分类： society

PORT OF SPAIN – In a remarkable display of labor advocacy, Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) members staged protests outside PriceSmart’s Trinidad outlets on December 19, demanding basic seating accommodations for cashiers rather than traditional wage-related benefits. The demonstration highlighted a 15-year unresolved struggle that has left over 100 local cashiers standing throughout their eight-hour shifts while their counterparts in Jamaica and Barbados enjoy seated positions.

Union officials presented disturbing health implications stemming from the prolonged standing requirement. Second Vice President Reesa Ramlogan-Jodha detailed numerous cases of chronic back pain, varicose veins, and even pregnancy complications among cashiers. “Having to leave the workplace in pain should not be required as evidence of a productive day,” she asserted, emphasizing concerns about long-term mobility issues that could force workers to “be walking around with sticks” in their senior years.

The conflict has now reached Trinidad’s Industrial Court as an official trade dispute, though progress remains stalled. First Vice President Sati Gajadhar-Inniss revealed that PriceSmart has failed to submit required evidence or arguments, pushing the next potential hearing to March 2026. The company maintains that without specific legislation mandating seating, no obligation exists to provide such accommodations.

PriceSmart’s corporate stance suggests seating might interfere with cashiers’ ability to handle merchandise—a position the union characterizes as lacking compassion. Ramlogan-Jodha countered, “The issue of seating should not be a matter of law. It is a matter of choice and all it calls for is some heart.”

This labor dispute emerges against the backdrop of PriceSmart’s substantial financial success. The American retailer reported $1 billion in fourth-quarter revenue for fiscal 2025 with $31.5 million net income, culminating in annual revenues approaching $5.27 billion. The company continues expanding its global footprint of 56 warehouse clubs, recently acquiring properties in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for new locations set to open in mid-2026.

OWTU officials plan to extend their advocacy campaign to all PriceSmart branches across Trinidad. Meanwhile, attempts by Newsday to obtain comments from PriceSmart’s human resources and industrial relations departments on December 19 proved unsuccessful, with managers at multiple locations declining to address the concerns.

In a profound display of spiritual transformation, thirteen incarcerated individuals at Port of Spain Prison underwent baptism during a special Christmas ceremony on December 19. The religious service was conducted by Pastor Wilma Kelly and representatives from The Way of Holiness Ministries, marking a significant milestone in the church’s year-long prison outreach program.

The emotionally charged ceremony began with inmates leading praise and worship through song, establishing what prison officials described as “a reflective and reverent tone” throughout the facility. Pastor Kelly commenced formal proceedings with an opening prayer before the baptism ritual began.

Among those baptized were three convicted men and nine individuals on remand, each receiving enthusiastic applause and vocal support from fellow inmates following their spiritual commitment. One newly baptized inmate delivered an impassioned address, encouraging others—particularly those previously baptized—to embody positive examples within the prison community and to “love one another for the sake of Jesus Christ.”

The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service acknowledged the event as evidence of faith-based initiatives’ vital role in providing spiritual support, encouragement, and community for incarcerated individuals. While Pastor Kelly remained unavailable for comment, her Facebook page revealed her ministry had baptized 93 inmates at Maximum Security Prison throughout the year, demonstrating the program’s substantial reach within the correctional system.

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.