分类： politics

In a sharp political confrontation, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles and Patriotic Front political leader Mickela Panday have launched scathing critiques against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s governance approach and economic policies. The opposition figures issued separate statements on December 29, condemning the Prime Minister’s characterization of Trinidad and Tobago as “a lawless dump” during her defense of heightened penalties for traffic violations.

Beckles, who also serves as PNM political leader, accused Persad-Bissessar of demonstrating “love for office rather than service to country” and labeled her remarks as “distasteful and unbecoming of a prime minister.” She suggested the description might actually reflect the “amalgamation of characters” within the current government rather than the nation itself.

The opposition leader criticized the government’s approach to crime prevention, asserting that instead of addressing root causes through institutional reform and enforcement enhancement, the administration is opting for punitive measures that burden citizens with increased fines and fees. Beckles emphasized that “hard-working Trinbagonians are not criminals” and condemned what she described as governance through “fear, threats, insults, and bullying.”

Adding to the political tension, Beckles referenced Persad-Bissessar’s controversial stance on CARICOM, suggesting the Prime Minister’s position could cost the nation billions in revenue. The opposition leader also highlighted the dismissal of approximately 50,000 workers from CEPEP, URP, and other programs since the UNC assumed power in April.

Panday echoed these concerns, calling on the Prime Minister to directly address the nation and explain “how years of failed governance have suddenly become the fault of citizens.” She asserted that citizens constitute “the backbone of this country” rather than being the problem, and criticized the government’s approach to implementing new taxes and fees without proper public debate or justification.

The Patriotic Front leader particularly condemned the timing of policy announcements, noting that increases in fines, fees, and tolls were quietly published on Christmas Day and scheduled to take effect at the start of the new year when households are already financially strained. Panday accused the government of employing “governance by ambush” tactics and drawing parallels between current administration policies and those of previous PNM governments.

Both opposition figures warned that the cumulative effect of increased alcohol prices, higher customs taxes, elevated birth and death registration fees, punitive traffic fines, and raised NIS contributions would adversely affect living standards, weaken the economy, and fundamentally alter the character of Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Housing Minister David Lee has publicly denied knowledge of a controversial proposal by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to regularize squatting on state properties. The minister’s statement came in response to media inquiries on December 29, following earlier reports that HDC chairman Feroze Khan was considering a program to legitimize unauthorized occupants of vacant government housing.

Minister Lee emphasized that the potential policy had not been discussed with his office, stating, ‘These questions should be addressed to the HDC chairman as I am not aware of this policy. Maybe this is a board decision by this present board, but as line minister this was not discussed with myself or any of my other ministers.’

The reported initiative would have encouraged squatters who could afford mortgage payments to begin formal acquisition processes for properties they currently occupy illegally. This proposal emerged amid growing concerns about housing shortages and unauthorized occupation of government properties across the nation.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley, when questioned about the potential contradiction between such a policy and her recent characterization of Trinidad and Tobago as a ‘lawless dump’ due to citizens’ ‘entitled attitudes,’ advised journalists to directly interview Chairman Khan for accurate information rather than relying on media reports.

Khan, when contacted by news organizations, indicated he was in meetings and would provide clarification later in the week, leaving the status and authenticity of the proposed regularization program uncertain. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in housing policy and governance coordination within the Caribbean nation.

The Council for Responsible Political Behaviour has issued commendations to political parties participating in Tobago’s January 12 elections for their commitment to maintaining campaign integrity. In a December 28 media release following its first weekly monitoring session, the Council acknowledged the parties’ declared intentions to conduct a clean electoral process.

Despite the positive assessment, the Council revealed that only two of the four invited political parties attended the live televised signing ceremony of the Code of Ethical Political Conduct held in Tobago on December 23. The organization has maintained an open invitation for all parties to endorse the code regardless of their initial participation.

The Council identified emerging concerns regarding social media conduct that potentially violates ethical standards. While acknowledging its limited capacity to monitor digital platforms, the watchdog has encouraged public vigilance and reporting of potential code violations through designated channels including WhatsApp (793-4505) and email (info@politicalethicstt.org).

The established code mandates that parties and supporters adhere to fundamental ethical principles including: prohibition of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, or religion; avoidance of false or defamatory allegations against parties or candidates; refraining from character assassination attempts; and respecting the private lives of candidates and their families unrelated to public activities. Comprehensive information regarding the code and potential violations is accessible through the Council’s official website at www.politicalethicstt.org.

In a significant political development, Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader Watson Duke has elaborated on his party’s decision to abstain from the upcoming 2026 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections while endorsing the ruling Tobago People’s Party (TPP).

Duke articulated his strategic rationale through social media on December 28, framing the move as a calculated effort to permanently dismantle the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) political influence on the island. This follows his initial December 8 announcement that the PDP would not contest the January 12 election and would instead support Chief Secretary Farley Augustine’s TPP.

The PDP leader characterized this endorsement not as surrender but as a tactical maneuver to consolidate anti-PNM forces. He emphasized that a TPP victory would conclusively demonstrate that PNM has no viable future as a governing force in Tobago politics.

Duke provided historical context, noting that before PDP’s emergence in 2015, Tobago’s political landscape had been dominated by PNM for decades, with previous opposition parties like the Democratic Action Congress and National Alliance for Reconstruction being effectively erased from contention. The PDP’s stunning 14-1 victory against PNM in the December 2021 THA elections—described as the worst electoral defeat in PNM’s history from 1956 onward—broke this pattern of predictability.

Despite the PDP’s subsequent internal fracture that led to Augustine forming the TPP in August 2023, Duke maintains both parties share common roots in challenging PNM dominance. He now urges supporters to transcend past differences and personal grievances to achieve what he considers the greater objective: preventing PNM’s return to power.

Duke characterized PNM as an ‘outsider party’ that has historically prioritized national agendas over Tobago’s specific needs, treating the island ‘as an extension of national political priorities rather than a people with their own identity, needs, and future.’

Political analyst Dr. Bishnu Ragoonath has expressed skepticism about other parties’ ability to win seats, while Augustine has welcomed Duke’s support while explicitly ruling out any formal coalition or partnership. Public reaction to the announcement remains mixed across social media platforms.

The upcoming election will ultimately test whether Duke’s strategic withdrawal proves decisive in reshaping Tobago’s political destiny.

A recent court case in Trinidad and Tobago has ignited intense debate about free speech, government power, and international hypocrisy. A 32-year-old mother of two received a three-year bond for social media posts allegedly inciting violence against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, raising concerns about the application of emergency powers regulations in digital expression cases.

While acknowledging the need to prevent reckless speech that could endanger public order, the case highlights troubling inconsistencies in how incitement is defined and prosecuted. The author contrasts the severe treatment of a local citizen expressing views through digital platforms with the United States government’s aggressive actions in the region.

The commentary points to specific US military actions—destroying vessels without publicly presented evidence, seizing oil tankers internationally, and suggesting Venezuelan territory might be negotiable—as examples of actual violence that face no legal consequences. These actions, backed by military might and economic pressure, represent tangible threats to regional stability that go unchallenged while individual citizens face severe penalties for digital expression.

The case exposes what the author describes as a fundamental double standard: incitement is only treated as criminal when it comes from powerless individuals, while identical behavior from nations with military capabilities is accepted as standard foreign policy. This disparity raises critical questions about whose security truly receives protection under emergency regulations and whether principles of justice are applied equally across different levels of power and influence.