分类： politics

In a landmark ruling that exposes significant administrative failures within Trinidad and Tobago’s defense establishment, High Court Justice Kevin Ramcharan has ordered the state to pay $175,000 in damages to Coast Guard Lieutenant (Naval) Chevon Diaz for unlawfully denying his promotion. The December 30 judgment revealed that flawed performance evaluations and unsubstantiated allegations regarding a missing weapon were improperly utilized to hinder Diaz’s career advancement.

The court determined that Diaz, an 18-year veteran of the TT Coast Guard (TTCG), was unjustly bypassed for promotion to acting lieutenant commander due to irrelevant and unsupported claims that contaminated decisions affecting his seniority, compensation, and professional trajectory. Justice Ramcharan delivered a sharply critical assessment of the evidence presented by the state, particularly questioning the affidavit testimony of then-Coast Guard commanding officer Captain Don Polo (now Chief of Defence Staff), which demonstrated repeated claims of ignorance regarding matters directly within his purview.

Central to the case was a 2018 incident involving a missing firearm. The court established that Diaz was not in command of the vessel when the weapon disappeared and that a rating outside his crew was responsible. Since no finding of guilt was ever made against Diaz, the judge ruled that his seniority could not legally be impacted and that negative appraisals connected to the incident should not have been used to penalize him.

Justice Ramcharan expressed particular concern about the quality of the defense’s evidence, noting: ‘On several occasions, Capt Polo averred that he could not admit or deny certain allegations because it was not within his knowledge. Clearly that cannot be true. He must know about matters concerning him. Therefore, the court views Capt Polo’s averments with respect to those issues very skeptically.’

The court established that Diaz should have been promoted to acting lieutenant commander on September 15, 2017—exactly six years after his appointment as lieutenant—and to the substantive rank on September 15, 2020, aligning with previous High Court precedent regarding promotion timelines.

Regarding Diaz’s claim for the Efficiency Medal, which requires 12 years of ‘irreproachable’ service, the court determined that while the standard exceeds mere absence of convictions, the weapons incident could not have tarnished Diaz’s reputation since he was not responsible. The judge ordered reconsideration of the medal decision based solely on relevant factors, though stopped short of directly awarding the medal.

The court awarded Diaz $100,000 in compensatory damages and $75,000 in vindicatory damages, plus 2.5% annual interest from the claim date until judgment, along with legal costs. Attorneys Arden Williams and Mariah Ramrattan successfully represented Diaz in both judicial review and constitutional proceedings against the Coast Guard commanding officer, the Defence Force Commissions Board, and the Attorney General.

Escalating military tensions between the United States and Venezuela in the southern Caribbean are creating significant economic uncertainty in Trinidad and Tobago, according to the latest monetary policy report from the nation’s Central Bank. The report, released December 31, 2025, identifies the “fluid geopolitical tension” as a primary contributor to domestic economic instability.

The military buildup began in August 2025 with the deployment of guided missile destroyers USS Gravely, Sampson, and Jason Dunham to the region. This presence has since expanded dramatically to include the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group, US amphibious assault vessels, the nuclear attack submarine USS Newport News, and elements of the US Marine Corps 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Notably, this marks the MEU’s first Caribbean engagement since the 1983 invasion of Grenada.

Trinidad and Tobago has facilitated this military presence by granting the US military indefinite access to Piarco International and ANR Robinson International Airports for transit flights. In November, US Marines established a military radar system at ANR Robinson International Airport.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has consistently supported the US deployment, including military strikes on alleged drug vessels that have resulted in at least 107 fatalities across 31 vessels since September 2. This week, President Trump confirmed the destruction of an alleged onshore drug facility via drone strike with CIA involvement.

The Prime Minister has condemned regional critics of the deployment, asserting that the United States represents Trinidad and Tobago’s sole protector against external threats.

Economically, the Central Bank reports that growth remains “somewhat tentative” despite increased energy production from two new natural gas fields in the second quarter of 2025. This growth is being partially offset by a non-energy sector losing momentum across multiple sub-sectors, indicating the domestic economy still requires support for sustained recovery.

International context shows the IMF projecting global output expansion of 3.2% in 2025, marginally down from 3.3% in 2024. While the US economy demonstrates durability despite labor market challenges and elevated inflation, other major economies experience softer growth with persistent inflation.

Energy markets reflect these uncertain conditions, with West Texas Intermediate crude slipping below $60 per barrel, averaging $59.57 in November and remaining below that threshold in December. This presents challenges for Trinidad and Tobago’s budget, which was pegged against crude oil at $73.25 per barrel and natural gas at $4.25 per mmbtu.

In her New Year’s Day address, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar unveiled an ambitious governance agenda for 2026, emphasizing economic reconstruction, institutional accountability, and national security enhancement. The Prime Minister characterized the coming year as a pivotal period for tangible delivery across all government ministries and agencies.

Persad-Bissessar articulated that her administration’s core principle remains “TT first, above all,” asserting that every policy decision and fiscal allocation must directly advance citizen safety, economic prosperity, and national dignity. She mandated all cabinet ministers to demonstrate measurable outcomes, coordinate effectively, and eliminate inefficiency in program execution.

The government’s 2026 priorities will concentrate on stimulating economic growth through small and medium enterprise support, accelerating public infrastructure development, and strengthening both energy and non-energy sectors to expand employment opportunities. The Prime Minister emphasized that public spending must translate into concrete benefits for citizens.

Regarding national security, Persad-Bissessar highlighted sustained efforts against violent crime, gang activity, and narcotics trafficking through enhanced international cooperation, particularly with United States authorities. The administration has expanded intelligence sharing, maritime security coordination, and joint operations to disrupt transnational criminal networks and intercept illegal firearms.

The Prime Minister referenced several legislative achievements including Stand Your Ground and Home Invasion laws designed to protect law-abiding citizens, alongside recently enacted Fireworks and Noise Pollution legislation aimed at safeguarding vulnerable populations.

Infrastructure improvements and drainage management initiatives have already yielded reduced flooding in multiple communities, while the government has delivered on commitments including the reopening of Couva Children’s Hospital and fulfillment of student laptop programs.

Persad-Bissessar concluded with New Year’s wishes for safer communities, economic strength, and expanded opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago’s youth, urging national unity and confidence in the nation’s future.

The upcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election on January 12, 2026, is poised to serve as a crucial political barometer for Trinidad and Tobago’s transformed political environment. This electoral contest will not only gauge support for Farley Augustine’s emerging Tobago People’s Party (TPP) but also indirectly reflect on Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s United National Congress (UNC) and Penny Beckles’ People’s National Movement (PNM).

Watson Duke’s December 8 endorsement of the TPP, while politically predictable, raises questions about his current influence. His advocacy for tactical voting to eliminate PNM from Tobago governance echoes broader political strategies gaining traction. Duke asserts that consecutive defeats of PNM—first by the PDP in December 2021 and potentially by the TPP in the upcoming election—would confirm the party’s diminished prospects in Tobago.

The political rhetoric surrounding ‘Tobago’s interests first’ mirrors the UNC’s ‘Trinidad first’ positioning, which itself reflects the populist nationalism reminiscent of Donald Trump’s ‘America first’ approach. This occurs amid Trinidad and Tobago’s shifting international alignments toward Trump-leaning Latin American nations rather than traditional Caricom partnerships.

Major political parties demonstrate concerning positions regarding international affairs. The UNC maintains silence on Trump-related matters, the TPP claims ignorance of US political developments, and the PNM operates as if the public has forgotten their decade-long governance.

The evolving political landscape will face multiple tests throughout 2026. Crime prevention strategies will undergo scrutiny as emergency measures expire and new legislation takes effect. The UNC’s management of Carnival events will reveal administrative capabilities, while mid-year fiscal reviews will test economic management against a five-year development plan potentially influenced by foreign policy decisions.

Foreign policy orientations and climate crisis responses will increasingly define the nation’s trajectory. While 2025 represented a historic political shift, 2026 may prove even more consequential in determining Trinidad and Tobago’s future direction within this reconfigured political order.