分类： society

A prominent women’s rights advocate has expressed profound dismay over PriceSmart’s female cashiers being compelled to seek Industrial Court intervention regarding their employers’ refusal to provide seating accommodations. Hazel Thompson-Ahye, in a compelling editorial letter, revealed that the hearing for this workplace dispute has been scheduled for March 2026—a timeline she considers unacceptably delayed for addressing what she characterizes as a fundamental dignity issue.

The controversy underscores deeper societal insensitivities toward women’s needs in the workplace, according to Thompson-Ahye. She draws parallels to a previous successful advocacy effort where she and other women secured seating for cashiers at Massy Group during an annual general meeting. This earlier victory demonstrated corporate responsiveness to humane working conditions when properly confronted.

Thompson-Ahye’s personal history with Massy Group informs her perspective. She recounts how the company supported her family after her father’s blindness at age 47, continuing his salary until all children completed their education and found employment—a testament to corporate compassion she believes should extend to all workers.

The letter further details her persistent advocacy for gender representation, including challenging the absence of women on Neal and Massy’s board. While eventually successful, the process revealed entrenched resistance masked as opposition to ‘tokenism.’

Thompson-Ahye concludes with an urgent appeal to PriceSmart management, particularly during this season of goodwill, to provide seating immediately rather than awaiting court proceedings. She calls upon fellow advocates to join her in demanding dignified working conditions for female cashiers, emphasizing that physiological differences require accommodation without compromising equality.

A devastating fire on December 26th completely destroyed both the residence and business of a Princes Town family, leaving them without home or livelihood just after Christmas. The incident occurred at the St Julien Road property where 49-year-old Brian Chadee lived with his wife and daughter.

Fortunately, all family members were away from the premises when the blaze ignited, alerted by a neighbor who spotted smoke from a nearby hill. Chadee recounted rushing to the scene only to find his woodworking workshop already engulfed in flames. Despite attempts to control the fire using a garden hose, inadequate water pressure hampered his efforts.

Neighbors quickly organized a bucket brigade in a collective attempt to contain the spreading fire until professional firefighters arrived. Unfortunately, the flames had already reached the main house by the time emergency services intervened.

The property held significant sentimental and financial value for the family. Chadee had inherited the home from his grandmother decades earlier and had substantially refurbished the structure over the years. The adjacent workshop represented a $200,000 investment in specialized tools and materials used for the family’s furniture-making business, which served as their primary source of income.

The complete destruction has left the family facing immense challenges. ‘We have no tools, we have nothing. We have no material, nothing,’ Chadee expressed regarding their business prospects. Currently staying with nearby friends, the family acknowledges the temporary nature of this arrangement.

While the Princes Town Regional Corporation’s Disaster Management Unit has provided initial assistance including mattresses, and the local councilor has visited, the family remains open to community support as they await the fire service’s official investigation results before beginning rebuilding efforts.

The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has significantly enhanced its operational capabilities through a substantial donation from the US Embassy, featuring two refurbished specialized vans and construction materials for a new whelping facility. The official handover ceremony occurred on December 17 at the Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Centre in Golden Grove, Arouca, where dignitaries witnessed demonstration exercises by the canine unit.

The refurbished vehicles, purpose-built for the Prison Service’s canine division, and the newly established whelping station represent a strategic investment in institutional security and breeding infrastructure. The breeding facility now enables the unit to maintain and expand its canine population in a controlled, secure environment.

In addition to the transportation and breeding infrastructure, the embassy contributed operational equipment including a mist blower, brush cutter, pressure washer, washable dog pads, and enrichment toys for the animals.

The ceremony attracted high-ranking officials from both nations, featuring Commissioner of Prisons Carlos Corraspe, Deputy Commissioners Hayden Forde, Curtis Guy, and Elvin Scanterbury, alongside US Embassy representatives Chief of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kelley Whitson, Saleem Boochoon, and Nathan Johnson. Debbie Jacob, a Newsday columnist and longstanding supporter of prison services, also attended the event.

Commissioner Corraspe highlighted the significance of bilateral cooperation, stating: “Today marks a celebration of the relationship between the US Embassy and the TT Prison Service. The Canine Unit represents one of our exemplary divisions, and the US Embassy has made substantial contributions to its development.” Addressing unit officers, Corraspe emphasized their “critical role in national security” and their responsibility for safeguarding both the prison system and broader community.

Whitson expressed strong interest in deepening institutional ties and anticipated ongoing collaboration between the two entities. The partnership reflects mutual dedication to capacity building, rehabilitation initiatives, and public safety enhancement, reinforcing a cooperative framework built upon mutual respect and sustained diplomatic engagement.

A significant cultural conflict has emerged between Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra and the National Gas Company (NGC) following the state-owned energy corporation’s decision to withdraw corporate sponsorship from youth-focused, sporting, and cultural organizations. The dispute centers on NGC’s substantial reduction in funding allocations for 2025, particularly affecting steelband groups including Couva Joylanders, La Brea Nightingales, and Tobago’s Steel Xplosion.\n\nThe controversy intensified following comments by NGC Chairman Gerald Ramdeen, who asserted that the company is \”not here to be a Ministry of Culture or Sport\” and emphasized that \”NGC is not a charity.\” The Couva Joylanders Orchestra responded directly to these statements through a detailed Facebook post, challenging Ramdeen’s perspective on corporate social responsibility.\n\nThe orchestra presented a compelling counter-argument, stating that corporate sponsorship represents more than mere financial assistance. They emphasized that panyards function as critical community spaces—serving as safe havens, educational environments, and centers for cultivating discipline and creativity. The funding withdrawal, they argued, negatively impacts not only musical groups but also local economies, affecting tailors, transportation providers, food vendors, and artisans who depend on carnival and steelpan activities.\n\nAt a time when steelpan music is gaining international recognition, the orchestra warned that reduced corporate support could hinder cultural momentum and diminish Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism potential. They expressed particular concern about the timing, noting that the cuts coincide with growing global appreciation for the art form.\n\nThe band directly addressed Ramdeen’s comments, stating: \”Respectfully, sir, your framing makes NGC sound detached from the communities it serves. A state enterprise should reflect national priorities, not just shareholder returns.\”\n\nRamdeen defended the corporate decision, referencing $1.6 billion in profits that allegedly concealed $1 billion in losses from previous management. He committed to continuing NGC’s corporate social responsibility initiatives but emphasized doing so \”in a prudent and frugal manner, with decisions guided by the best interests of the company and the country.\”\n\nThe funding termination letters invoked contractual clauses allowing the company to \”terminate for convenience,\” a move that Pan Trinbago president Beverly Ramsey-Moore described as \”a devastating blow\” to the cultural community.\n\nOpposition MP Stuart Young characterized the withdrawal as \”an assault on our culture,\” highlighting the vital role panyards play as safe spaces in communities affected by crime. This controversy echoes similar concerns raised earlier this year when Heritage Petroleum reduced support for San Fernando’s Skiffle Bunch and Siparia Deltones.\n\nThe Joylanders concluded their statement by emphasizing the profound significance of steelpan culture: \”This debate isn’t abstract. It touches directly on the lifeblood of our orchestra and the wider steelpan family… Sponsorship here is about sustaining a legacy, empowering youth, and projecting TT’s identity to the world.\”