分类： society

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has declared an all-out effort to restore critical mental health services for educators after confirming the disruption of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). TTUTA President Crystal Ashe characterized the service interruption as a “grave injustice” in an official January 7 statement, demanding immediate explanations and corrective action from Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath, the Permanent Secretary, and the Chief Personnel Officer.

Ashe emphasized that EAP access represents a legally protected right under the Collective Agreement rather than a discretionary benefit. The crisis emerged when a secondary school teacher attempting to schedule counseling sessions was unexpectedly informed of a $450 per session charge. Service provider Elder Associates Ltd, typically responsible for delivering these services, declined commentary citing ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Education.

The disruption appears to extend beyond the education sector, with healthcare professionals reporting similar service interruptions. A nurse revealed that while alternative counseling arrangements were available within hospital settings, staff expressed discomfort due to privacy concerns about being observed attending sessions.

TT National Nursing Association president Idi Stuart confirmed receiving reports of service disruptions, though Public Services Association president Felisha Thomas remained unreachable for comment. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo also did not respond to inquiries regarding the widespread service interruption.

An anonymous public servant expressed hope that the situation resulted from contract renegotiations rather than permanent termination, highlighting the critical importance of mental health support particularly given existing social stigmas. The individual shared personal testimony about the program’s vital role during their divorce proceedings, while noting concerning inconsistencies in EAP accessibility across different government ministries, including instances of information withholding and gatekeeping by supervisors.

During a January 7th parliamentary hearing, Trinidad and Tobago’s Joint Select Committee on Land and Physical Infrastructure raised serious concerns about the absence of coordinated national strategies for traffic management. Chaired by Independent Senator Sophia Chote, SC, the committee heard testimony from multiple government agencies regarding persistent traffic congestion issues plaguing the nation.

Committee members highlighted how police and licensing division operations frequently occur during peak traffic hours, exacerbating congestion on major roadways like the Beetham Highway. Housing Minister David Lee expressed public frustration, suggesting these operations appear designed to ‘frustrate the travelling public.’

Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke acknowledged the inconvenience caused by joint police-licensing exercises but clarified that while he cannot cancel these operations, he can instruct officers to minimize motorist disruption. Clarke revealed the Licensing Authority is pursuing technological solutions to reduce physical interventions, noting ongoing digitization efforts for driver licenses and vehicle registration data.

Acting Commissioner of Police Brian Soodeen defended the timing of operations as ‘intelligence-led,’ though Senator Chote questioned this rationale, noting that peak hours seem counterproductive for catching offenders attempting to avoid detection.

The hearing revealed critical infrastructure shortcomings, including a dramatic reduction in traffic warden staffing from 531 to 232 personnel nationwide. Chief Traffic Warden Neville Sankar stated Trinidad requires approximately 325 additional wardens for effective deployment, with specific needs in Chaguanas (36) and San Fernando (42). Notably, Tobago currently has no traffic warden coverage.

Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath raised concerns about school-related congestion, while Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein criticized the lack of dynamic resource allocation to high-congestion areas. The committee also learned that a traffic camera project on Wrightson Road remains incomplete due to contractor foreign exchange problems.

Most alarmingly, acting director of highways Patrice Caprieta revealed Trinidad and Tobago’s last comprehensive transportation study occurred in 1967, highlighting the urgent need for updated infrastructure planning. Despite recent public surveys, Civil Aviation and Transport Ministry permanent secretary Nicolette Duke assured the committee the ministry would avoid ‘analysis paralysis’ in developing solutions.

In a decisive address on January 7, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar unveiled a dual-strategy approach to tackle rampant traffic violations, blending stringent enforcement with temporary leniency. While vowing “swift and brutal retribution” against deliberate lawbreakers, she simultaneously announced upcoming parliamentary reforms to introduce grace periods for drivers to rectify vehicle defects.

The policy shift comes amid public outcry over sharply increased penalties, including doubled fines for expired inspection stickers—now $2,000—and revised late fees for permit renewals. The Ministry of Works and Transport acknowledged an administrative error in fee collection, revealing that drivers were initially undercharged due to a January 5 oversight. Corrected penalties now stand at $650 for permits expired under six months and $1,750 for those expired beyond six months but under three years.

Persad-Bissessar’s statement, titled “Fix It or Face the Law,” condemned the “blatant dishonesty” of ticketed drivers who claimed surprise about vehicle defects, asserting most knew their violations in advance. She attributed nationwide traffic chaos to “entitlement, indiscipline and misdirected priorities” but also acknowledged systemic issues within enforcement, revealing that a minority of traffic wardens and officers were “abusing the ticketing system and terrorizing law-abiding citizens.”

The proposed reforms will mandate repair windows before fines are enforced: three days for most defects (e.g., faulty lights, missing mirrors) and seven days for more significant issues like broken windshields, smoky exhausts, or noisy vehicles. The PM emphasized that while these temporary measures provide compliance opportunities, there would be “NO REDUCTION in traffic fines” and strict enforcement would continue until parliamentary approval.

Concluding with an unequivocal warning, Persad-Bissessar declared the law would apply equally regardless of political affiliation, wealth, or geographic origin, stating: “If you break the traffic laws, ANYBODY GETS IT!!!”

Street vendors in Port of Spain are mounting opposition against the city’s proposed sanitation initiative while demanding expanded working rights and protection from illegal competitors. The conflict emerged during a tense meeting between vendors and Port of Spain City Corporation officials at City Hall Auditorium on January 6, where representatives from Charlotte Street, Frederick Street, and other commercial areas voiced their concerns.

The corporation’s $18 million clean city initiative, announced in October 2025, involves acquiring garbage compactors and amending public health regulations. Deputy Mayor Abena Hartley cited warnings from multiple government agencies about severe public health and safety concerns caused by current vending practices, exacerbated by the absence of comprehensive legislation.

Proposed regulations would require vendors to completely remove all merchandise from streets daily, prohibiting overnight storage in stalls or on pavements. Corporation engineering assistant Sinclair Collis emphasized the cleaning challenges posed by leftover crates and produce, which contribute to drainage clogging, urban flooding, food decomposition odors, and expanding rat infestations in underground systems.

Vendor representatives called the proposals impractical. Junior Lewis, vice president of the Charlotte Street Vendors Association, argued that moving heavy produce daily would create physical and logistical impossibilities for many operators. Female vendors particularly highlighted the excessive physical demands and additional costs involved.

Beyond sanitation concerns, vendors challenged the fundamental structure of their operating permissions. Currently limited to Thursday through Saturday sales, vendors described the three-day work week as economically unsustainable. Petra Cayman, a Frederick Street jewelry vendor, called the arrangement “a death sentence” in Trinidad’s high-cost living environment, noting that missed opportunities during cruise ship season further diminish earnings.

Vendors also identified illegal operators as a significant problem, with unregistered competitors undercutting prices without paying fees or rents. Additional complaints included inadequate street lighting affecting safety during high crime periods, noise pollution from adjacent businesses, and unreliable garbage collection services that exacerbate sanitation issues.

Deputy Mayor Hartley acknowledged the corporation’s constrained resources, revealing drastic budget cuts from $19 million to approximately $4 million for infrastructure maintenance. This reduction has impacted the vending management team’s capacity to provide support. Vending program manager Deon Samm encouraged stricter adherence to fee payments, rental agreements, and health regulations to maintain operational continuity.

Further consultations are planned with vendors, the Works and Infrastructure Ministry, and the Fire Service to develop updated vending contracts that balance public health concerns with vendor livelihoods.

In a significant ruling with implications for juvenile justice, High Court Justice Kevin Ramcharan has rejected a judicial review petition contesting the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) determination to pursue firearms charges against two individuals who were minors at the time of the alleged offense.

The case originates from an August 6, 2015 incident where the claimants—then aged 11 and 13—were present at a property where another minor tragically lost his life. The half-brothers, along with an adult co-accused, initially faced manslaughter and firearm possession charges. While manslaughter charges were subsequently dismissed in Children’s Court, the DPP elected to proceed exclusively with the firearms allegations, triggering the legal challenge.

The claimants contended that continued prosecution violated legal principles, arguing insufficient evidence to overcome the presumption of doli incapax—the legal doctrine presuming children incapable of forming criminal intent. They further maintained that pursuing the case contradicted public interest considerations given their youthful ages at the time, the specific circumstances of the alleged possession, potential minimal sentences, and substantial procedural delays.

Citing the Privy Council’s 2024 guidance on prosecutorial discretion, the defense team asserted the DPP’s decision failed to meet evidentiary and public interest thresholds outlined in prosecution guidelines.

The DPP’s legal representatives countered that the appropriate venue for challenging evidence sufficiency was the magistrates’ court through a stay application, emphasizing established jurisprudence that discourages judicial review courts from evaluating evidence adequacy or infringing upon prosecutorial discretion.

Justice Ramcharan determined that the magistrates’ court remained the proper forum for evaluating whether the doli incapax presumption had been adequately rebutted, noting that while related manslaughter charges had been dismissed, the firearms matter required independent judicial assessment.

The court did criticize the DPP’s office for repeated procedural delays and poor communication practices, describing these shortcomings as “completely unacceptable.” However, the ruling clarified that the DPP bears no legal obligation to provide justification for continuing prosecutions.

The judgment acknowledged that societal concerns regarding illegal firearms could legitimately influence the decision to pursue prosecution, adding that issues regarding trial delays and procedural fairness could be properly raised before the presiding magistrate.

The court dismissed the judicial review application without awarding costs.