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  • Bailey, Simmons to lead police force from Monday

    Bailey, Simmons to lead police force from Monday

    Nearly nine months after the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration took office following general elections, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force is set to welcome a new temporary leadership structure starting Monday. Reliable sources close to the matter have confirmed to iWitness News that current Commissioner of Police Enville Williams will begin a 150-day scheduled leave period, triggering a series of interim role appointments across the force’s senior command.

    Stepping into the top role during Williams’ absence will be Trevor “Buju” Bailey, who will serve as acting Commissioner of Police. Joining Bailey in the interim senior team is Junior Simmons, who has been tapped to fill the position of acting Deputy Commissioner of Police. The previous Deputy Commissioner, Frankie Joseph, has already exited the role to begin pre-retirement leave.

    One of the most notable appointments is that of Brenton Smith, a veteran officer who was forced to leave the constabulary 28 years into his career over the former government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Following the NDP’s election victory in November, Smith was reinstated to the force, and he will now take on the role of acting Assistant Commissioner of Police. Prior to his return to policing, Smith held a key party position as General Secretary of the NDP.

    The leadership overhaul comes at a critical moment for the Caribbean nation, which has already recorded 31 homicides in the current year. If the current rate of violent crime continues, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is on track to exceed the 40 homicide total recorded in 2025, marking a new high for violent crime in the country. Some security observers have pointed out that the only consistent factor through the recent escalation in criminal activity has been the stagnant senior leadership of the national police force — a dynamic that the interim changes are expected to address ahead of a permanent leadership arrangement.

  • Prison Superintendent to Lose Power to Reduce Sentences for Good Behaviour, PM Proposes Extra Time for Misconduct

    Prison Superintendent to Lose Power to Reduce Sentences for Good Behaviour, PM Proposes Extra Time for Misconduct

    In a major policy shift aimed at toughening the country’s criminal justice system, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed plans to strip the top prison administrator of a long-held power to cut inmates’ original sentences by up to one-third. The announcement came during an appearance on the local Browne and Browne Show, where Browne said he has already issued formal directions to Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin to implement the change starting as early as next week.

    Under the current framework, the prison superintendent is authorized to grant the one-third sentence reduction to inmates who record good behavior during their incarceration. But Browne has publicly pushed back against this long-standing practice, arguing that refraining from violence or major rule-breaking behind bars should not be enough to automatically earn an inmate early release from court-ordered sentences.

    Instead of automatic reductions for good conduct, Browne is proposing a penalty-focused system that adds extra prison time for inmates who engage in fights or other violations of prison rules. “If you get in a fight in the prison or any bad behaviour, you spend additional time,” the prime minister explained during the program.

    Browne’s core concern centers on the combined effect of sentence cuts from both judicial rulings and prison administration, which he says can leave perpetrators of violent and serious offenses serving only a small portion of their original court-ordered sentences. This gap is particularly alarming, he noted, in cases involving firearm-related crimes, sexual offenses, and repeat offenders who repeatedly cycle through the justice system.

    Countering common arguments in favor of early release, the prime minister contended that overly short sentences actually work against effective rehabilitation. He explained that when inmates are released back to society after serving only a fraction of their sentence, correctional and support teams do not have enough time to deliver the job training, behavioral treatment and social reintegration support that persistent offenders need to avoid reoffending.

    The reform push does not end with limiting the prison superintendent’s power. The Browne administration is also preparing to bring legislative proposals to Parliament that would raise maximum possible sentences for serious gun and sexual offenses, while introducing mandatory minimum penalties for these high-harm crimes to ensure convicted offenders serve substantial time behind bars.

  • Booby Alley Condominiums to Offer Affordable 25-Year Mortgages, Ban Rentals

    Booby Alley Condominiums to Offer Affordable 25-Year Mortgages, Ban Rentals

    The government of Antigua and Barbuda is advancing a new social housing initiative that would bring accessible long-term mortgages to new condominium developments in the Booby Alley area, with displaced former residents granted first priority for units. Prime Minister Gaston Browne recently outlined the proposal, revealing that the Development Bank of Antigua and Barbuda is the preferred candidate to administer the home loan program, a choice designed to keep monthly repayment costs within reach for low- and middle-income applicants.

    Brown explained that policymakers are leaning toward assigning the mortgage program to the Development Bank rather than the National Housing authority, to facilitate lending at comparatively low interest rates. To further expand access for qualifying buyers, the government plans to structure the mortgages with payoff periods of roughly 25 years, stretching out repayment to reduce the monthly financial burden on homeowners.

    Under the current project framework, around 50 existing homeowners will receive direct replacement properties through a property swap arrangement. Once these swaps are completed, Browne projects that an additional 100 units will be made available to eligible buyers through the new mortgage program. To protect the program’s core mission of expanding accessible homeownership, strict occupancy rules will be enforced: all condominiums must be occupied by their owners, and speculation is explicitly banned. No units will be approved for purchase as investment properties or second homes to be rented out to third parties.

    “We’re not going to allow anybody to speculate with them,” Browne emphasized, reinforcing the government’s commitment to keeping the project focused on meeting local housing needs. Beyond the swap arrangements, former residents of the Booby Alley community will retain priority placement for all remaining available units, recognizing the area’s longstanding community ties. As of the latest announcement, key details including the final fixed or variable interest rate, formal eligibility criteria, and official application process have not yet been finalized or released to the public.

  • Gajadien: Reguleer virtuele activa, maar voorkom overregulering

    Gajadien: Reguleer virtuele activa, maar voorkom overregulering

    As the global adoption of virtual assets like cryptocurrencies and stablecoins accelerates, Suriname’s top political figure has laid out a roadmap for sensible domestic regulation that avoids the pitfalls of over-restrictive oversight. On August 16, Asis Gajadien, leader of the ruling VHP party’s parliamentary faction and a member of the legislative report committee, presented key proposed amendments to the country’s draft bill on supervision of virtual asset service providers during debates in the National Assembly.

    Gajadien opened by stressing that there is no debate within his faction about the fundamental need for regulation. Virtual assets have already become an integrated part of the global financial system, bringing new opportunities alongside well-documented risks ranging from fraud and money laundering to terrorist financing. Citing on-the-ground observations, Gajadien estimates that roughly 30% of certain domestic trade and import transactions in Suriname are currently settled using stablecoins such as Tether (USDT), though he noted that no official study has yet quantified the exact size of the country’s crypto market, and called on the government to release more clarity on the sector’s scale.

    While the VHP supports introducing formal rules for the sector, Gajadien warned against a one-size-fits-all heavy-handed oversight framework that would stifle innovation and push small local providers out of the market. Suriname is required to meet global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), but Gajadien emphasized that these global rules do not mandate identical strict oversight for all types of service providers regardless of their size and scope of activity.

    “A small local Surinamese provider with only a handful of clients should not be held to the same strict standards as a large global crypto trading platform,” Gajadien argued. He pushed for a clear risk-based and proportionate oversight system, where the stringency of regulation is adjusted based on the size of the firm, number of clients, total assets under management, and the specific risk profile of its activities. For example, a company that provides custody services for digital assets faces fundamentally different risks than a brokerage, exchange, or technology firm that only develops underlying blockchain infrastructure, and these differences should be reflected in regulation, he said.

    Gajadien also criticized the draft bill for granting excessive rule-making authority to the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS) through post-legislation guidelines. He argued that all core regulatory standards should be set directly by legislators in the text of the law itself, pointing to past problems with previous oversight laws that arose when regulatory powers were not clearly defined from the start.

    Among his other key proposed amendments, Gajadien called for clearer classification of which instruments qualify as virtual assets. He noted that digital loyalty points, gift cards, vouchers, and event tickets that use blockchain technology do not need to be automatically categorized as regulated virtual assets. By contrast, stablecoins deserve targeted, stricter specific rules that do not apply to volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Gajadien proposed that stablecoin issuers claiming full backing by reserve assets such as U.S. dollars should be required to hold sufficient liquid reserves, keep these reserves segregated from operating assets, submit to independent audits, and guarantee token holders the ability to redeem their tokens in a timely manner.

    For existing crypto businesses already operating in Suriname when the law comes into force, Gajadien proposed a clear transition arrangement: any existing provider that registers on time and submits a full license application within 12 months should be allowed to continue operations until a final decision on their application is issued, with the CBvS only permitted to intervene early if the firm poses an immediate serious risk to consumers or financial stability. He also questioned the draft’s ban on sole proprietors and individual entrepreneurs entering the sector, noting that FATF does not require any specific legal structure for service providers, and called for the draft’s proposed 51% ownership rule for qualified stakeholders to be either scrapped or completely redesigned.

    A standout proposal from Gajadien is the inclusion of a regulatory sandbox in the legislation, which would allow innovative fintech firms to test new products and services under controlled, limited conditions for a set period. The CBvS would be able to set parameters for the sandbox around duration, maximum number of clients, total activity size, and consumer protection requirements. Gajadien noted that this framework would allow Suriname to nurture new fintech innovation without relaxing anti-money laundering controls or other risk management rules. He also added that stronger explicit rules for consumer protection and cybersecurity are needed, requiring providers to implement adequate security for crypto wallets and private keys, maintain business continuity plans, and establish mandatory reporting procedures for severe ICT security incidents.

    Finally, Gajadien drew attention to the potential uneven playing field between domestic Surinamese crypto firms and large foreign crypto platforms. Local providers will be required to pay licensing and regulatory fees, maintain minimum capital reserves, hire independent auditors, and submit regular reports to the CBvS, but it remains unclear how these same requirements can be enforced on foreign platforms that serve Surinamese customers via the internet. He asked the government to clarify how the CBvS plans to implement technical oversight of these cross-border platforms, what blockchain analysis expertise the central bank currently holds, and what investments in new systems and staff training will be required to carry out effective supervision.

    Gajadien concluded by advocating for a simpler initial regulatory framework that can be expanded incrementally as the market evolves. “Suriname should start with cautious, measured regulation, and build out oversight over time based on market developments and practical experience,” he said. “The goal of this law should not be to create as many rules as possible. It should be to build a workable system that manages financial risks while leaving room for innovation and local entrepreneurship.”

  • WEATHER UPDATE (6:00 AM, 16 August) Small craft advisory in effect – a high pressure system is the dominant feature

    WEATHER UPDATE (6:00 AM, 16 August) Small craft advisory in effect – a high pressure system is the dominant feature

    A familiar pattern of stable atmospheric conditions is set to return to the island chain on Wednesday, as a strong high-pressure system rebuilds across the region. Forecasters project that the day will start with intermittent cloud cover and scattered light showers, but atmospheric moisture will steadily decrease through the afternoon, bringing drier, more stable conditions by evening.

    Alongside the shifting weather, air quality is expected to remain generally acceptable despite a thin plume of Saharan dust moving northward through the island chain. While the dust concentration is not projected to reach hazardous levels for most of the population, healthcare officials are urging people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, heightened sensitivity to fine particulate matter, and elderly residents to take basic precautions: limiting extended outdoor exertion and keeping windows closed during peak dust passage to avoid irritation.

    Marine conditions across the region are calming after recent rough weather, though hazards remain for small vessels and beachgoers. Over the next 24 hours, sea conditions are forecast to stay moderate, with maximum wave heights reaching 5 feet along the sheltered western coasts and building to 8 feet along the more exposed eastern shorelines. Overnight Tuesday, the National Weather Service downgraded the previous Small Craft Warning to a less severe Small Craft Advisory at 6:00 a.m. local time, but officials still urge operators of small recreational and commercial vessels to continue checking updated forecasts for changing conditions. For swimmers and beachgoers, authorities have issued a strong recommendation to avoid entering the water entirely, especially along the eastern coast, where dangerous rip currents and large breaking waves create a high risk of drowning or injury.

    Looking ahead to next week, forecasters are monitoring a developing tropical disturbance in the central Tropical Atlantic. Current model projections show this tropical wave is on track to reach the southern section of the Lesser Antilles island chain by Monday, bringing increased chances of heavy rain, gusty winds, and elevated sea swells to the region. Meteorologists are continuing to track the system’s progress and will issue updates on any strengthening or changes to its projected path.

  • Vijf jaar verder: Hoe gaat de Taliban om met gewapend verzet?

    Vijf jaar verder: Hoe gaat de Taliban om met gewapend verzet?

    August 16 marked five full years since the Taliban reclaimed full control of Afghanistan following the collapse of the Western-backed former government in Kabul. Half a decade on, the landscape of armed opposition to Taliban rule has shifted dramatically: what once began as a unified, fronted resistance has fractured into a sprawling network of disparate armed groups, operating across multiple provinces and expanding their digital footprint in recent months. This fragmentation has left analysts questioning whether the growing visibility of resistance signals a broad, expanding pushback against the Taliban, or deeper division that weakens the overall opposition movement.

    Recent heavy clashes in Badakhshan Province’s Zebak District have thrust the shifting resistance landscape into the spotlight. In these engagements, the Afghanistan Freedom Front launched coordinated strikes against Taliban military positions, successfully seizing several key outposts. While Taliban officials officially claimed they had repelled the assault, fighting persisted for multiple days – a departure from the short, surprise hit-and-run attacks that have defined most resistance operations since 2021.

    The first major organized armed resistance to emerge after Kabul fell was the National Resistance Front, which drew thousands of exiled soldiers from the former Afghan government to the mountainous Panjshir Province, where leaders attempted to establish a permanent stronghold for opposition operations. The Taliban launched a swift offensive to crush the movement, however, and seized full control of the Panjshir region. Since that defeat, the National Resistance Front has been limited to carrying out only sporadic small-scale attacks across remote areas.

    Today, the resistance ecosystem extends far beyond these two prominent groups, with smaller factions including the Homeland Army, Freedom and Justice Movement, and Green Movement all claiming operational activity across the country. This proliferation has created a tangled, often unclear network of opposition groups, with multiple factions frequently claiming credit for the same attack on Taliban targets. Analysts also note that social media has emerged as a critical secondary battleground, where groups work to amplify their presence and attract support to maintain relevance.
    Afghanistan analysts including Karim Amini have outlined core structural challenges facing the fragmented resistance movement. Amini points out that most opposition groups are organized and based outside of Afghanistan’s borders, severely limiting their ability to build a deep, sustained popular base within the country. Compounding this challenge, decades of continuous war have left Afghan civilian society exhausted and largely unwilling to throw their support behind a new cycle of armed conflict.

    Most critically, experts agree that resistance groups have failed to align their movement with the immediate needs and priorities of ordinary Afghans. Armed opposition disconnected from local realities and lacking grassroots popular support will struggle to operate as a sustainable political and military force, analysts argue. For the movement to gain long-term traction, it needs not only the capacity to carry out attacks against Taliban targets, but also to win public trust and present a credible, unified political alternative to Taliban rule.

    The Taliban for their part have dismissed the resistance as a insignificant threat to their governance, insisting that they exercise full control over all of Afghanistan’s territory. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has framed opposition groups as largely limited to online propaganda campaigns, and asserted that the Afghan public is fully committed to maintaining domestic security and stability. The movement even held public celebrations in Kabul near the former U.S. embassy to mark the five-year anniversary of their takeover.

    While the fragmented resistance has not yet managed to secure and hold any permanent territorial control, its persistent cross-province attacks have forced the Taliban to spread military resources thin and maintain constant active patrols in remote border regions, creating an ongoing, low-grade security challenge that strains the Taliban’s governing capacity. Some analysts, including Rafiullah Kakar, argue that the resistance’s core strategy is not to seize major population centers or defeat the Taliban militarily in open battle, but rather to gradually weaken the group’s hold on power through constant, low-intensity pressure. This strategy requires a careful balance between military operations and building broad public support – a combination that has so far eluded the fragmented opposition.

    The growing number of active resistance groups does not mean Afghanistan is on the brink of a full-scale new civil war, analysts note. But it does confirm that the country’s ongoing conflict has never ended, it has simply transformed into a new phase of low-intensity, fragmented opposition after the 2021 government collapse. The Taliban retain formal state control, but continue to grapple with major unresolved challenges, including a lack of domestic political legitimacy and near-universal non-recognition from the international community. For the resistance movement, the path forward carries a dual challenge: factions must unify their scattered military capabilities and build a cohesive platform that offers Afghans a credible political alternative for the country’s future.

  • Residents unite against gun violence

    Residents unite against gun violence

    In the wake of five recent gun-related deaths that shook the small community of Sennon Village in Trinidad and Tobago, nearly 300 residents and cross-regional supporters gathered on Friday evening for a unified public demonstration against rising violent crime. Dressed all in white, a symbol of collective hope for peace, and carrying glowing candles, participants joined the Walk for Peace and candlelight vigil—an event organized collaboratively by local community leaders, concerned residents and law enforcement, all working toward the shared goal of reviving the quiet, safe way of life the village once knew.

    The intergenerational procession stretched through Sennon Village’s main streets, accompanied by rhythmic live music from a mobile sound truck and traditional African drumming. A large contingent of police officers, ranging from junior patrol officers to senior command staff, accompanied the march, managing traffic flow and maintaining public safety throughout the event.

    Christopher Henry, chairman of the Sennon Village Movement and one of the event’s lead organizers, explained that the recent outbreak of violence has left the entire community reeling from grief and fear. Henry, a former resident of the area, emphasized that the wave of bloodshed was driven by the actions of a tiny faction of people, and does not reflect the values of the broader community. He traced the root of the rising violence to deep-rooted social issues: an erosion of shared community moral values, a breakdown of longstanding village camaraderie, and a critical lack of safe, constructive social outlets for local youth. These gaps, he argued, have left young people vulnerable to recruitment by gangs and other negative outside influences, pushing many into harmful, anti-social activity.

    Following the recent string of killings and smaller crimes in both Sennon Village and neighboring Quinam Road Village, the Sennon Village Movement partnered with the Quinam Road Village Council to plan the demonstration. The event came to life with additional support from the Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Siparia Regional Corporation, and multiple other local community groups.

    Speaking to the crowd gathered at the walk’s starting point at the Siparia Deltones panyard on Railway Road, Henry noted that the massive turnout itself sent a powerful message: the violent agenda of a few does not speak for the community as a whole. “We will be walking in peace and sending a message not only to our community, but to the wider nation of Trinidad and Tobago,” he told attendees. “Violence and crime do not affect Siparia only; it affects all areas of our country. We are standing in the gap today as strong men and women in our community to send a message to those who want to disrupt us and change the narrative of what community love and strength is about. We will not tolerate that.”

    The march brought together a diverse cross-section of local society: young musicians from the Siparia Deltones Steel Orchestra, multi-generational families, middle-aged residents and elderly community members from Siparia and surrounding towns. Notable attendees included former Olympian quarter-miler Ian Morris, a lifelong Siparia resident, members of the Siparia Rhythm Section, and the entire Hunters Search and Rescue Team led by Vallence Rambharat.

    For lifelong Siparia resident Joel Bikhoo, the event carried extra personal meaning: it fell exactly on his 24th wedding anniversary. Joined by his wife and their two daughters, Bikhoo explained that his family intentionally chose to mark their special occasion by participating in an initiative that would benefit the community they call home. “We chose to spend this special day doing this for my Siparia community and its young people,” he said. “I was born and raised here, and I want to see peace return to my village.”

    Assistant Superintendent Joel Forbes, a senior officer assigned to the local police division, praised the community-led anti-crime initiative and applauded residents for taking a public, unified stand against violence. Forbes called for a collective commitment to restoring law and order, urging local residents to partner closely with police to stop further bloodshed and rebuild the village’s long-held reputation as a quiet, peaceful place.

    “I love the turnout we have here today, rank and file and a cross-section of society in this community,” Forbes said. “We are sending a message that we are right-thinking in this community and not permitting anyone to hold this community to ransom, to do what they feel and change what we consider to be good. We are here to stamp our authority. Sennon Village and environs should be ‘no-crime’ zones, beautiful and loving communities which I love. I sense the love in this community, and I do not want anything negative to take hold in this place.”

    Pennelope Beckles, political leader of the People’s National Movement and Leader of the Opposition, also attended the event to offer her support to the community and to families that had lost loved ones to recent violence. Beckles noted that the national state of emergency aimed at curbing crime is set to end next month, and said she and her party remain deeply concerned about the country’s ongoing crime crisis. She added that the PNM is committed to supporting government-led anti-crime initiatives that align with public safety goals, and emphasized that events like the peace walk play a critical role in raising public awareness, fostering cross-community collaboration, and rebuilding unity and positive social cohesion across the country.

  • WHERE IS THE TOP COP?

    WHERE IS THE TOP COP?

    Trinidad and Tobago’s main opposition political party, the People’s National Movement (PNM), has put the ruling People’s National Congress (UNC)-led administration under pressure over three high-stakes issues during a post-General Council press briefing held at the party’s Port of Spain headquarters, Balisier House. PNM Chairman Marvin Gonzales led the questioning, flanked by deputy chairman Sanjiv Boodhu and Diego Martin West Member of Parliament Hans des Vignes, opening with demands for clarity on the unexplained absence of top law enforcement official Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro.

    Gonzales directly addressed Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, calling for public answers to four core questions: Where is Commissioner Guevarro currently located? Is he still within Trinidad and Tobago’s national jurisdiction? If he has left the country, when did his departure take place? And has an acting commissioner been formally appointed to carry out the role’s responsibilities during his absence?

    Citing unconfirmed intelligence received by the PNM, Gonzales claimed Guevarro had already left the country, and alleged that the Police Service Commission (PSC), the body constitutionally tasked with overseeing police leadership appointments, had failed to fulfill its legal obligation to name an interim replacement. He also called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who serves as chair of the National Security Council, to issue a public explanation for the lack of transparency around the absence.

    A senior, anonymous police source later confirmed that Guevarro had been granted emergency personal leave, but could not verify whether the commissioner had traveled abroad. This is not the first time Guevarra has been out of the country: in October 2025, during an official trip to an international law enforcement conference in Denver, Colorado, Deputy Commissioner Junior Benjamin was formally appointed acting commissioner for the full week of Guevarro’s absence, from October 16 to 22.

    Shifting focus to the government’s proposed artificial intelligence data center project in Golconda, Gonzales launched a scathing attack, labeling the plan “absolutely ridiculous” and questioning whether the administration has followed proper legal and procedural protocols. He said the government has failed to answer critical public questions about the project, including what environmental impact assessments have been completed, whether the region can support the facility’s significant water demand, and what approvals have been secured from relevant regulatory bodies.

    Gonzales highlighted growing global pushback against large-scale data centers, noting that jurisdictions across the United States, Europe, China, and the United Kingdom have introduced new restrictions or even bans on the facilities over documented harms to local communities and livelihoods. He questioned whether Trinidad and Tobago was being positioned as a “dumping ground” for high-impact commercial projects that other nations have rejected, and criticized the government for failing to conduct meaningful consultations with local residents before announcing the plan.

    He went further to accuse Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal, who has publicly championed the project, of acting irresponsibly and violating his oath of office, which requires all ministers to uphold the country’s constitution and laws. Gonzales warned that the PNM would take an uncompromising stance on the issue, and pledged to defend Golconda residents if Moonilal continues to fail to represent the interests of his constituency.

    The final issue raised at the press conference centered on a sealed unexplained wealth case linked to PNM headquarters at Balisier House. Gonzales accused ruling party Senator Anil Roberts of breaking court-imposed gag rules by discussing details of the sealed court documents during a recent appearance on state-owned television and radio. He confirmed that the PNM would not deviate from legal protocol by discussing the party’s legal strategy or trying the case in public, despite Roberts’ public comments.

    When asked whether the PNM feared that the case would lead to the public disclosure of the party’s donors and financiers, Gonzales acknowledged that many political contributors expect and deserve confidentiality for their personal information and business interests. He noted that direct donations from members of the public at Balisier House have been a longstanding practice for the PNM, as they are for all major political parties in the country.

    Gonzales alleged that the UNC administration’s push to unmask PNM donors is rooted in political retaliation, arguing that the government’s goal is to intimidate current and potential supporters and cut off the PNM’s access to campaign funding. He framed the move as more than just an attack on the opposition: “This is not only an attack on the PNM, it is an attack against the democracy of Trinidad and Tobago, and an attempt by the UNC Government to establish a one-party state in this country,” he said.

    He argued that efforts to deter private donations to the opposition directly undermines democratic competition by limiting the PNM’s ability to carry out its political work, and urged all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to recognize the threat to core democratic principles, regardless of their political alignment.

  • Hamel-Smith supports enquiry into CCJ

    Hamel-Smith supports enquiry into CCJ

    A senior retired Caribbean judicial figure has reignited debate over regional governance of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), urging an independent judicial inquiry to investigate the court’s internal administrative processes amid damaging public allegations against its sitting president. Former Senate president and retired Appeal Court judge Timothy Hamel-Smith has publicly argued that a formal probe is non-negotiable to preserve public trust in the CCJ, the region’s premier appellate and constitutional court.

  • ‘Heads will roll come Wednesday’

    ‘Heads will roll come Wednesday’

    A high-stakes industrial conflict is unfolding in Trinidad and Tobago, as state-backed telecommunications provider Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (TSTT) has issued a formal legal warning to its employees: any planned industrial action over a disputed 10% wage increase would violate national labor law. The confrontation comes as the broader national labor market grows increasingly tense, with another major public sector entity facing imminent work stoppage over unresolved wage talks.

    The standoff between TSTT and the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) was triggered last week, after the union threatened to shut down company operations over the stalled wage increase demand. In a formal response, TSTT emphasized that under the country’s Industrial Relations Act, telecommunications is legally classified as an essential public service, meaning any form of strike or work stoppage by employees is prohibited by law.

    The conflict centers on three core sticking points: the 10% wage increase demand, the status of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations between the two parties, and the CWU’s claim that a preliminary agreement on the wage issue was already reached by both sides. In a formal letter dated August 14 addressed to CWU Secretary General Joanne Ogeer, TSTT Vice President of Corporate Services Roshan Babwah made clear that the company does not approve, authorize or support any industrial action that runs counter to the Industrial Relations Act.

    TSTT also stressed that the formal collective bargaining process between the company and the union remains active, with the next round of negotiations scheduled to resume in early September 2026. “TSTT remains committed to engaging constructively and in good faith with the CWU, as the Recognised Majority Union, through the established collective bargaining process,” the letter read. “Negotiations are scheduled to resume in early September 2026, at which time the Company looks forward to continuing discussions towards a responsible, sustainable and mutually acceptable resolution of the outstanding matters.” The company added that no final collective agreement has been signed, and all outstanding issues remain under active negotiation.

    Babwah also urged the union to remind its members of their legal obligations, warning that any interruption to TSTT’s services would carry severe consequences for residential customers, local businesses, government agencies, emergency response services and the broader national community. “The Company will therefore continue to take all lawful and reasonable measures to maintain critical operations, protect employees and company assets, as well as minimise any disruption to essential telecommunications services,” the letter noted.

    Far from backing down, Ogeer has pushed back aggressively against TSTT’s warning, releasing a defiant response on the CWU’s official Facebook page. “We will neither retreat nor surrender,” Ogeer declared, adding that “heads will roll come Wednesday” when the planned industrial action is set to begin. The CWU leader rejected TSTT’s claim that the action would be illegal, insisting the union would operate fully within the bounds of Trinidad and Tobago’s labor law. She also called on the company to revisit the claimed preliminary agreement, saying “The Company should meet with the Union and let’s examine what was ‘agreed upon’ and move past this, because we will be acting well within the confines of the law. This is not a threat, this is a mature suggestion.”

    Ogeer also questioned the company’s priorities, pointing to its recent record-breaking financial results. “You cannot boast of ‘biggest profits’ but withholding from the very said workers who built this Company,” she said, adding “enough is enough.” She also called on the public to support the union’s action, noting that CWU is a responsible organization and would issue a formal call for public solidarity when the action begins. Ogeer also made a point of questioning whether Babwah, who also serves as chairman of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), had issued a similar legal warning to the Public Services Association (PSA), which represents WASA workers planning their own industrial action this week over unresolved wage issues.

    The labor dispute comes on the heels of landmark financial results for TSTT. Last month, the company and its subsidiary Amplia Communications Ltd announced its strongest annual financial performance in 17 years. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, the group posted an after-tax profit of TT $214 million, a 103% jump from the previous year’s after-tax profit of TT $106 million recorded in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The escalating standoff between TSTT and CWU caps a week of growing labor tensions across Trinidad and Tobago’s public sector, with WASA workers set to launch their own industrial action tomorrow over their own unresolved wage negotiation disputes.