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  • ABWU Marks 59th Anniversary

    ABWU Marks 59th Anniversary

    Nearly six decades after its founding, the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) is preparing to mark its 59th anniversary with a two-week series of community and celebratory events running from May 16 to 31. This year’s commemorations carry the thoughtful theme “59 Years of Stewardship: Embracing the Changes and Preparing for the Future World of Work”, reflecting the organisation’s longstanding commitment to supporting workers amid shifting industry and labor norms.

    Founded in 1967, the ABWU has built a decades-long legacy as a unwavering champion for fair labor standards and social equity across the twin-island nation. Throughout its history, the union has continuously adjusted its policy positions and member programs to align with the evolving realities of the global and local labor market, ensuring it remains a relevant and powerful voice for all working people.

    In comments on the 2026 anniversary theme, ABWU General Secretary David Massiah highlighted the unprecedented speed of transformation reshaping workplaces across the world today. From the rise of artificial intelligence and widespread automation to the boom in remote work and gig economy roles, plus the global shift toward a low-carbon green economy, Massiah noted that the very structure of work is being redefined faster than many workers and institutions can keep up.

    Massiah emphasized that these seismic shifts are not temporary or reversible—but that proactive action can help workers adapt and thrive even amid uncertainty. “The priority right now has to be expanding access to training and upskilling that equips workers with the competencies they need to succeed in this new labor landscape,” Massiah explained. He added that the union also has a critical unmet goal: extending the same labor protections, benefits and security that traditional full-time workers have long enjoyed to the growing populations of remote and gig workers, who are currently largely unorganised across much of the region.

    The full schedule of anniversary events is designed to bring together members, supporters and the general public to celebrate the union’s legacy while building community for future work. The festivities kick off with an Anniversary Church Service on Sunday, May 17 at 10 a.m. hosted by the Swetes Wesleyan Holiness Church. On Sunday, May 24, the ABWU will host its annual Anniversary Fun Ride starting at 9 a.m. from the union’s headquarters on Lower Newgate Street. A Members Appreciation Day will follow on Friday, May 29, opening at 10 a.m. at the ABWU headquarters to honor the union’s rank-and-file members. The two-week celebration will conclude on May 31 with the ABWU Invitational Race, held in conjunction with the OECS Championships, kicking off at 8 a.m. from the Lower Newgate Street headquarters.

    The ABWU has issued a public invitation to all current members, long-time supporters, community partners, and residents of Antigua and Barbuda to take part in the anniversary activities, as the organisation marks 59 years of service, advocacy, and worker empowerment across the country.

  • Ministry Issues Reminder on Closure of St. John’s Public Cemetery

    Ministry Issues Reminder on Closure of St. John’s Public Cemetery

    A formal public announcement issued by the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs has confirmed a long-planned change to local burial services: starting April 1, 2026, St. John’s Public Cemetery will no longer accept any new interments. This policy shift comes as part of broader government efforts to reorganize and streamline the management of public cemeteries across the region, addressing longstanding capacity constraints at the aging St. John’s site that have made continued new burials unsustainable. Going forward, all future public burial arrangements will be relocated to and handled at the purpose-prepared Tranquility Park Cemetery, a facility that has been developed to accommodate growing community demand for burial space. In releasing the updated notice, the Ministry has reiterated its call for full cooperation and patience from members of the general public as the transition is rolled out. Officials emphasize that the move is designed to ensure all burial services and public cemetery management remain orderly, accessible, and aligned with long-term community planning goals, and that support will be available to help families adjust to the new arrangement.

  • Government engages seniors in EID sensitisation sessions

    Government engages seniors in EID sensitisation sessions

    In a forward-thinking move to ensure inclusive digital transition, the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis has kicked off public outreach for its upcoming national electronic identification (eID) program by engaging older adults first, a demographic often overlooked in digital transformation initiatives.

    The first sensitization session launched on May 11, 2026, at the Earle Clarke Community Centre in Newtown, hosted for participants of the island’s Seniors’ Day Programme. The event brought together senior leadership from Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Digital Transformation Unit (DTU), the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, and project partners from the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) to walk attendees through the core design, benefits, and security features of the new digital identity system.

    Leading the presentations were Nigel Carty, the government’s Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Lyncia Dore, Change Manager for the initiative, and Eric Haynes, DTU Programme Manager, alongside Edward Chen, Taiwan ICDF’s Project Manager for the collaboration. Speakers outlined that the eID project forms a core pillar of the national digital transformation strategy, which seeks to streamline both public and private sector services across the Federation, cutting red tape and improving operational efficiency for all residents.

    Unlike legacy physical identification documents, the new eID card leverages advanced cryptographic technology to encrypt and protect holders’ personal data, addressing common privacy concerns associated with digital identity systems. Once fully rolled out, the card will serve as a single, universally accepted verification tool for a wide range of daily transactions and government services, from tax filing and voting to welfare benefit applications and other official processes.

    Attending older adults demonstrated high levels of engagement throughout the session, raising thoughtful questions across key topics including accessibility for older users, data security protocols, integration with passport services, and support for digital payments. Many attendees expressed open enthusiasm for the initiative, praising the government’s decision to include seniors in the earliest stages of public outreach.

    Christopher Roberts, a 62-year-old attendee who frequently travels and conducts personal business across the island, commended officials for prioritizing early engagement with older communities. “We want an ID that everywhere you go in the country is accepted, and there are no questions asked,” he shared. “I support this because I travel a lot and I do a lot of business, and I don’t like needing this lot of IDs. I’m very satisfied with this new system, and I hope that we can have continued follow-up of this type of programme.”

    Sixty-nine-year-old Marilyn Cotton echoed that approval, describing the workshop as a genuinely informative experience that filled critical knowledge gaps for older adults unused to digital services. She urged her peers and other community members to take advantage of upcoming information sessions to learn more about the program ahead of its official rollout.

  • Aanklacht tegen Raul Castro markeert escalatie in VS-Cuba relatie

    Aanklacht tegen Raul Castro markeert escalatie in VS-Cuba relatie

    Tensions between the United States and Cuba are on the brink of a sharp new escalation, as U.S. authorities are moving forward with plans to file formal criminal charges against former Cuban president Raúl Castro, multiple sources familiar with the matter confirm. The proposed charges stem from a 1996 incident in which the Cuban government shot down two civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a U.S.-based anti-Castro dissident organization. Now 94 years old, Raúl Castro stepped down from the presidency in 2018 but remains widely recognized as the most powerful political figure in Cuba, leading the country’s long-ruling communist regime. Any formal charges will require approval from a U.S. grand jury before they can be officially filed, according to people briefed on the process.

    The news of the planned charges comes just days after a high-level U.S. delegation led by CIA director John Ratcliffe traveled to Havana for rare direct talks with Cuban officials. During that visit, the U.S. side offered up to $100 million in new humanitarian aid to the island, but tied the assistance to a requirement that Cuba implement what Washington calls “meaningful political and economic reforms.” The proposal was rejected by Cuban authorities, who view the conditional aid as unacceptable interference in the country’s internal affairs.

    This latest move against Raúl Castro comes amid a steady deterioration of U.S.-Cuba relations that began shortly after Donald Trump’s second inauguration as U.S. president in 2025. Trump has repeatedly made clear his goal of forcing the communist government out of power, openly identifying Cuba as the “next target” after Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was removed from office in a military-led transition earlier this year. Since January 2025, the Trump administration has already implemented sweeping measures to increase economic pressure on Havana, including rolling back all remaining fuel shipments from U.S.-controlled Venezuela to Cuba and imposing harsh secondary sanctions on any third country that continues to supply crude oil and petroleum products to the island.

    Those sanctions have already created a catastrophic fuel crisis across Cuba, a country of 11 million people. The nearly complete fuel blockade has triggered widespread acute shortages of gasoline, diesel, and heating oil, as well as persistent, nationwide power outages that have crippled daily economic activity and public services. Earlier this month, Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy issued a public warning confirming that the country has already exhausted its stockpiles of diesel and fuel oil, leaving critical sectors including transportation, agriculture, and public utilities on the brink of collapse. The fuel shortage has only deepened the already severe economic and social crisis that has gripped the island for years, driving widespread hardship for ordinary Cuban citizens.

    Beyond the charges against Raúl Castro, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Southern District of Florida, which has long overseen prosecutions related to the Cuban government, is also pursuing potential criminal charges against multiple senior Cuban officials believed to have been involved in the 1996 downing of the Brothers to the Rescue aircraft. U.S. officials frame the ongoing legal actions and planned charges as part of a broader, coordinated strategy to ramp up pressure on the Cuban government and force it to make the political and economic concessions Washington has demanded.

  • Rondré Daniel is the new Nevis Junior Youth Tourism Minister

    Rondré Daniel is the new Nevis Junior Youth Tourism Minister

    CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – May 15, 2026 – A 17-year-old Charlestown Secondary School student has stepped into the spotlight as the new face of youth-led tourism innovation on the Caribbean island of Nevis, after claiming top honors at the 2026 Bank of Nevis Tourism Youth Congress.

    Rondré Daniel outperformed five fellow student competitors to secure the coveted title of Nevis Junior Youth Tourism Minister, capping off a tightly contested national competition held May 12 at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre. Modeled after the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Board of Directors meetings, the annual event challenges young participants to tackle pressing industry challenges facing regional tourism, testing both their preparation and critical thinking skills.

    Competitors were required to deliver a tightly timed three-minute prepared presentation focused on one of four core issues impacting Caribbean tourism, followed by an unscripted one-minute response to an unexpected surprise question. Daniel, who presented on the topic *Cultural Industries Innovation*, earned a winning total score of 189.01 points, edging out second-place finisher Alison Gishard of Gingerland Secondary School by less than half a point. Gishard scored 188.6 points for her analysis of “The New Age of Tourism Professionals”, while Ajeernee Hodge, also from Gingerland Secondary, took third place with 182.7 points for her work on multigenerational travel product development.

    In his winning policy platform, Daniel laid out a bold vision to reposition Nevis as a global leader in culturally rooted sustainable tourism. “As Junior Minister of Tourism, I boldly assert that Nevis can be a leading tourism destination if we adhere to the mantra that we are stronger with culture,” Daniel shared in his presentation. “My strategies will support sustainability by preserving Nevisian heritage, empowering local creatives and generating inclusive economic opportunities within the tourism sector.”

    His proposals center on transforming the island’s tourism offering through immersive, community-led cultural experiences. A key priority is reimagining the historic Bath Hotel as a dynamic central hub for festivals, wellness programming and interactive Culturama events run by local artists and creators. Daniel also called for targeted investment in young creative entrepreneurs through the establishment of a new Creatives Academy and Innovation Incubator, which would provide emerging talent with funding, professional skills training, and apprenticeship opportunities to turn their ideas into marketable tourism products.

    To deepen visitor engagement with Nevis’ unique history, Daniel also outlined plans to leverage cutting-edge digital technology for innovative storytelling. His ideas include 4D cinematic experiences, a live original musical centered on Nevis-born founding father Alexander Hamilton, and interactive virtual reality exhibits that let visitors actively explore and connect with the island’s heritage rather than just observing it.

    The competition, sponsored by Bank of Nevis Ltd., drew praise from government and industry leaders for its role in cultivating young leadership for Nevis’ core tourism sector. Prizes and the official title were presented to Daniel by Denrick Liburd, CEO of Bank of Nevis Ltd., alongside Acting Premier the Honourable Eric Evelyn, who delivered remarks on behalf of Nevis Island Administration Premier and Minister of Tourism Mark Brantley.

    Evelyn commended all participating students for their thoughtful, high-quality presentations, and highlighted the long-term value of the youth congress initiative. “It is very important that we expose our young people to these types of activities. This initiative gives them an opportunity to develop their confidence and their public speaking skills, and also the opportunity to learn more about our destination,” he said. “As young persons they should be aware of what is happening on beautiful Nevis, how nice Nevis is, and they must be armed with that knowledge wherever they go, whether they here in Nevis or whether they travel overseas. They must be ambassadors for Nevis.”

    Vanessa Webbe, Product Development Manager in Nevis’ Ministry of Tourism, also extended congratulations to Daniel and all competitors, emphasizing that young people play a critical role in shaping the future growth of the island’s tourism industry. Evelyn also praised the Ministry of Tourism for its consistent commitment to youth engagement through the annual congress.

    Next up for Daniel is a new milestone: he will go on to represent Nevis at the 2026 CTO Regional Tourism Youth Congress, set to be hosted in Guyana this coming October, where he will share his youth-centered vision for Caribbean tourism with delegates from across the region.

  • Jet free to leave after security scare

    Jet free to leave after security scare

    A tense 24-hour standoff at Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport concluded Sunday with authorities granting departure clearance to an Ukrainian-crewed cargo jet that landed for a refuelling stop carrying undeclared industrial explosives, officials have confirmed. The aircraft, a Soviet-era Antonov An-12BP registered as flight CVK-7078, touched down at the airport just after 6 p.m. local time Thursday, arriving from the Bahamas en route to Cape Verde, with its final destination of Libya.

    As is standard for technical stopovers — brief landings for operational needs such as refuelling, crew changes or maintenance rather than passenger or cargo handling — the eight-person crew submitted general declarations to local ground handling agents. On their cargo documentation, the crew marked the cargo load as “nil”, meaning no cargo was being carried for the duration of the flight segment. This inaccurate reporting raised immediate red flags for on-site immigration officers, who quickly alerted Trinidad and Tobago Customs and Excise Division officials to launch an inspection.

    A detailed search of the aircraft’s cargo hold uncovered 7,656 kilograms of industrial explosives marked as “Oilwell explosives”, classified under the UN dangerous goods code UN0440. Further review of the plane’s documentation confirmed the shipment originated in Houston, Texas, and was bound for Libyan end-users. In line with international aviation security regulations, all hazardous goods must be formally declared to destination and transit authorities to ensure proper handling and mitigate public safety risks.

    Following the discovery, the aircraft was immediately secured and impounded, with the full crew taken into custody for questioning by a multi-agency task force including local and international security partners. The joint investigation team included Trinidad’s Customs and Excise Division, the Airports Authority Police Force, the national Special Branch intelligence unit, the Caribbean-based aviation security coalition AIRCOP, and United States border investigators, among other national security stakeholders.

    During a sitting of Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament Friday, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander addressed growing public concerns over the incident, responding to an urgent question from Opposition Member of Parliament Marvin Gonzales. Gonzales asked what immediate security measures had been put in place to protect airport staff and the general public after reports of the explosives-laden plane circulated. Alexander confirmed that the plane carrying several tonnes of undeclared dangerous goods had been impounded shortly after arrival, and that investigations were being carried out in coordination with the national Police Service, intelligence agencies and the Ministry of Defence.

    When asked by Gonzales whether there was any active threat to Trinidad and Tobago citizens, Alexander stressed that the situation remained fully under control and posed no danger to the public. Earlier Friday, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) released a public statement echoing that assurance, noting that ongoing enhanced security protocols under the country’s current State of Emergency allowed routine checks to catch the documentation irregularities before any risk emerged.

    “In keeping with the heightened security posture under the ongoing State of Emergency, routine checks identified irregularities requiring immediate precautionary action. The aircraft was secured, the crew accounted for, and all relevant national security units activated in accordance with established protocols,” the TTPS statement read. The agency added that at no point did the aircraft or its cargo pose a threat to the travelling public, airport operations, or the broader Trinidadian public, noting “the situation remained calm, controlled, and professionally managed.”

    After completing extensive inquiries and threat assessments, the joint investigative team determined that no criminal liability could be assigned to the pilot or the eight-member crew. In an official announcement released shortly before 7 p.m. Friday, the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago confirmed that formal departure clearance had been granted, allowing the plane and crew to continue their planned journey. Officials declined to share further details on the investigation, citing intelligence confidentiality requirements and international security information-sharing agreements.

  • MORE COPS COMING

    MORE COPS COMING

    The government of Trinidad and Tobago has unveiled a landmark plan to expand the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), raising the force’s authorized manpower ceiling from 7,884 officers to 10,200 in a bid to bolster on-the-ground law enforcement capacity across the twin-island nation.

    Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander announced the Cabinet-endorsed initiative during a parliamentary address Tuesday, outlining that the expansion will roll out as a phased five-year recruitment drive. Under the approved timeline, 600 new recruits will join the force in both the first and second years of the program, followed by 372 new hires annually for the final three years. Parallel to recruitment efforts, the TTPS will also upgrade its police academy infrastructure and expand training capacity to ensure that existing recruitment quality standards and operational professionalism are not compromised by the growth, Alexander confirmed.

    The core objective of the manpower increase is to allow the TTPS to maintain a consistent nationwide operational presence of roughly 7,800 active officers – the minimum threshold security analysts identified as necessary to meet the demands of 21st-century policing and evolving national security threats. Currently, even with the full authorized strength of 7,884 officers, the force only has approximately 5,500 officers available for frontline deployment on any given day. This gap stems from officers being tied up in mandatory leave, training sessions, administrative tasks, court appearances, and specialized off-patrol assignments, meaning the TTPS has long been operating with a frontline force well below its official authorized size.

    Alexander explained that decades of incremental expansion of specialized policing units to address new threats – including cybercrime, transnational organized crime, gang activity, financial crime, and corruption – have created structural staffing imbalances. Every time a new specialized unit was launched to respond to an emerging risk, no corresponding increase in overall authorized manpower was approved, forcing leadership to reassign officers from community patrol and frontline policing roles to fill these technical positions. This shift has left communities with fewer visible patrols, stretched thin the remaining frontline force, and created a crippling reliance on excessive overtime that leads to officer fatigue.

    The new expansion initiative is designed to reverse this imbalance. It will allow the TTPS to fully staff specialized investigative and intelligence units while simultaneously rebuilding visible community policing across all regions of Trinidad and Tobago. Additional officers will deliver a range of operational improvements: increasing uniformed presence on neighborhood streets to deter criminal activity, speeding up response times to emergencies, violent incidents, and public safety threats, and boosting capacity across key priority areas including intelligence operations, cybercrime probes, gang suppression, financial investigations, anti-corruption enforcement, and community engagement.

    More officers will also improve outreach to schools, local businesses, community organizations, and vulnerable populations, strengthening public trust in law enforcement and improving intelligence gathering efforts. For the force itself, the additional manpower will reduce the crippling overtime burden that has contributed to widespread operational fatigue, improving long-term workforce sustainability, officer effectiveness, and professional performance.

    The expanded force will also enhance security at critical national infrastructure sites including ports and airports, and better position the TTPS to respond to large-scale national events, sudden spikes in criminal activity, natural disasters, states of emergency, and other national crises.

    Calling the strengthening of the TTPS a matter of critical national importance, Alexander framed the plan as a core part of the government’s effort to modernize law enforcement’s operational structure to match evolving criminal threats. “Criminals have modernised, organised and expanded their operations. The State must therefore ensure that law enforcement is equally equipped, equally organised and sufficiently resourced to respond decisively,” he told parliament.

    Responding to a question from Opposition Member of Parliament Marvin Gonzales, Alexander confirmed that the Cabinet’s decision followed a comprehensive manpower audit conducted in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

  • Psychiatrist: Don’t shame porn lovers

    Psychiatrist: Don’t shame porn lovers

    New global spending data has sparked intense public debate across Trinidad and Tobago after revealing that domestic users spent a total of US$1.57 million on subscription-based adult content platform OnlyFans in 2025. This figure marks a 15.9% increase from 2024’s total of US$1.35 million, placing the twin-island nation in a notable position in regional and global rankings.

    Across the 188 countries included in the global revenue dataset, Trinidad and Tobago ranks 67th when adjusted for spending per 10,000 users, with an average per-capita-aligned spend of US$11,884.46. Within the Americas, covering both North and South America, the country places 14th among the highest-spending nations on a per-capita basis, signaling that consumption of adult digital content is far more prevalent in the local market than many public narratives have previously acknowledged.

    Leading psychiatrist Dr Varma Deyalsingh was among the first experts to respond to the newly released data, pushing back against widespread social stigma attached to adult content consumption. He emphasized that consenting adult citizens hold the right to manage their personal spending according to their own preferences, arguing that consumption of pornography has evolved from a fringe activity to a widely accepted mainstream practice in modern digital society.

    Contrary to common popular myths, Deyalsingh noted that existing research does not support the claim that all people who watch adult content develop violent tendencies, become dysfunctional in daily life, or develop problematic addictions. “Many adults consume pornography occasionally without major disruption to their lives or relationships,” he explained in a statement to local media outlet Trinidad Express.

    Addressing concerns about the economic impact of the spending, which draws heavily on foreign exchange reserves, Deyalsingh pointed out that outflow of US currency to foreign digital platforms is not a new phenomenon unique to OnlyFans. Trinidad and Tobago consumers already spend billions annually on other global digital services, including Netflix subscriptions, Amazon retail purchases, Spotify streaming, and online gaming, framing the OnlyFans spending as part of a broader shift to digital global consumption.

    Deyalsingh stressed that the growing popularity of adult content reflects broader shifts in modern culture, where sexuality has become increasingly commercialized and digitized. Easy accessibility of online content and the normalization of sexual content through mainstream social media have helped erase the stigma once attached to porn consumption, he said, adding that “no one should be shamed for their sexual behaviours once they are not harming themselves or others.”

    Outlining the spectrum of adult content use, Deyalsingh cited global statistics showing that approximately 70% of men and 30% of women consume porn regularly. He also noted that consumption rose by 11% globally during the Covid-19 pandemic, a surge driven by factors including widespread boredom, a need to release accumulated emotional stress, natural curiosity, interest in sexual education, and basic sexual release needs.

    Dr Victoria Siewnarine-Geelalsingh, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists, offered a complementary perspective that avoids moral judgment while highlighting the underlying emotional roots of consistent adult content consumption. “Through a clinical lens, it is a sign of an emotional need,” she explained. “Many are navigating feelings of isolation. Feeling overwhelmed. Feeling unseen. What may look like a simple pastime can sometimes be a way of coping with untreated anxiety. Depression. Profound loneliness.”

    Siewnarine-Geelalsingh added that the human brain is inherently wired to seek connection, and when in-person nurturing bonds become difficult to form or maintain, digital sexual experiences often fill that gap temporarily. These experiences offer quick relief and a moment of escape from daily stress, but that comfort is almost always short-lived. Over time, reliance on digital content can form a repeating cycle that eases distress in the moment without addressing the underlying emotional loneliness or unmet needs driving the behavior.

    “This is not a personal failing. It is a very human response to pain. And it quietly places strain on the foundations of our society,” she noted, adding that while the impact of increased adult content consumption is often framed as a purely personal issue, it also carries broader ripple effects across public systems including education, family structure, and community well-being, and can even be linked to increased rates of harmful criminal behavior in some contexts.

    Not all community leaders have taken a neutral or non-judgmental stance, however. Dr Burris Ellis, president of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) of Trinidad and Tobago, made clear in a phone interview that his organization does not support the growing normalization of pornography consumption. “IRO is not supporting pornography because it affects the mind of children and adults. Anything that will bring immorality in the society will not be supported. I’m not a fan. It encourages lewd behaviour,” Ellis said.

  • MTEST welcomes tuition fee freeze

    MTEST welcomes tuition fee freeze

    In a major win for students and families across Trinidad and Tobago, the University of the West Indies (The UWI) has voted against implementing a planned tuition hike at its St Augustine campus, a decision that has been publicly praised by the country’s Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training (MTEST).

    The final ruling to maintain current tuition rates was formalized during a University Council sitting held on May 8, according to an official statement released by MTEST this week. The outcome came after months of sustained, targeted negotiation and direct lobbying led by the Trinidad and Tobago government through the ministry, which had openly opposed the proposed fee adjustment from the start.
    Dr. Prakash Persad, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, formally communicated to the St Augustine campus leadership that the government would not back any tuition increase, advising that no changes to fee structures should go forward without explicit government approval. Persad, who also holds the title of Senator Professor Emeritus, emphasized that the government’s core priority is protecting access to post-secondary education for all residents.
    In welcoming the council’s decision, Persad reaffirmed the administration’s long-standing commitment to keeping tertiary education accessible and economically viable for both students and their households. The ministry noted that the government remains acutely conscious of the widespread financial strain that many working and middle-class citizens currently face, and it will continue rolling out targeted measures to safeguard access to both higher education and vocational skills training opportunities.
    “Students, parents and stakeholders are therefore advised that tuition fees at the St Augustine campus will remain unchanged at this time,” the release clarified. Looking ahead, MTEST says it will maintain open, ongoing dialogue with The UWI administration and other key industry and community stakeholders to ensure all policy decisions related to tertiary education stay aligned with the country’s national development goals and the broader public interest.
    “MTEST remains committed to continued engagement with The UWI and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that decisions concerning tertiary education remain aligned with national development priorities and the best interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” the ministry added.

  • Cops quiz mom, stepdad

    Cops quiz mom, stepdad

    The investigation into the disappearance of 2-year-old Angelo Tobias Plaza from his Tobago residence has taken new steps, with law enforcement officials questioning both the toddler’s mother Kalifah Tobias and stepfather Shannon Miller as probes into the case intensified. After the hours-long questioning, the pair was escorted back to their Goodwood Bay home, located just a short distance from where search teams continued their work to locate the missing child.

    Local news outlet The Express witnessed the couple being transported in an unmarked police vehicle, while Angelo’s biological father, Antonio Plaza, and his grandmother Meena Balliram watched on from a distance. The two had traveled to Tobago from the neighboring island of Trinidad earlier that same day, desperate for updates on the boy’s fate.

    In an interview with The Express, Antonio Plaza described the agony of losing his only son, saying the uncertainty has left him psychologically shattered. “I feel like I am losing my mind. I am not feeling human again. I just want closure right now. I just want to know. I want a thorough investigation. Make sure you do it properly. I have faith in the (police) officers,” Plaza shared. He added that he had previously been granted limited access to see his son, and urged other parents to take the case as a warning: “I find this should be an example to be more vigilant of your children,” he said.

    Angelo was first reported missing from his Goodwood Bay home on Monday night. Since his disappearance, multi-disciplinary search teams have carried out extensive land, sea, and aerial operations to locate the toddler across the surrounding area.

    On the day of the questioning, Allan Stewart, director of the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), announced that the operation was being shifted from active search and rescue to a recovery mission. “We think we are dealing with a recovery, we think this…is not a search and rescue of a person; there is a strong feeling, based on the information that is coming up, that they did confirm they saw a child in the water,” Stewart explained.

    Stewart noted that while the mission has changed scope, emergency teams remain committed to bringing answers to the grieving family. “We continue to be optimistic that a level of closure can be had, and we want to give the public the assurance that we at TEMA are doing all in our power to support the TTPS and the other agencies that are involved in the search. We would continue to do so with the hope and the plans that we have to bring closure to this incident,” he added.