分类： society

Security personnel employed by Safety Investigations Security Services, contracted by Trinidad’s North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), are confronting severe financial hardship as Christmas approaches, with many reporting unpaid wages since September. The crisis emerges from a protracted financial dispute between the security firm and the healthcare authority, creating a cascading effect on frontline workers.

According to a senior operations officer who spoke with Newsday on December 19, the NCRHA’s failure to settle outstanding payments for contracted services has left the security company without sufficient funds to compensate its employees. This financial deadlock has forced workers to make painful sacrifices during the holiday season.

One female officer, requesting anonymity due to fears of victimization, revealed the personal toll: “I haven’t purchased Christmas gifts for my children, and with the holiday less than a week away, I must borrow money simply to buy groceries.” Another employee confirmed seeking alternative employment amid the uncertainty.

Company representatives acknowledged the distress while emphasizing their limited control over the situation. “We understand their frustration, but until we receive payment, we cannot pay them,” one official stated. An accountant within the organization noted efforts to resolve the issue before Christmas but could provide no guarantees, citing complete dependence on government disbursements.

The security company representatives detailed a pattern of chronic underpayment, explaining that even before the recent government transition, payments were consistently delayed. When partial payments arrived, they typically represented merely five percent of invoiced amounts. “When we received a payment last month, we immediately distributed it to staff,” a representative emphasized.

NCRHA chairman Dr. Tim Gopeesingh attributed the crisis to what he characterized as years of financial mismanagement predating his administration. He revealed the authority inherited debts totaling $321 million owed to 521 service providers. While the current board has reduced this number to approximately 100 suppliers through structured repayments approved by the Ministry of Health, significant challenges remain.

Gopeesingh identified systemic procurement irregularities as the core issue, uncovering security companies operating without formal contracts for 18 years and cleaning services functioning without contracts since 2017. These services cost the authority approximately $32 million and $44 million annually respectively, without proper documentation.

“We cannot authorize payments without valid contracts and verification of delivered services,” Gopeesingh stated. “To do otherwise would constitute financial negligence.” The NCRHA is now strictly adhering to procurement legislation and considering an external professional audit to investigate historical spending practices that diverted resources from patient care. Criminal investigations remain possible as enquiries continue.

In a landmark ruling addressing domestic violence, High Court Justice Trevor Jones has issued a powerful judicial condemnation against gender-based violence while sentencing Vishal Birju for the 2020 killing of Gabriella Amanda Dubarry, the mother of his child. The court accepted a plea agreement that reduced the charge from murder to manslaughter by reason of provocation, resulting in a final sentence of 12 years and 23 days after accounting for time served.

The case stems from the January 9, 2020 incident where Birju, disguised in women’s Islamic clothing, forced entry into Dubarry’s Avocat Village residence. The 28-year-old insurance agent was preparing for work when the masked intruder confronted her. According to evidence presented, Dubarry’s mother recognized Birju’s voice and fled the premises, hearing gunshots moments later. She returned to discover her daughter fatally wounded by gunshots to the head and torso, while Dubarry’s infant child, present during the attack, miraculously remained unharmed.

Justice Jones delivered a stern message alongside the sentencing, emphasizing that “society must understand that a woman is not the property of a man” and that “the retributive sentence must reflect this.” The judge further recommended that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reconsider accepting plea agreements in cases involving domestic violence and allegations of infidelity.

During the proceedings, Birju expressed remorse for his actions, particularly acknowledging the impact on his young son: “I turned my son’s fairytale life into a nightmare when I took his mother from him. The person I’ve caused the most pain to was him.”

Police investigations revealed that Birju had purchased the .38-caliber firearm weeks earlier and confessed to acting under stress related to custody disputes and ongoing conflicts with Dubarry’s family. He subsequently led officers to where he had discarded the weapon following the shooting.

Legal representation included Michelle Ali and Shuzvon Ramdass from the Public Defenders’ Department for Birju, while state prosecutors Solange Devenish and Josiah Soo Hon represented the prosecution.

While steel beams rise for the iconic North Stand at Port of Spain’s Carnival grounds, deeper structural questions surround Trinidad and Tobago’s premier cultural celebration. The National Carnival Commission (NCC) confirms the stand’s construction remains on schedule for mid-January completion at nearly 50% reduced cost from 2025—a tangible example of the government’s expenditure-tightening measures.

Yet beneath surface-level preparations, significant planning ambiguities persist. Since August’s official launch with the underwhelming “You Go Love This” theme, observable policy drift has characterized the approach to February’s festivities. Critical elements including the parade route remain undiscussed, while marketing efforts have seemingly been limited to a discreetly launched website. Prize money allocations for major events still await formal announcement through proper press conferences.

Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin’s July-ordered spending audit has yielded minimal public updates, though her August reference to an Inter-American Development Bank study on Carnival’s revenue impact suggests broader economic considerations. The allocated $137 million budget shows negligible reduction from previous $140 million allocations, yet fresh memories persist of the minister’s contentious funding disputes with Emancipation Day stakeholders.

Additional complications emerge from the Prime Minister’s restrictions on state facility fetes—triggering logistical challenges and community dissatisfaction—and newly enacted noise pollution measures targeting fireworks. The shadow of August’s abruptly canceled Independence Day events, justified by security concerns during a state of emergency, continues to influence perceptions despite the situation’s normalization.

Geopolitical tensions and speculation about US military activities contribute further layers of uncertainty to the planning landscape. Nevertheless, stakeholders including the NCC proceed with determination, embodying Carnival’s enduring spirit: regardless of challenges, the show must go on.

A glaring deficiency in public amenities at two of Trinidad’s most frequented locations has triggered substantial public dismay, highlighting systemic infrastructure neglect. City Gate, Port of Spain’s primary transportation hub serving hundreds of daily commuters including schoolchildren, exhibits critically inadequate facilities with merely a single functional female toilet available for massive public use.

The situation becomes particularly dire for vulnerable demographics including elderly citizens, pregnant women, and disabled individuals who find no wheelchair-accessible facilities. The absence of baby changing stations further compounds the problem, denying mothers basic infant care infrastructure.

Parallel deficiencies plague the Queen’s Park Savannah food court, another popular public gathering spot. During a December 13 visit, the author experienced firsthand the embarrassing reality of insufficient sanitation facilities. Despite the area’s popularity among food vendors and visitors, only one toilet exists which frequently remains locked during operational hours.

The infrastructure crisis extends beyond sanitation to include inadequate seating arrangements. City Gate suffers from insufficient benches for commuters awaiting PTSC bus services, despite known reliability issues with public transportation.

Critical questions emerge regarding compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OHSA) regulations, particularly concerning clean water availability and overall facility maintenance. While authorities cite concerns about socially displaced persons misusing facilities, the solution of hiring security personnel remains unimplemented.

The author’s frustration reflects broader public sentiment toward perceived stagnation in societal development, with comparisons to ‘banana republic’ conditions and ‘caveman era’ infrastructure. As 2025 progresses, citizens demand urgent modernization of public facilities across Trinidad’s popular gathering points, calling for immediate action from relevant ministries and administrative bodies.

San Fernando witnessed a remarkable surge in pre-Christmas commercial activity on December 19th as bustling crowds and congested vehicular traffic enveloped the city’s primary commercial corridors. High Street, St James Street, and Mucurapo Street transformed into vibrant hubs of seasonal commerce, marking the peak of holiday shopping enthusiasm.

Kiran Singh, President of the Greater San Fernando Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed considerable satisfaction with the commercial turnout, observing a consistent escalation in shopper volume throughout the week. “While serious shopping commenced on Monday, today has demonstrated the highest concentration of shoppers,” Singh remarked, attributing the increased activity to post-school closures on December 12th and subsequent salary disbursements.

The commercial landscape featured extensive vendor participation complemented by visible police patrols under the supervision of Snr Supt Cecil Santana, implementing proactive security measures to regulate traffic flow and prevent criminal incidents. With five remaining shopping days preceding Christmas, city merchants anticipate sustained commercial momentum leading to a robust seasonal conclusion.

Retail establishments are projected to maintain extended operating hours until approximately 7-8 PM through Christmas Eve, with select stores planning Boxing Day operations to capitalize on traditional post-holiday sales. The cosmetology sector similarly prepares for expanded service hours, offering seasonal treatments including manicures and pedicures to meet elevated consumer demand.

Shoppers demonstrated targeted purchasing behavior, with numerous consumers acquiring toys from Jay’s Toy Box on St James Street alongside household items and curtains. The Carlton Centre enhanced the festive atmosphere through live parang performances by 1990 The Band featuring Alana Fuentes, providing musical entertainment that enriched the holiday shopping experience.

Singh reinforced consumer confidence by emphasizing San Fernando’s historical safety record, assuring continued security throughout the holiday period while encouraging sustained commercial participation.