分类： politics

The Trinidad and Tobago government faces mounting criticism from trade unions over its selective approach to back pay disbursements, with only Public Services Association (PSA) members receiving promised payments before Christmas. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo confirmed on November 5 that no arrangements had been made for other unions to receive portions of the $3.8 billion in outstanding back pay owed to public sector workers.

The announcement has sparked outrage among union leaders representing thousands of workers. Contractors and General Workers Trade Union (CGWU) president Ermine De Bique-Meade expressed profound disappointment, accusing both Tancoo and Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindial of ‘playing games with the lives of workers.’ She revealed that members had made financial commitments based on previous assurances of pre-Christmas payments.

Similarly, TT Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) president Crystal Ashe appealed directly to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for intervention, questioning the government’s prioritization of PSA agreements finalized mere days before the December 2 announcement while leaving other unions waiting since April ratifications. Ashe emphasized that teachers, curriculum officers, and school supervisors are experiencing genuine financial hardship due to the protracted delays.

During Friday’s House of Representatives sitting, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar reaffirmed her government’s commitment to the PSA agreement, promising a ten percent settlement and partial back pay distribution before Christmas. However, she notably omitted any mention of other trade unions’ outstanding agreements, leaving many workers facing what union leaders describe as a ‘bleak, blue Christmas’ despite previous government assurances.

A contentious US military installation in Tobago has ignited serious concerns regarding Trinidad and Tobago’s national sovereignty, security posture, and economic stability. Contrary to official claims characterizing the equipment as simple narcotics surveillance technology, technical analysis identifies the system as an AN/TPY-2 X-band radar—a sophisticated missile defense apparatus integral to US war-fighting capabilities.

The radar’s integration into the US Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) network effectively incorporates Trinidad and Tobago into American military operations. This connection establishes the nation as a functional component within the US kill chain, providing real-time targeting intelligence to weapon systems including Aegis-class naval destroyers.

This strategic placement creates substantial legal and security vulnerabilities. With the US maintaining adversarial relations with Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago risks violating the 1907 Hague conventions and entering a state of co-belligerency. Such status would legally legitimize the radar installation—and by extension, Trinidadian territory—as military targets under international law.

Security analysts highlight two potentially catastrophic scenarios: direct military engagement through anti-radiation missile strikes against the radar (with devastating collateral damage due to proximity to Crown Point Airport), or asymmetric economic warfare targeting critical infrastructure through cyberattacks or sabotage.

The economic repercussions have already materialized through Venezuela’s suspension of the Dragon Gas agreement, a project of significant national importance. Further energy collaboration agreements concerning Loran-Manatee and Cocuina-Manakin fields now face uncertain futures.

Rather than enhancing national security, the radar installation dramatically increases Trinidad and Tobago’s exposure to military and economic threats while providing no meaningful protection against probable retaliation forms. This development suggests the government may have compromised long-term national interests for alignment with US strategic objectives, assuming disproportionate risk with minimal returns. The situation demands immediate transparency, public scrutiny, and comprehensive national debate regarding foreign military engagements and their implications for national sovereignty.

A brewing crisis over back pay disbursements has exposed deep divisions between Trinidad and Tobago’s government and public sector unions. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo confirmed on December 5th that only Public Services Association (PSA) members would receive partial back pay before Christmas, leaving other unions empty-handed despite previous agreements.

The announcement, made outside the Red House before a House of Representatives sitting, immediately drew fierce criticism from union leaders. Contractors and General Workers Trade Union president Ermine De Bique-Meade expressed profound disappointment, accusing both Tancoo and Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindial of “playing games with the lives of workers” at the San Fernando City Corporation.

Simultaneously, TT Unified Teachers’ Association president Crystal Ashe appealed directly to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for intervention, referencing her frequent claims of unparalleled affection for the nation’s workers. Ashe emphasized that teachers had honorably accepted a five percent salary increase for 2020-2023 back in April, yet nine months later, no payment mechanisms had been established.

The situation grew more contentious when Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar addressed the Lower House later that day. While reaffirming her government’s commitment to paying PSA members their promised ten percent settlement—including a Christmas cash advance against the $3.8 billion total arrears—she notably omitted any mention of other unions’ pending agreements.

This selective approach has created widespread frustration among workers who made financial commitments based on government assurances. Union leaders argue that the delayed payments effectively diminish the purchasing power of earned wages, particularly concerning during the holiday season when financial pressures intensify. The developing situation suggests growing tensions between the administration and public sector workers that may escalate without prompt resolution.

A contentious dispute has emerged within Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament regarding speaking privileges during the critical Finance Bill 2025 debate on December 5th. Opposition MP Stuart Young (Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West) publicly accused Government Business Leader Barry Padarath of preventing his participation in the parliamentary discussion.

Young took to social media to articulate his grievances, stating that despite prior notification to the United National Congress about the Opposition’s intention to field additional speakers, he was allegedly blocked from contributing. According to Young’s Facebook post, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo was instructed to conclude the debate prematurely, thereby denying him the opportunity to represent his constituents and the broader citizenry.

The parliamentary procedure unfolded when MP Christian Birchwood (Laventille East Morvant) completed his remarks, prompting Minister Tancoo to signal his intention to wrap up the debate. Speaker Jagdeo Singh acknowledged this request and permitted the Finance Minister to proceed, a decision that immediately sparked objections from Opposition members.

Speaker Singh addressed the concerns by questioning whether any standing order explicitly prevented the Finance Minister from exercising his prerogative to conclude the debate. Young countered that parliamentary tradition typically allowed the next recognized member to speak based on catching the Speaker’s eye, and noted there had been prior inter-bench discussions regarding speaker allocations.

In response to these allegations, Government Business Leader Padarath dismissed Young’s claims as unfounded confusion. Padarath revealed to Newsday on December 6th that he wasn’t even present in the chamber when the contentious exchange occurred, having departed earlier to attend a function and returning only for the final vote.

Padarath emphasized that multiple Opposition members, including the Opposition Leader, had already contributed to the debate, asserting that there was no systematic attempt to silence any parliamentarian. He characterized Young’s complaints as semantic manipulation rather than substantive procedural violation.

The Finance Bill 2025 ultimately passed by simple majority shortly before 9 PM, marking the conclusion of a heated parliamentary session that has exposed underlying tensions in Trinidad and Tobago’s legislative process.

The Tobago Council of the People’s National Movement (PNM) will officially unveil its electoral manifesto on December 13, precisely one month before voters head to the polls for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections on January 12. The announcement was made by PNM Tobago Council leader and Buccoo/Mt Pleasant candidate, Ancil Dennis, who confirmed the party will simultaneously present its full slate of 15 selected candidates at a public meeting.

Addressing the recent defection of former PNM Tobago West constituency chairman Keigon Denoon to the rival Tobago People’s Party (TPP), Dennis expressed diplomatic goodwill. “We in the PNM respect democracy and people’s freedom to choose,” he stated. “We thank him for his service to the party over many years as a youth who grew and developed within the party, and we wish him the best.” Denoon was formally named as the TPP’s candidate for Buccoo/Mt Pleasant by political leader Farley Augustine on December 1.

Dennis characterized the PNM’s electoral preparations as “excellent,” noting that candidate selection was finalized by late July and campaigning has been ongoing since August. “We are looking forward to a successful campaign and returning to office to bring back decent and responsible governance for the island and the people of Tobago,” he affirmed.

The upcoming election represents a potential redemption opportunity for the PNM, which was overwhelmingly ousted in the January 2021 THA elections. The Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), led by Watson Duke, achieved a landslide victory by capturing 14 of 15 seats. However, the PDP’s dominance proved short-lived as internal fractures emerged eight months later. A significant rift between Duke and numerous party members triggered mass resignations, with most executives declaring themselves independents. Duke himself resigned as Deputy Chief Secretary. These former PDP members subsequently established the new Tobago People’s Party (TPP).

Despite acknowledging voter dissatisfaction with the current leadership, Dennis recognized the challenges ahead. “People are convinced that the island is worse off under these people,” he noted. “However, we realize that we have a case to make. We have to demonstrate that we are ready to do better than we did before. We have to demonstrate that we have listened, we have learned, and we have to do a lot better.”

Dennis expressed confidence in his party’s roster, describing the Tobago PNM team as a “good team” that would convince voters “that the PNM is the way to go and that they don’t have to accept a situation where the island has been mismanaged in some serious ways for the past four years.”

Regarding recent boundary adjustments by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), which included moving one polling station and renaming two districts, Dennis deemed the changes insignificant to the PNM’s campaign strategy. “It is neither here nor there for me,” he commented. “I don’t think the changes are significant enough to change the picture, per se. We are looking forward to an effective campaign, and I believe that once we do that, we can rescue Tobago after January 12.”

Meanwhile, PDP political leader Watson Duke declined to comment when contacted by Newsday, indicating he plans to hold a media conference on December 9.

In a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s allegations, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has categorically denied claims that the People’s National Movement (PNM) receives financing from criminal elements. Beckles characterized the Prime Minister’s assertions of PNM connections to a ‘local drug mafia’ and anti-American narratives as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘entirely unfounded.’

The political confrontation escalated as Beckles addressed journalists upon arriving at the House of Representatives on December 5th. She challenged the Prime Minister to present any evidence of criminal linkages to law enforcement authorities rather than employing what she described as politically motivated accusations. Beckles suggested these allegations serve as a diversionary tactic amid growing scrutiny over the government’s installation of US radar systems in Tobago.

The Opposition Leader’s response comes directly after Persad-Bissessar’s social media statements on December 1st, wherein she implicated ‘persons, groups, politicians, and businesses profiting from drug trafficking’ in promoting anti-American sentiment. The Prime Minister further accused PNM of obstructing governmental anti-drug and anti-human-trafficking initiatives while hinting at connections to serious criminal activities.

Beckles redirected attention to what she termed the administration’s opaque handling of the Tobago radar deployment, questioning the contradictory explanations provided to the public. ‘National security matters may contain sensitive components,’ she acknowledged, ‘but citizens deserve fundamental transparency regarding governmental actions affecting national sovereignty.’

The Opposition Leader additionally refuted claims that previous PNM governance had neglected the nation’s radar infrastructure, dismissing this as another tactical distraction. Separately, Beckles expressed optimism about PNM’s prospects in upcoming Tobago House of Assembly elections, highlighting the party’s substantial investments and continued development efforts in the region.

Parliamentary proceedings witnessed further tension as Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales invoked Standing Order 32.1 regarding privilege matters submitted to the Speaker’s office. Government MPs defended the deliberative process while assuring rulings would be delivered following proper procedural review. Deputy Speaker Singh confirmed multiple privilege complaints remain under examination with commitments to issue determinations ‘in due course.’