分类： politics

TOBAGO – Chief Secretary Farley Augustine of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has issued a firm denial regarding allegations of privatizing No Man’s Land, a contentious coastal area. Speaking at a December 29 public meeting in the Signal Hill/Patience Hill electoral district, Augustine categorically refuted claims that his administration had transferred public lands to private developers.

Augustine, who also leads the Tobago People’s Party (TPP), addressed residents with unambiguous clarity: ‘Let me be pellucidly clear: this chief secretary, this government, and this executive have not given any lands to any private developer at No Man’s Land. These rumors circulating are complete fabrications.’

The controversy emerged after a Trinidadian businessman approached the THA with unsolicited proposals to upgrade vendor facilities at the site. According to Augustine, the developer offered to provide infrastructure improvements—including water access, restroom facilities, and health safety upgrades—at no cost to the government or taxpayers. The only request was that the THA would assume maintenance responsibilities after completion.

Augustine revealed he instructed the businessman to first consult directly with local vendors and submit a formal proposal before any consideration could occur. ‘The gentleman has not even provided us with a proposal for evaluation, making the current allegations entirely premature,’ he emphasized.

The Chief Secretary drew parallels to previous controversial land proposals, notably the former PNM government’s Sandals resort initiative, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to preserving public access to Tobago’s natural resources. He assured that any legitimate relocation of vendors would follow proper legal procedures, which have not been initiated.

The Trinidad and Tobago government has announced a significant expansion of its Migrant Registration Framework (MRF), extending eligibility to all undocumented migrants regardless of nationality from January 1 to September 30, 2026. This policy shift represents a strategic departure from the previous framework that exclusively accommodated Venezuelan nationals.

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander will oversee the issuance of registration cards containing biometric data and personal information, enabling previously undocumented migrants to obtain legal residency and work rights. The government has simultaneously amended immigration regulations to include children of permit holders, ensuring family unity within the legal framework.

The expansion has generated mixed reactions within migrant communities. Venezuelans, who constitute the largest migrant group with approximately 44,000 individuals, largely welcomed the initiative as protection against deportation. However, concerns persist regarding implementation details and ongoing diplomatic tensions between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Notably, the policy includes stringent provisions for deporting migrants with criminal records or deemed security risks. Cabinet has referred coordination of deportations to the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs for diplomatic engagement with relevant embassies.

Civil society organizations including the La Casita Hispanic Cultural Centre have urged migrants to rely exclusively on official information channels while preparing necessary documentation. Meanwhile, community advocate Moises Perez Mcnish emphasized the economic contributions of skilled Venezuelan professionals in fields including medicine, engineering, and sports education.

The policy revision has also addressed previous criticisms regarding unequal treatment of migrant groups. Dr. David Muhammad of the Black Agenda Project welcomed the inclusive approach, noting that African migrants had previously faced systemic disadvantages compared to Venezuelan counterparts during the 2019 registration process.

Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape has been shaken by a heated confrontation between government and opposition figures following controversial remarks by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The controversy emerged when the Prime Minister characterized the nation as a “lawless dump” during discussions about newly implemented traffic penalty increases on December 28.

Opposition Chief Whip and PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales launched a scathing rebuke against the Prime Minister’s comments, demanding an immediate public apology. In a strongly worded Facebook statement on December 29, Gonzales condemned the description as “an appalling betrayal of the office she holds” and labeled the language as “careless and contemptuous.”

The political firestorm centers around Legal Notice No 471 of 2025, published on December 25, which substantially increased penalties for traffic violations. The revised framework introduces tiered speeding fines ranging from $2,000 for minor violations to $6,000 for severe infractions, while driving without insurance now carries a staggering $10,000 penalty—a tenfold increase from previous rates.

Gonzales emphasized that while Trinidad and Tobago faces challenges similar to other nations, the country remains “blessed and fortunate in ways far better than others.” He asserted that national leadership should demonstrate “humility, morality and integrity” rather than engaging in public degradation of the nation.

The Opposition has scheduled a news conference for December 30 at the Opposition Leader’s office to address this controversy among other national issues. This development marks another chapter in the ongoing political tension between the ruling UNC party and opposition PNM, recalling Persad-Bissessar’s pre-election promise in April 2024 to reduce traffic fines and implement driver education programs when she served as opposition leader.

The Prime Minister has defended the policy shift as necessary to combat persistent dangerous driving, arguing that previous measures including the demerit points system failed to adequately deter repeat offenders. The government has consequently scrapped most of the demerit system in favor of significantly higher fixed penalties.

The Trinidad and Tobago administration under Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has unveiled a controversial fiscal strategy that critics are labeling as governance through punitive taxation rather than effective policy solutions. Effective January 1, 2026, the government will implement severe increases in traffic penalties—a move the Prime Minister justifies by citing public “lawlessness” and alleged “sub-par intelligence levels” among citizens.

This policy reversal marks a stark departure from the administration’s previous stance. While in opposition, Persad-Bissessar vehemently criticized the former government’s demerit system as creating “hardship,” subsequently dismantling the mechanism upon taking office. The return of traffic chaos has now prompted a response that doubles fines rather than addressing infrastructure or transportation system deficiencies.

Transport Minister Eli Zakour defends the measures as necessary for road safety, though conspicuously absent is any comprehensive mass transit plan or modernization initiative. Concurrently, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo has enacted Legal Notices 472 and 473, dramatically increasing customs fees through what the government terms “modernization” efforts.

The most significant impact falls upon public transport operators, with maxi taxi tolls for the Priority Bus Route doubling to $600 quarterly without prior consultation. Route Two president Brenton Knights confirms that this unilateral decision signals the end of the “honeymoon phase” between transporters and the administration.

These revenue-generation measures unfold against a troubling economic backdrop: Consolidated Energy Ltd has been downgraded to CCC+ junk-bond status, a $224 million debt maturity approaches, and natural gas supplies show only marginal improvements. Rather than addressing these fundamental economic challenges, the government has chosen to implement widespread fee increases that will inevitably raise consumer prices across all sectors.

The Prime Minister’s Christmas message emphasizing “compassion” and “service” stands in stark contrast to policies that critics argue demonstrate creative bankruptcy in governance. The administration appears to be taxing citizens into compliance rather than governing them through effective leadership and strategic economic planning.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has suggested potentially opening the Priority Bus Route (PBR) to all commuters, allowing maxi taxi operators to use it without fees. This proposal comes as a response to operators seeking fare increases following recent toll hikes.

The government recently doubled the quarterly PBR toll from $300 to $600, effectively increasing daily costs from $3 to $6 for drivers. Most traffic fines were similarly doubled, and customs fee increases may drive up vehicle part prices. Some maxi taxi drivers at City Gate had proposed raising short-drop fares from $5 to $8 to offset these increased operational expenses.

However, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar criticized this proposed fare increase, noting the additional $3 daily cost represents “the price of a small Coca Cola.” She emphasized that taxpayers currently subsidize tens of millions in maintenance costs for road markings, traffic lights, road surfaces, drainage, street lighting, City Gate facilities, security, and the PBR unit itself.

The Prime Minister stated, “I’m maybe willing to give the association total control of the entire bus route if they are willing to take over all the costs.” She added that opening the route to all vehicles would eliminate fees for maxi taxis entirely.

In separate remarks, Persad-Bissessar defended her administration’s record, asserting Trinidad and Tobago was “better off under UNC” leadership. She cited progress in public safety and economic revitalization foundations while accusing opponents of seeking “exchange where they become the new beneficiaries of corruption and disorder.” She further criticized the opposing PNM party for insufficiently supporting its core constituents.