nationals and residents with close ties to the Caribbean nation, many of whom expressed growing anxiety over the lack of on-the-ground consular services. One anonymous participant in the Japan Exchange and Teaching programme told reporters: “If a personal emergency or legal issue arises here, I would have to travel all the way to India to get the consular assistance I need. That uncertainty is really concerning.” *Express* reached out to Foreign Minister Sean Sobers—who traveled to Japan last year to attend the 2025 Osaka World Expo—to request comment on whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively considering the establishment of a permanent diplomatic mission in Tokyo. As of publication, no response has been received from Sobers or his office.

10 8 月, 2026
US deputy Secretary of State Landau in T&T

The second-highest ranking diplomat at the U.S. Department of State, Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau, touched down in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday for an official working visit centered on deepening long-standing bilateral ties between the two nations. High on his meeting agenda are key collaborative areas: cross-border energy strategy, joint security initiatives, and expanded economic partnership.

Upon his arrival at the port of entry, Landau was formally welcomed by Sean Sobers, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, alongside Philip Kern, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires based in the country. Over the course of his two-day stop, Landau is scheduled to hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The two leaders are set to align on mutual energy and security objectives, as well as map out new pathways to grow mutually beneficial economic cooperation between Washington and Port of Spain.

On the second day of his stay, Landau will also take part in a formal ribbon-cutting inauguration for Ibis Steel Company T&T Ltd, marking the opening of the new regional industrial operation.

According to official statements from the U.S. State Department, Landau’s stop in Trinidad and Tobago is just one segment of a broader multi-country regional tour that will run through August 12. Following his engagements in the twin-island nation, the deputy secretary will travel onward to Guyana for the next leg of the trip.

In Guyana, Landau is set to hold official meetings with President Irfaan Ali and senior members of the Guyanese cabinet. The discussions there will center on broadening bilateral economic collaboration, unlocking new cross-border investment opportunities, and ramping up joint work in high-priority strategic sectors, including energy development and critical mineral supply chains.

The State Department emphasized in its release that the regional tour underscores the Biden administration’s sustained commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic partnerships across the Western Hemisphere. The trip is structured to advance shared priorities for all participating nations, from bolstering regional security frameworks and strengthening global energy resilience to driving inclusive economic prosperity across the Caribbean and South American region.

10 8 月, 2026
Call for probe into CCJ allegations

A prominent regional legal organization is sounding the alarm over unaddressed governance concerns at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), demanding that regional leaders launch an immediate, transparent investigation to prevent lasting damage to public trust in the court’s work.

The call for action comes from Kiel Taklalsingh, chairman of the Assembly of Central Legal Practitioners (ACLP), after he reviewed leaked internal correspondence between CCJ judges that was first reported by the Sunday Express. According to Taklalsingh, the exchange contained troubling red flags that raise serious questions about how the regional court is managed and hints at inappropriate efforts to sway judicial rulings.

In remarks outlining the organization’s position, Taklalsingh said the document left him with deep foreboding about the court’s internal operations. He argued the correspondence suggests the court could be at risk of authoritarian-style management, and pointed to what he described as possible improper interference with the independent decision-making of sitting judges.

Specifically, Taklalsingh highlighted the targeting of Justice Jamadar, a Trinidad and Tobago judge widely respected across the legal community. He noted that anyone with experience practicing law in the jurisdiction knows Jamadar as a fiercely independent, intellectually rigorous jurist and a dedicated defender of the rule of law — making any allegations of interference with his work particularly alarming.

These concerns cannot be brushed aside or left unaddressed, Taklalsingh emphasized. He is urging all Caribbean prime ministers and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the regional governing body that oversees the CCJ, to move forward with a formal probe without delay.

“Having seen and read what has been brought to light, I have no choice but to call upon Caribbean prime ministers and Caricom as a whole to launch an immediate investigation into these matters,” Taklalsingh said. He stressed that any probe must be conducted quickly, comprehensively, and openly to rebuild public trust in the institution, if that trust has already been shaken.

Taklalsingh acknowledged that the CCJ has spent years building a strong reputation and earning the trust of Caribbean populations, with long-term goals of becoming the final appellate apex court for all regional territories. The current allegations, if left unresolved, threaten to erase all of that hard-won progress, he warned.

If the issue is allowed to fester without a thorough public investigation, the consequences will stretch far beyond the immediate questions of court administration, he added. “If this problem is not dealt with thoroughly, if it is allowed to fester, unfortunately all of the hard work that the CCJ has done in the past will go to waste,” Taklalsingh said.

10 8 月, 2026
Camille says sorry to UDeCOTT chairman

A high-profile political controversy in Trinidad and Tobago took a swift turn this week, when opposition Member of Parliament Camille Robinson-Regis issued a public apology to Shankar Bidaisee, chair of the country’s Urban Development Corporation (UDeCOTT), over incorrect statements she made during a Thursday press briefing. The apology came on the heels of a public warning from Bidaisee that legal action would be launched if Robinson-Regis did not retract and apologize for her remarks linking him to two controversial housing development contracts, a threat that was first reported in the *Sunday Express*.

10 8 月, 2026
Parade closer to President’s House

Trinidad and Tobago is set to shake up its annual Independence Day celebrations this year, with the national parade moving to a new section of the iconic Queen’s Park Savannah, directly opposite the President’s House. The shift has drawn mixed reactions from political figures, with one opposition lawmaker framing the change as a long-overdue chance to reinvent national traditions while delivering millions in taxpayer savings, and a ruling party MP raising urgent alarms over potential harm to the park’s protected green spaces.

Shadow Member of Parliament for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West Phillip Edward Alexander confirmed the venue change for the August 31 parade in an interview with local outlet Express on Wednesday, noting that the move is not a signal of a scaled-back celebration, but rather an opportunity to test a new, more cost-effective format for the national holiday.

For decades, the Independence Day parade has been hosted on a different stretch of the Queen’s Park Savannah, with senior government dignitaries including the Prime Minister gathering at the site’s historic Grand Stand to review the procession. Last year, however, the traditional parade and accompanying fireworks display were canceled entirely after the government imposed a national state of emergency to support ongoing security operations. Officials heeding security expert advice replaced the public event with a low-key National Day of Prayer and Reflection, leaving many citizens without the iconic annual celebration.

Alexander argued that the break from tradition created the perfect opening to reimagine how the country marks its independence. He noted that the new, tree-lined venue opposite the President’s House offers naturally shaded viewing areas for spectators and a more scenic backdrop for the procession, qualities that could turn the one-time experimental change into a permanent improvement. “This could very well be a grand reinvention of the parade in a nice picturesque part of the Savannah. It is a really good location for the event. I am surprised it was not done before,” Alexander said.

Beyond aesthetic improvements, Alexander highlighted a major financial benefit to the relocation: the existing Carnival North Stand remains in place at the traditional parade route, and moving the Independence Day event eliminates the need to fully dismantle the stand ahead of the parade and rebuild it ahead of the annual Carnival celebration. Alexander estimates that this annual dismantling and reconstruction process costs the country roughly TT $5 million, a sum that can be redirected to other pressing public needs if the venue change becomes permanent. “That is a substantial saving,” he noted, adding that the new format could deliver a better experience for attendees while cutting unnecessary public spending.

Pointing to the 2026 Trinidad and Tobago Carnival as evidence that updating long-held traditions can produce positive results, Alexander noted that the government’s new free-admission Flava Village culinary and cultural hub was met with initial skepticism but quickly became a fan-favorite addition to the festival, with attendees calling for it to be hosted year-round. “Everything this government has done so far has been bigger and better than what obtained before,” Alexander said, urging citizens to approach the parade change with an open mind rather than pre-judging the new format. “Change is good. Change can be beneficial. We have been carrying on a certain way for some time and now we have the opportunity to experiment with different ways of doing things, better ways of doing things. This new location may become something we never knew we always needed,” he added, saying he is eager to see the reinvented parade come to life on August 31.

Not all political figures have welcomed the change, however. Stuart Young, the incumbent MP for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West, took to Facebook earlier this week to raise urgent environmental concerns after observing active construction at the new parade site, including piles of construction aggregate, a steamroller, and work on what appeared to be a substantial new permanent structure.

Young called on the ruling Kamla Persad Bissessar government to provide immediate transparency around the work, asking multiple pointed questions about the project: what structure is being erected, what paving work is planned for the green space, is the construction directly tied to the relocated Independence Day parade, who is funding and carrying out the work, and what long-term impact will the development have on the Queen’s Park Savannah’s protected green areas? “The green spaces in our beloved Savannah should not be destroyed and desecrated. What is taking place? I look forward to urgent answers,” Young wrote alongside photos of the active construction site.

Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne echoed Young’s concerns, noting that any permanent damage to the Queen’s Park Savannah’s green spaces would have a lasting negative impact on capital city residents. Alleyne said he has already instructed the Port of Spain City Corporation’s leadership to launch an inquiry into the construction activity, though the section of the park where work is underway falls under the jurisdiction of the Horticultural Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, not the city corporation.

As of Wednesday, multiple requests for comment and information from Mayor Alleyne, Agriculture Minister Ravi Rattiram, and Defence Minister Wayne Sturge went unanswered, leaving key questions about the construction project and parade plans unresolved as the country approaches the August 31 holiday.

10 8 月, 2026