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  • Abby Taylor embraces new role to preserve Tobago’s heritage

    Abby Taylor embraces new role to preserve Tobago’s heritage

    In a landmark appointment signaling Tobago’s commitment to cultural preservation, Abby Taylor has been named the island’s inaugural Director of Antiquities. The announcement was made by Chief Secretary Farley Augustine during the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) inauguration on January 15 in Scarborough’s James Park, following the Tobago People’s Party’s sweeping victory in the January 12 elections that secured all 15 parliamentary seats.

    Taylor’s connection to Tobagonian heritage runs deep, rooted in childhood experiences in Mary’s Hill where her grandmother’s storytelling immersed her in the island’s oral traditions and folklore. This early exposure shaped her academic journey, leading to degrees in History and Cultural Studies from the University of TT, and ultimately inspired her professional path toward cultural stewardship.

    “Storytelling raised me,” Taylor reflected in a January 21 interview. “It taught me that history is not only written in books. It lives in people.”

    The newly created position represents a significant evolution in Tobago’s approach to heritage conservation. Taylor emphasized that her role transcends mere artifact preservation, describing it as fundamentally about “stewardship and storytelling” that connects historical objects to living memory. Her responsibilities will encompass oversight of artifacts, archaeological sites, collections, archives, policy development, preservation standards, and public education initiatives.

    Taylor brings relevant experience from her recent service as THA Presiding Officer, where she occasionally courted controversy through strict enforcement of parliamentary procedures. Her most debated decision involved ordering police to escort former assemblyman Watson Duke from the chamber for allegedly violating standing orders during a January 2025 plenary session. Despite criticism, her tenure saw increased youth engagement with legislative processes and the successful introduction of the assembly’s first Men’s Debate in November 2025.

    The new director has outlined ambitious priorities including comprehensive documentation and digitization projects, enhanced conservation standards, improved public access, and strengthened partnerships with cultural practitioners and researchers. She envisions the Department of Antiquities becoming a dynamic institution where Tobagonians, particularly youth, can connect with their heritage in meaningful ways.

    “When young people don’t understand where they come from, they struggle to understand where they belong,” Taylor noted. “Heritage gives them grounding and confidence, reminding them they come from strength, creativity, survival, and brilliance.”

    Currently pursuing doctoral research in the creative and cultural economy, Taylor aims to inject “energy, vigour, and youthfulness” into antiquities management, making Tobago’s past feel “alive, not distant” while ensuring cultural heritage becomes integrated into the island’s broader development narrative.

  • Final salute to Newsday

    Final salute to Newsday

    The media landscape in Trinidad and Tobago has lost a pioneering voice with the closure of Newsday newspaper after 32 years of operation. Founded in 1993 by groundbreaking editor Therese Mills, who shattered glass ceilings as the first female editor-in-chief of a national daily, Newsday established itself as a fearless publication that challenged conventional wisdom.

    Under Mills’ leadership alongside news editor John Babb, Newsday assembled a team of distinguished journalists who defied expectations that the paper would not survive its first year. The publication quickly evolved into the market leader within five years, earning the nickname ‘The People’s Paper’ for its daring coverage of crime, politics, and international affairs while maintaining deep connections within local communities.

    Newsday’s success was built on the dedication of both visible and unsung heroes—from journalists and photographers to press-room operators, advertising clerks, distributors, and support staff who worked tirelessly through natural disasters, states of emergency, and the recent pandemic. The newspaper notably defended press freedom in 2012 when police searched its Port of Spain newsroom and a journalist’s home following a report on the Integrity Commission.

    Unlike its competitors, Newsday maintained complete editorial independence without the financial safety net of regional media conglomerates. This autonomy ultimately proved challenging in the digital era, where changing reader habits and declining advertising revenue created insurmountable financial pressures. Despite adapting its operations, the newspaper could not overcome these market forces.

    The closure represents a heartbreaking conclusion for staff members, particularly those who dedicated all 32 years to the publication. The final edition serves as both a tribute to the pioneers who built Newsday and a heartfelt thank you to the readers who welcomed the paper into their homes for over three decades.

  • Outrage over police killing – CCTV shows victim with hands in air

    Outrage over police killing – CCTV shows victim with hands in air

    Trinidad and Tobago is grappling with mounting public outrage following the release of CCTV footage that directly contradicts official police accounts of a fatal shooting incident in St. Augustine on January 20. The video evidence shows 31-year-old Joshua Samaroo attempting to surrender with hands visibly raised from his crashed vehicle before officers opened fire, killing him and critically wounding his common-law wife Kaia Sealy.

    The disturbing footage captures the immediate aftermath of a police pursuit that ended when Samaroo’s car crashed into a drain on Bassie Street Extension. Within seconds, three officers emerged from their SUV and discharged approximately 17 rounds into the vehicle despite clear surrender gestures. The recording shows Samaroo lowering his window and extending both hands skyward before being struck multiple times and slumping in his seat.

    Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro initially stated that occupants “chose to challenge my officers” and that the response complied with use-of-force protocols. However, the visual evidence has prompted the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to launch an independent investigation into what many are calling an excessive use of force.

    Deputy Commissioner Suzette Martin acknowledged public concerns while emphasizing the TTPS’s commitment to transparency: “Any loss of life during a police operation is a matter we treat with the utmost seriousness.” The service has pledged full cooperation with the PCA investigation.

    This incident marks the fourth police-involved fatality in 2026, continuing a troubling three-year trend that saw fatal police shootings jump 150% from 45 in 2023 to 68 in 2025. The spike coincides with extended states of emergency that granted expanded police powers throughout most of last year.

    The PCA has reiterated its call for mandatory body-worn cameras, stating such technology “would help elucidate the true nature of what transpired in circumstances like these.” Meanwhile, legislative efforts to establish Zones of Special Operations continue progressing through Parliament, raising concerns among opposition members about potential power abuses.

    As investigations proceed, the incident has sparked intense public debate about police accountability, with social media users expressing both outrage at the apparent surrender violation and some support for police facing dangerous situations.

  • Activist encourages illegal migrants to register, exercise not a trap

    Activist encourages illegal migrants to register, exercise not a trap

    Trinidad and Tobago’s abrupt acceleration of its migrant registration initiative has generated waves of apprehension within immigrant communities, prompting urgent clarifications from human rights advocates. Venezuelan activist Yesenia Gonzalez has stepped forward to reframe the narrative, characterizing the program not as a governmental trap but as a crucial temporary regularization opportunity.

    The Ministry of Homeland Security’s January 23 announcement advanced the registration timeline by four days, with proceedings now commencing January 26 at four major sporting venues: Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, and Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago. The expedited timeline triggered widespread confusion regarding eligibility criteria, nationality considerations, financial obligations, and potential legal consequences for irregular entry.

    Gonzalez of the Themis Foundation of the Americas provided critical legal interpretation, explaining that while the measure avoids the formal terminology of ‘amnesty,’ it functionally operates as a temporary regularization program. The initiative temporarily suspends immigration penalties, allowing undocumented migrants to obtain official documentation and work legally until December 31 upon payment of a $700 registration fee. Crucially, she emphasized that eligibility extends beyond Venezuelans to include all foreign nationals without valid immigration status, provided they lack serious criminal convictions and don’t pose public safety risks.

    Andreina Ventura-Brown of La Casita Hispanic Cultural Centre reinforced this perspective, characterizing the registration as a transformative legal pathway that enables migrants to transition from precarious legal situations into protected status. The program represents an unprecedented opportunity for meaningful inclusion in Trinidad and Tobago’s social and economic fabric, allowing registered migrants to access services, education, and employment without fear of deportation.

  • Visiting UAE delegation tours key gov’t projects

    Visiting UAE delegation tours key gov’t projects

    In a significant diplomatic and economic development, Trinidad and Tobago hosted a high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates on January 24th to advance foreign investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral relations. The UAE delegation, led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, engaged in substantive discussions with Trinidad’s ministerial team headed by Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John.

    The engagement represented a continuation of Trinidad’s global economic development strategy, particularly building upon recent ministerial outreach to Middle Eastern nations. During the meetings, Minister John presented the government’s comprehensive Revitalisation Blueprint—an ambitious infrastructure program encompassing over 129 projects designed to drive economic diversification and enhance national resilience in an increasingly volatile global landscape.

    Minister John emphasized Trinidad’s openness for business, highlighting the nation’s strategic geographic positioning, competitive advantages, and ongoing regulatory improvements designed to facilitate foreign investment. The discussions focused on identifying mutually beneficial partnership opportunities aligned with Trinidad’s national development priorities.

    The UAE delegation conducted firsthand inspections of several major national projects, including the Invaders Bay Development Project in Port of Spain, the Port of Point Lisas, and the Couva Children’s Hospital. These site visits provided concrete examples of development areas with significant investment potential.

    Foreign Minister Sean Sobers contextualized the visit within Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s broader vision of expanding Trinidad’s global relationships. He noted that the UAE’s outreach followed the Prime Minister’s “clarion call” for enhanced international engagement, with initial contacts established around mid-2024. Sobers highlighted the UAE’s significant economic stature as one of the world’s top ten oil producers and its substantial sovereign wealth funds managing approximately US$1.5 trillion in assets.

    The meeting built upon previous discussions held in the Middle East on November 24, 2025, where both nations explored establishing a Trinidad and Tobago diplomatic mission in the UAE and identified specific investment opportunities within the Revitalisation Blueprint Initiative. The visit concluded with the delegation experiencing local culture through sampling doubles, a popular Trinidadian street food.

  • Fraud bombshell

    Fraud bombshell

    Jamaican law enforcement has dismantled a sophisticated criminal operation, charging three individuals—including a medical doctor previously reported as missing—in a sprawling multimillion-dollar fraud case targeting financial institutions across the island.

    The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), in collaboration with the Financial Investigations Division (FID), announced the arrests following coordinated operations spanning multiple parishes between January 13-16. The accused include Dr. Chloe Douett, 30, from Cherry Garden, St. Andrew; Ivana Campbell, 29, an executive assistant from Cedar Grove, Portmore; and Dwayne Pitter, 44, unemployed, of Olympic Gardens, St. Andrew.

    According to investigative sources, the alleged fraud scheme may have reached approximately $600 million (JMD) during its operation between January 2023 and April 2024. The sophisticated conspiracy involved the submission of fraudulently obtained genuine documents and counterfeit identification materials to bypass security protocols at multiple financial institutions.

    Dr. Douett faces multiple charges including uttering forged documents, demanding property on forged documents, conspiracy to defraud, and firearm storage violations. Campbell and Pitter have been charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Larceny Act, Forgery Act, and Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) Act, in addition to common law conspiracy to defraud.

    The investigation revealed that the suspects employed unprecedented identity manipulation techniques, assuming the identities of numerous individuals across various professions to circumvent institutional security measures. Authorities have confirmed the seizure of a motor vehicle connected to the operation.

    Major Basil Jarrett, MOCA’s communications director, described the scheme as “one of the most elaborate, complex, and brazen fraud schemes we have seen to date.” The breakthrough follows an intensive 18-month investigation involving multiple agencies, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch and local police divisions.

    Jarrett indicated the investigation remains ongoing, noting that “financial crime networks of this nature and magnitude are rarely limited to a single set of actors.” He emphasized MOCA’s commitment to pursuing complex financial crimes regardless of their sophistication.

    The case took an unusual turn when it was revealed that Dr. Douett, who had been reported missing on social media, was already in police custody at the time these reports surfaced.

  • Touts multiply

    Touts multiply

    The world-renowned Bath Fountain Hotel and Spa in St. Thomas, Jamaica, faces a severe operational crisis as aggressive informal tour operators increasingly undermine its operations and reputation. According to the hotel’s recently tabled 2021/22 annual report, former chairman Michael McLeod detailed how pandemic conditions exacerbated a long-standing problem with unlicensed touts whose numbers swelled to approximately 120 by December 2021.

    During the COVID-19 lockdown periods, these operators became notably more assertive in their attempts to solicit business, employing destructive strategies that included intercepting potential patrons as far away as Port Morant. They systematically disseminated misinformation claiming the hotel’s mineral waters were reheated rather than naturally sourced, or falsely stating that bath facilities were closed with only restaurants and rooms operational.

    The touts operate primarily from the hotel’s overflow parking lot, diverting visitors to an unregulated ‘bush spa’ behind the property where they perform unauthorized massages, mud baths, and foot scrubs while aggressively haggling over prices. This uninsured, price-gouging operation has created significant liability issues for the hotel, as dissatisfied customers increasingly seek redress from the establishment for their negative experiences with unauthorized vendors.

    McLeod emphasized that despite the hotel’s successful adaptation to pandemic protocols—including hosting a group of volunteers within COVID-19 guidelines in June 2021—the proliferation of touts threatens to destroy the historic facility’s goodwill. While the Ministry of Tourism under Edmund Bartlett developed strategies to support the tourism sector during the pandemic, the informal operators exploited these circumstances to their advantage.

    Despite temporary revenue recovery through extended group bookings, the fundamental challenge persists. Historical records indicate this problem has plagued Bath Fountain for over a decade, with visitors documenting similar experiences as early as 2011. Recent observations confirm the situation remains unresolved, with touts continuing to intercept potential visitors traveling considerable distances to reach the attraction.

  • Trinidad and Tobago Newsday – Sunday January 25th 2026

    Trinidad and Tobago Newsday – Sunday January 25th 2026

    The global dietary supplement market is undergoing significant transformation as regulatory bodies and health experts call for enhanced oversight. With consumers increasingly turning to vitamins, minerals, and herbal products for wellness support, questions regarding efficacy, safety, and manufacturing standards have moved to the forefront of public health discussions.

    Recent developments indicate regulatory agencies are strengthening monitoring systems to address quality control issues and misleading marketing claims. The industry, valued at approximately $150 billion worldwide, has experienced exponential growth despite varying regulatory frameworks across different jurisdictions. Scientific communities continue to debate the actual health benefits of many popular supplements, with research outcomes often presenting conflicting evidence.

    Manufacturers now face mounting pressure to implement more rigorous testing protocols and provide transparent labeling. Consumer advocacy groups have intensified campaigns for mandatory third-party verification and clearer disclosure of potential side effects. Medical professionals increasingly recommend that patients consult healthcare providers before incorporating supplements into their regimens, particularly when combining them with prescription medications.

    The digital era has further complicated the landscape through the proliferation of online marketplaces and social media influencers promoting unverified products. International health organizations are collaborating to establish harmonized standards while developing public education initiatives about supplement safety and appropriate usage.

  • ‘He sleeps, yet he speaks’

    ‘He sleeps, yet he speaks’

    The University of the West Indies Chapel hosted a poignant memorial service on Saturday honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of sports broadcaster Donald Oliver, whose sudden passing on December 30, 2025, profoundly impacted Jamaica’s media landscape and regional sports community. The ceremony became a powerful testament to a career defined by relentless pursuit of excellence rather than fame, as articulated by colleagues, family, and government officials.

    Dr. Colleen Beckles of Love 101 FM delivered a moving eulogy anchored in biblical metaphor: “He sleeps, yet he speaks.” She elaborated that Oliver’s voice continues to resonate through memories, professional legacy, and every aspiring broadcaster who dares to believe in their potential. Dr. Beckles traced Oliver’s media journey to its beginnings in 1994 on ‘The Small People Show’ on Love 101 FM, where he evolved from a curious child with a compelling voice into the program’s 1996 champion—a progression she described as “right, earned, and inevitable.”

    Colleagues universally praised Oliver’s distinctive approach to sports commentary. Journalist George Davis, formerly of SportsMax and now with Nationwide News Network, characterized him as “God’s gift to football commentary,” emphasizing his meticulous preparation and linguistic mastery. “Donald walked with a bag of words,” Davis noted, “filled during hours of preparation, never needing to dig too deep to find the perfect phrase for describing spectacular sporting moments.”

    Oliver’s widow, Norretta, provided intimate insights into his professional dedication, revealing that sports journalism was “not just a job but a calling.” His preparation for matches resembled studying for final exams, involving comprehensive analysis of players’ statistics, patterns, and even aliases. This commitment extended to promotional work, where he would record segments countless times until achieving his auditory vision. Beyond professional excellence, Norretta highlighted their deep personal connection spanning from childhood in Allman Town to parenthood, describing Oliver as an extraordinary father to their daughter Zabella-Rameen, with whom he shared a special bond despite geographical separation.

    Professional acknowledgments came from Jamaica Observer Media Group Managing Director Dominic Beaubrun, who noted Oliver’s significant contributions during critical election preparation periods in August 2025. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, officially recognized Oliver’s two-decade career across major media networks including RJR, CVM, TVJ, and SportsMax, where he rose to senior producer. She particularly highlighted his recent documentary series on Hurricane Melissa’s human impact, which gave voice to Jamaican resilience and struggle.

    In a lasting tribute to Oliver’s influence, former SportsMax colleague Tanya Lee Perkins announced the establishment of an annual bursary at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication, ensuring his legacy will continue inspiring future generations of journalists. The collective remembrances painted a portrait of a media professional whose analytical brilliance, linguistic artistry, and human warmth transformed sports broadcasting into storytelling artistry.

  • ‘Life is terminal,’ says death doula

    ‘Life is terminal,’ says death doula

    In a compelling call to action, Jamaican end-of-life specialist Patrice Dwyer is championing the normalization of death preparedness, emphasizing that financial secrecy and avoidance of mortality discussions are creating severe familial distress. As a certified death doula—a non-medical professional providing holistic support to terminally ill individuals and their families—Dwyer highlights how Jamaicans’ cultural reluctance to share financial details or discuss final wishes often culminates in crises when emergencies strike.

    Dwyer observes that stringent privacy around bank accounts, PIN codes, and asset ownership frequently leaves families unable to access funds needed for medical care or funeral expenses, even when resources are available. This financial paralysis exacerbates emotional turmoil, often forcing relatives into debt to honor burial preferences that were never formally documented.

    The absence of clear wills or advanced directives frequently ignites familial conflict over burial methods—whether traditional burial, cremation, or body donation to science—with disagreements stemming from unspoken personal beliefs and inadequate communication. Dwyer notes that these disputes are particularly painful when patients cannot communicate their wishes due to illness, underscoring the critical need for living wills and designated decision-makers.

    Since her certification in 2021, Dwyer has assisted over 20 families in navigating end-of-life decisions and grief processing. She emphasizes that planning extends beyond wills to include setting up trusts, adding trusted individuals to financial accounts, and discussing preferences for medical facilities or funeral homes. Through Zoom sessions like ‘Let’s Talk Endings and Everything In Between,’ she creates safe spaces for conversations that many Jamaicans avoid due to superstitions about inviting death.

    Dwyer warns that suppressed grief and unresolved end-of-life conflicts have long-lasting emotional impacts, urging Jamaicans to initiate frank family discussions to balance practical preparedness with compassionate closure.