Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Watson Duke’s PSA pension dispute goes to trial in 2027

    Watson Duke’s PSA pension dispute goes to trial in 2027

    A protracted legal battle between former Public Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke and the trade union over pension entitlements will proceed to trial in May 2027. Justice Marissa Robertson has established May 17-18, 2027, as the designated trial dates during a status hearing on December 4.

    Duke initiated litigation in June 2024, alleging the PSA violated his employment contract by withholding pension benefits following his December 2021 resignation. His departure from the union presidency coincided with his brief tenure as Tobago House of Assembly deputy chief secretary. The former labor leader contends this resignation should not disqualify him from receiving his pension.

    The legal journey has encountered multiple judicial reviews. Duke previously secured an injunction from Justice Frank Seepersad, who ruled without PSA’s representation, granting temporary financial relief based on Duke’s claims of severe hardship including mortgage defaults and $130,000 credit card debt.

    However, the PSA successfully challenged this injunction, presenting evidence that Duke had received a $203,850 gratuity in March 2023 and had alternative pension options through his prior employment with the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA). Justice Robertson overturned the injunction, a decision subsequently upheld by the Appeal Court.

    The Appellate Court, while acknowledging minor procedural errors in Robertson’s ruling, affirmed that her overall judgment was sound. Justice Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell noted the PSA would face irrecoverable financial harm if forced to pay pending trial, particularly given uncertainties about Duke’s ability to repay should he ultimately lose his case.

    Notably, the court did reverse one element of Robertson’s order requiring Duke to repay $18,875 received during the injunction period, citing lack of procedural foundation for this requirement.

    Legal representation includes Kelvin Ramkissoon for the PSA and Farai Hove Masaisai for Duke. The former union president has submitted three witness statements supporting his claim as the case advances toward its 2027 trial date.

  • Westmoreland residents given until the end of December to vacate Petersfield High School shelter

    Westmoreland residents given until the end of December to vacate Petersfield High School shelter

    WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A contentious standoff has emerged between displaced hurricane survivors and government authorities in Petersfield, Westmoreland Parish, where residents currently occupying Petersfield High School as a storm shelter must vacate the premises by December’s end. Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie delivered the ultimatum during a Wednesday site visit, emphasizing the facility must be cleared to allow preparatory work for January’s academic term.

    The crisis stems from October’s devastating Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that severely impacted Westmoreland and four other parishes. Minister McKenzie outlined a four-phase relocation strategy for shelter occupants, beginning with elderly residents who will be transferred to infirmary care with 24-hour support. The government will additionally facilitate relocation to willing family members or friends for other categories of displaced persons.

    For those previously paying rent who lost their homes, McKenzie promised targeted support programs. As a final measure, the Jamaica Defence Force will establish a temporary tent camp on a playground adjacent to the school, equipped with bedding, bathrooms, and toilet facilities. ‘The same service that is provided here will be provided over on that facility,’ McKenzie stated, while acknowledging limited alternatives: ‘Let me be frank with you, there is no other solution available now.’

    Despite these provisions, several residents expressed vehement opposition to the proposed measures. Trishauna, a mother of three, voiced grave safety concerns regarding the tent camp location: ‘Mi not going ah ball ground fi man come rape off my child over there. When rain falls, over deh suh a swamp.’ She criticized the proposed solution as inadequate and suggested instead that government efforts should focus on helping people rebuild permanent shelter rather than relocating them to temporary, potentially hazardous conditions.

  • ‘We don’t have the capacity’

    ‘We don’t have the capacity’

    Jamaica’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has publicly acknowledged its insufficient staffing capacity to conduct independent verification of restoration data submitted by utility providers following Hurricane Melissa. This revelation emerged during a tense session of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers expressed deep concerns about the reliability of self-reported recovery statistics.

    Committee members confronted the regulatory body regarding its continued dependence on unverified restoration figures from major service providers including Flow, Digicel, National Water Commission, and Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). The disclosure comes amid persistent complaints from numerous communities still lacking essential services despite official claims of widespread restoration.

    St James Southern MP Nekeisha Burchell challenged the OUR’s methodology, questioning how the regulator could credibly assess national recovery efforts without ground-level verification capabilities. “Data coming from self-reporting can sound as good as you want them to sound,” Burchell noted, emphasizing the particular challenges faced by rural constituencies where satellite data proves inadequate.

    OUR Director General Ansord Hewitt conceded the organization’s limitations, explaining that while occasional spot checks are conducted and company-reported information is posted online for public scrutiny, these measures remain insufficient for comprehensive verification. Hewitt revealed that the OUR has occasionally questioned discrepancies in sequential reports but lacks resources for universal validation.

    The regulatory head acknowledged that the suggestion to seek additional resources from the Office of the Prime Minister or the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management had not been previously considered but would now be examined.

    Manchester North Western MP Mikael Phillips challenged the OUR’s previous declarations of credible recovery after Hurricane Beryl, given the current admission of inadequate audit capabilities. Hewitt clarified that while post-restoration audits remain possible, real-time assessment during active disaster response exceeds current capacity.

    St Andrew East Rural MP Juliet Holness reinforced these concerns by recounting her experience with fabricated restoration schedules after Hurricane Beryl. She advocated for a more coordinated long-term approach involving community representatives, parish councils, and political leaders who possess direct knowledge of affected areas.

    The committee session highlighted systemic challenges in disaster response verification and raised fundamental questions about accountability mechanisms during national emergencies affecting utility infrastructure.

  • Digicel, Shell invest $1m in community projects

    Digicel, Shell invest $1m in community projects

    Ten Trinidad and Tobago non-governmental organizations have secured substantial funding through the Digicel Foundation’s Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) grant program, receiving $100,000 each to implement transformative initiatives over the next 12-16 months. The funding, generously sponsored by Shell, marks the ninth edition of this community empowerment program focused on driving progress in digitalization, environmental sustainability, and community development.

    At a partnership unveiling event held at Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain on December 3, Shell’s Managing LNG Counsel Shaista Ali emphasized the profound impact of community-led sustainability initiatives. “When communities lead sustainability initiatives, the impact excels far beyond any project—it becomes a legacy,” Ali stated. “Together, these areas reflect the kind of future we want to help shape: healthy, innovative, resilient, and environmentally conscious, where people feel empowered to create lasting change.”

    The selected projects demonstrate remarkable diversity and innovation. The Holistic Autism Intervention program by the Southern Muslim Institute for Learning and Enrichment will provide specialized speech, behavior, and art therapy for autistic children experiencing developmental delays. Meanwhile, the Fyzabad United Football Club is developing a mobile, solar-powered homework and life skills center housed within a refurbished 20-foot shipping container, complete with computer facilities, internet access, and dedicated tutoring spaces.

    Childline received funding to modernize its data management platform, enhancing its capacity to document and support children in distress. Sewa International TT will implement a solar-powered, multi-purpose energy system in Piarco to power health fairs and blood drives. Other beneficiaries include the Mayaro-based community agri-business hub developed by Sisters Uplifting Sisters, the TT Scouts Association’s school bench initiative, and the Bovell Cancer Diabetes Association’s digital hub for medical education.

    The Trinidad and Tobago Chest and Heart Association’s virtual reality youth health hub promises to create an engaging, technology-driven educational space where young people can learn about the impacts of smoking and vaping through immersive VR experiences. Additional recipients include Sapphire Miriam’s community after-school center in Chaguanas and Barataria Anglican Primary School’s digital lab and child safety project.

    Digicel Foundation Board Chair Desha Clifford revealed the impressive scale of the foundation’s three-year partnership with Shell, noting that over $3 billion has been invested to date. “We have supported 160 projects across Trinidad and Tobago, touching the lives of over 88,000 people,” Clifford announced. “This represents more than $56 million in sustainable community development. These numbers tell a powerful story of change and perseverance.”

    Martel Waldron, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, expressed government endorsement for the program, noting that these initiatives align perfectly with the national mandate to build stronger communities, empower NGOs, and support sustainable development across the nation.

  • Seventh-day Adventists reject claims of providing gov’t with people’s personal data

    Seventh-day Adventists reject claims of providing gov’t with people’s personal data

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Union Conference (JAMU) of Seventh-day Adventists and its humanitarian division, ADRA Jamaica, have formally refuted social media allegations accusing them of sharing personal data with the government. The claims suggested that information gathered during Hurricane Melissa relief operations was being funneled to Jamaica’s National Identification System (NIDS).

    During a press conference held Wednesday, JAMU Treasurer Pastor Adlai Blythe categorically denied these accusations. He explained that all data collected serves exclusively for internal record-keeping and coordinating relief efforts. “We conduct initial damage assessments to determine individual losses and coordinate our response accordingly,” Blythe stated. “As a registered charity, ADRA Jamaica gathers information solely for distributing aid to affected persons. This information is never shared with any external entity, governmental or non-governmental.”

    Blythe emphasized the organization’s compliance with data protection regulations, noting they employ a dedicated data protection officer to ensure protocol adherence.

    JAMU President Pastor Everett Brown provided additional context about their hurricane response preparedness. “Prior to Hurricane Melissa’s landfall, we allocated $500,000 across our five conferences to pre-position food and water supplies in strategic locations,” Brown revealed. Following the hurricane, the church deployed ADRA Jamaica staff and conference workers to assess needs and distribute relief materials.

    Brown clarified the funding sources for these efforts: “All deployed resources originate from international partners, the global Seventh-day Adventist church, and local contributions. We have received no governmental financial support for this initiative.”

    While expressing openness to future government collaboration, Brown stressed the current operation’s independent nature. “As a church embodying Christ’s mission, we respond to human needs wherever they exist. We stand ready to distribute materials through our nationwide network, but our current operations are independently funded through collaborative efforts, not government support.”

    ADRA Jamaica operates as a registered humanitarian agency serving vulnerable populations affected by disasters, poverty, and social changes, with presence in over 118 countries worldwide.

  • Jamaica-bound hurricane relief container robbed in Canada

    Jamaica-bound hurricane relief container robbed in Canada

    Authorities in Toronto have launched a full-scale investigation into a devastating theft that targeted humanitarian aid, with volunteers describing the crime as a profound blow to charitable efforts. The incident, which unfolded at a local storage facility, saw thieves make off with an estimated CA$300,000 to CA$400,000 worth of donated goods meticulously gathered over a three-week period for vulnerable communities in Jamaica.

    According to volunteer Michael Bennett, who provided a emotional account to CTV News, the donations comprised essential supplies including non-perishable food, clothing, and critical power generators. The discovery was made on Wednesday morning when the volunteer team arrived to prepare the items for shipment, only to find the storage unit’s padlock severed and the container completely emptied.

    Toronto Police evidence suggests the burglary was executed overnight. Security camera footage reportedly captured a truck forcefully breaching a secured gate at the container facility, enabling the perpetrators to systematically empty the unit unimpeded. The calculated nature of the operation indicates a premeditated act rather than a crime of opportunity.

    In a poignant television interview, Bennett struggled to contain his emotion, emphasizing the profound human impact of the theft. He articulated the particular cruelty of stealing supplies intended for those in dire need, questioning the motive behind targeting humanitarian aid. ‘The material value is secondary,’ Bennett stated. ‘The food represents sustenance for families. What purpose does this serve the thieves here? None whatsoever.’

    The robbery has not only resulted in a significant material loss but has also delivered a demoralizing setback to the volunteer-driven initiative, casting a shadow over community trust and the security of charitable operations.

  • Christmas wish for competence

    Christmas wish for competence

    Residents of Greenvale Park, La Horquetta are confronting what they describe as systemic governmental neglect and political favoritism that compromises both infrastructure maintenance and essential services. According to longtime resident Arthur Dash, the community operates under a dual system of ‘contactocracy and contractocracy’ where garbage collection and flood prevention measures depend more on political connections than equitable public service distribution.

    The area, which endured catastrophic flooding in 2018, faces renewed risks as critical water management infrastructure remains dangerously neglected. The primary retention pond is now completely overgrown with vegetation, while uncleared bridges and choked waterways create perfect conditions for another disaster. Despite these visible hazards, authorities appear reliant on fortune rather than proactive intervention.

    Post-election service deterioration has exacerbated living conditions. Garbage collection has become irregular at best, leading to public health concerns as stray animals scatter waste and insect populations multiply. Bulk waste removal services demonstrate apparent cronyism, with trucks reportedly serving only ‘streets of affiliation’ rather than the entire community.

    Additional complications arise from Frederick Settlement Industrial Estate employees parking commercial vehicles along residential roads not designed for such traffic. This obstruction now prevents public transportation from accessing certain areas, particularly affecting elderly residents’ mobility.

    Local MP Phillip Watts faces sharp criticism for perceived absence beyond photo opportunities. The community demands merit-based governance rather than seasonal political attention, emphasizing that flood prevention and basic services shouldn’t require personal connections to implement.

    The Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation’s offer of a single December service day has been dismissed as tokenism rather than genuine problem-solving. Residents argue that as tax-paying citizens, they deserve consistent services equivalent to other communities receiving triple-weekly collections.

    With another rainy season approaching, Greenvale Park stands as a case study in how administrative lethargy transforms natural weather patterns into human-made disasters, where political promiscuity during election cycles gives way to operational abandonment thereafter.

  • Contractors’ union demands $$ for back pay by December 22

    Contractors’ union demands $$ for back pay by December 22

    The Contractors and General Workers Trade Union (CGWTU) has issued an urgent demand for immediate cash payments of outstanding wages to its members employed at the San Fernando City Corporation. Union president Ermine De Bique-Meade delivered a forceful address during a December 4th press conference at the union’s Rushworth Street headquarters, setting a definitive deadline of December 22nd for settlement of all arrears.

    De Bique-Meade directly appealed to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for intervention, emphasizing the critical timing ahead of the holiday season. The demanded payments stem from collective bargaining agreements covering periods 2014-2017 and 2017-2019, which were formally signed on April 24th under the previous administration, just days before the United National Congress (UNC) assumed power following the April 28th general elections.

    The union leader referenced Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s October 13th budget presentation commitment to ratify several public sector agreements, including those affecting municipal workers. Drawing parallels to the Public Services Association’s recent successful negotiation for $3.8 billion in back pay, De Bique-Meade insisted on similar cash disbursements rather than deferred payment arrangements, declaring, ‘Cash! Cash! Cash! Nothing else than cash because you can’t take anything else to the grocery!’

    In a notable strategic move, De Bique-Meade highlighted the union’s yellow branding—matching the UNC’s party colors—and reminded officials of their pre-election collaboration. ‘This colour sat around the table and had discussions with him,’ she stated, adding, ‘When you all needed us, we were there! We need you all now!’

    The union president confirmed that approximately 800 municipal workers are affected by the delayed payments. While expressing confidence in the Prime Minister’s willingness to ‘do the right thing,’ De Bique-Meade acknowledged that only the current state of emergency provisions prevented immediate street protests, suggesting the union would otherwise have been ‘outside Parliament’ demonstrating.

  • St Elizabeth farmers plough on despite ‘slow pace of assistance’

    St Elizabeth farmers plough on despite ‘slow pace of assistance’

    In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, agricultural communities in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, are demonstrating remarkable resilience by independently replanting devastated fields, despite expressing profound frustration over delayed and politicized government assistance.

    Farmer Anthony Smith from Ridge Pen recounted the complete destruction of his melon crop and half an acre of plantains. Despite officially reporting losses to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and being promised seeds and support, Smith states he has received no follow-up communication or aid. The 63-year-old farmer alleges systemic bias in agricultural support distribution, describing it as a ‘pick and choose’ system influenced by political affiliations rather than need.

    Similar stories emerge across the parish. Sheldon Dockery of Destiny Goat and Duck Farm suffered catastrophic losses including 200 ducks and 10 goats alongside destroyed corn, pepper, and pumpkin crops. Rather than awaiting government intervention, Dockery immediately commenced replanting using stored seeds, embodying a self-reliant philosophy he believes essential for agricultural survival.

    The economic impact extends beyond immediate crop damage. Shantol Brooks, a mother of two, revealed how nearly-ready cabbage, sweet pepper, and cauliflower crops—destined for crucial Christmas market sales—were completely ruined. Dale Williams from Burnt Savanna described total destruction of his half-acre farm containing corn and cassava, compounded by significant livestock losses and infrastructure damage to chicken coops.

    These farmers universally report facing dual challenges: natural disaster recovery and systemic inadequacies in agricultural support systems. Many emphasize that promised assistance programs—including free tractor services for land preparation—have failed to materialize or been distributed selectively. Despite these obstacles, the farming community continues replanting operations, though many struggle with increased costs for fertilizers, seeds, and limited availability of agricultural labor.

  • Pan will always have a home at President’s House, says Kangaloo

    Pan will always have a home at President’s House, says Kangaloo

    In a powerful demonstration of cultural solidarity, Trinidad and Tobago’s President Christine Kangaloo has declared the President’s House a permanent home for the national steelpan instrument. The announcement came during the inaugural Steelpan Royale: An Evening of Elegance event held December 3 at the official presidential residence in St. Ann’s, addressing growing concerns over diminished state support for the traditional art form.

    The event, which assembled diplomats, regional leaders, industry captains, and cultural icons, served as both an artistic showcase and political statement. President Kangaloo emphasized the steelpan’s global stature and versatility, noting its capacity to ‘command any stage, anywhere in the world.’ Her remarks carried particular significance as five steelbands recently lost sponsorship from state energy companies, creating financial uncertainty within the community preparing for Carnival 2026’s costly Panorama competitions.

    The musical program featured extraordinary performances by pan legends Ray Holman, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe, and Natasha Joseph, who demonstrated the instrument’s remarkable expressive range through solo selections. Their repertoire spanned Christmas classics including ‘Deck the Halls,’ ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas,’ and ‘Little Drummer Boy,’ before transitioning into spirited collaborations featuring soca parang favorites like Baron’s ‘Come Go’ and Scrunter’s ‘Ma Jeffrey.’

    The evening culminated with The Lydians choir, under Dr. Edward Cumberbatch’s direction, delivering a show-stopping finale that merged a tassa-infused arrangement of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ with a stirring rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma,’ earning multiple standing ovations. With musical direction by maestro Pelham Goddard, the event reaffirmed the steelpan’s dual identity as both national treasure and global artistic force.

    As guests departed, President Kangaloo and her husband Kerwyn Garcia personally thanked attendees, extending seasonal greetings while reinforcing the message that despite funding challenges, the steelpan—born from struggle and creativity—remains firmly positioned at the nation’s highest seat of office.