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  • Ministry’s state land review raises bigger questions about housing

    Ministry’s state land review raises bigger questions about housing

    A government-led audit of recent state land allocations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has ignited widespread public debate, pushing discussions of housing policy and land governance to the top of the national agenda. The review, which focuses specifically on parcels distributed in the lead-up to the 2025 November general election, was launched to assess whether these allocations aligned with existing regulatory frameworks and core principles of fair distribution.

    According to the nation’s Minister of Housing and Land Management, the ongoing audit has already uncovered several irregularities across the allocation process. These include multiple parcels granted to a single individual, repeat recipients who still have unfulfilled financial or legal obligations tied to earlier land grants, and allocations that failed to prioritize low-income and vulnerable households identified as the most in need of state support. The minister has emphasized that the review is not designed to seize land from rightful, eligible beneficiaries, but rather to formalize and regularize existing arrangements, urging qualifying recipients to complete their documentation through the official Housing and Land Development Corporation.

    Beyond the individual cases under review, the audit has opened up broader, far-reaching questions about how small island developing states like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which face extreme constraints on land and public finances, can build a housing system that is equitable, transparent, and responsive to both current and long-term population needs. The core takeaway from this ongoing discussion is that meaningful housing reform must start with robust, accountable land governance.

    For any nation, and particularly small island states with limited territorial space, land is one of the most precious and finite public resources. Decisions around how state land is distributed do not only impact individual recipients — they shape national development trajectories, social equity outcomes, and public trust in government institutions. Because of this, transparent allocation protocols, accurate and up-to-date beneficiary records, clearly defined eligibility criteria, and consistent enforcement of land agreements are non-negotiable components of an effective national housing strategy. When these systems are weak, limited public resources fail to deliver on their intended goals, leaving the most vulnerable groups excluded from access to affordable land and housing.

    This analysis frames strengthened land governance not as a separate policy priority, but as the foundational bedrock of meaningful housing reform. The current public debate also highlights a longstanding gap in how global housing policy outcomes are measured: for decades, success has been primarily judged by the number of homes built or parcels allocated. While these metrics are not irrelevant, they only paint a partial picture of a housing policy’s impact.

    Housing is far more than the physical structure of a building. A property becomes a stable home only when it is paired with secure land rights, access to critical infrastructure, proximity to employment opportunities, connected to quality education, healthcare, and public transport, and embedded in functional, connected communities. The true value of housing lies not in the structure itself, but in the security, opportunity, and improved quality of life that it enables for households and communities. This perspective has increasingly become the consensus in international housing policy discourse.

    Global organizations including UN-Habitat have long argued that governments cannot solve national housing crises through large-scale construction alone. Instead, sustainable housing solutions require governments to build enabling regulatory and institutional environments that empower households, community groups, financial institutions, private sector developers, and international development partners to collaborate on inclusive, long-term solutions. This approach is especially relevant to the unique context of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

    The nation is still progressing through recovery and reconstruction efforts in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, while navigating structural challenges shared by many small island developing states: limited fiscal capacity, exorbitantly high construction costs, scarce availability of suitable developable land, and growing exposure to climate-related natural hazards. Under these conditions, large-scale, publicly funded housing programs alone will never be able to meet growing national demand for affordable housing. A more sustainable, resilient model requires integrating effective land administration with climate-resilient construction practices, innovative housing financing mechanisms, incremental incremental incremental incremental incremental housing solutions, and strategic cross-sector partnerships.

    As such, national housing policy must be understood as a core component of a broader, interconnected national development strategy. It is inextricably linked to land management, disaster risk reduction, urban planning, economic opportunity, and social inclusion. The role of strong governance in this process cannot be overstated. International development partners increasingly prioritize not just a country’s documented housing needs, but also the strength of its domestic institutions, the transparency of its administrative processes, and its capacity to manage public resources effectively. Robust governance builds public and donor confidence, and increases the likelihood that limited public investments will deliver lasting, equitable benefits for communities.

    Viewed through this broader lens, the current state land review presents far more than an opportunity to resolve individual allocation irregularities. While individual cases will require appropriate administrative action in due course, the larger, more transformative opportunity is to strengthen the institutional systems that govern access to land and housing for future generations of Vincentians.

    Ultimately, the success of a national housing policy should not be measured only by the number of parcels allocated or homes constructed. The more meaningful, far-reaching measure is whether public policy creates inclusive communities where all residents hold secure land rights, have access to essential public services, can access stable livelihood opportunities, and possess the resilience to withstand future climate and economic shocks. If the current review sparks a sustained national conversation about how to integrate land policy, housing development, and broad-based national development, it will have achieved a purpose far beyond resolving individual allocation disputes.

    For St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the core challenge is not simply building more housing units. It is building a lasting housing system that is fair, transparent, climate-resilient, and capable of supporting the long-term well-being and property ownership aspirations of all Vincentians.

    *Disclaimer: The views expressed in this analysis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of iWitness News.*

  • Prisons boss sent on leave over Hadeed ‘special treatment’

    Prisons boss sent on leave over Hadeed ‘special treatment’

    A high-stakes scandal has rocked the Trinidad and Tobago prison system, resulting in the immediate suspension of the nation’s top prisons commissioner and a second senior official over explosive allegations that a wealthy businessman held on charges of plotting to assassinate top government leaders was granted special, rule-breaking privileges not available to other detainees.

    Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has publicly confirmed the disciplinary action, confirming that Commissioner of Prisons Carlos Corraspe and the unnamed senior official were placed on paid administrative leave after a formal complaint was filed by the country’s Prison Officers Association (POA). The allegations, laid out in a detailed letter dated to last Friday from POA General Secretary Lester Logie, center on Dominic Hadeed, a 52-year-old businessman currently detained under a Preventive Detention Order (PDO) at the Golden Grove Prison over accusations he conspired to kill Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other senior government officials to destabilize the nation.

    Logie’s letter, which was copied directly to both the prime minister and Alexander, outlines a litany of unauthorized privileges that multiple uniformed prison officers witnessed Hadeed receiving, in direct violation of longstanding security protocols for detainees held under preventive detention. Among the most notable of the unapproved benefits was access to watch 2026 FIFA World Cup football matches on television, a perk not extended to any other detainee held under the same type of detention order. Other privileges included private table visits that are not permitted for this category of detainee, unsupervised movement inside the Golden Grove Prison Administration Building, access to the facility’s outdoor airing yard after the mandatory 8:30 p.m. curfew, and the assignment of a full-time dedicated Prison Officer II solely to Hadeed.

    The complaint also notes that Hadeed’s wife Genevieve, 42, who is also detained at the Golden Grove Women’s Prison on the same conspiracy charges, was spotted meeting with Hadeed inside the restricted administration building, a further breach of facility rules. Compounding the inequity, Logie pointed out that the reassignment of a Prison Officer II to Hadeed has left the death row unit at the Port of Spain Prison severely understaffed, despite the division’s critical operational needs. The letter also highlights a separate, contradictory case where another maximum security detainee was denied medically approved care by the commissioner’s office, reinforcing what Logie called a clear pattern of unequal treatment.

    Beyond the fairness of the system, Logie emphasized that the preferential treatment has already created significant safety risks for frontline prison officers. Resentment over Hadeed’s special status has spiked tension among the general detainee population at the Golden Grove Remand Prison, where detainees have openly complained of discriminatory treatment. Logie revealed that this agitation has already escalated to direct threats against officer lives: one detainee told a senior superintendent he was arranging to have officers killed after observing the favorable treatment Hadeed received. Logie recalled past fatal attacks on officers that stemmed from perceptions of unfair treatment inside the facility, including the murder of a superintendent who refused to smuggle contraband into the prison for an inmate.

    These unauthorized arrangements, Logie argued, undermine fundamental security protocols, erode public and detainee confidence in the fairness of the prison system, and expose all uniformed staff to unnecessary, avoidable risk. In his letter, Logie called for urgent corrective action: a formal commitment to equal treatment for all preventive detention detainees, strict re-enforcement of existing security rules around detainee movement, access and visits, and immediate action to correct the dangerous staffing imbalance at Port of Spain Prison’s death row division. The POA, he added, expects swift intervention to stop further erosion of institutional discipline and protect officers working under increasingly dangerous conditions.

    Local news outlet the Express, which first broke the story, confirmed that within days of the letter being submitted, Corraspe and the second senior official were placed on immediate leave. When contacted by reporters for comment, Alexander confirmed he had reviewed the official complaint, adding that family members of other detainees had also submitted separate complaints about the unequal treatment. When reached by phone for comment, Corraspe declined to address the allegations or the disciplinary action, telling reporters only, “I have no comment to make concerning these matters, please.”

    To contextualize the case, Dominic Hadeed, his wife Genevieve, and Genevieve’s 69-year-old maternal aunt Star Sabga were taken into custody in late June under emergency powers granted to the government. The PDOs authorizing their detainment, signed by Alexander, cite intelligence confirming the trio is part of an active conspiracy to murder senior government leaders and incite violent instability across the country. Genevieve Hadeed’s detention order specifically references public calls for the assassination of Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar. The couple was arrested at their private residence in Westmoorings on June 24, while Sabga was taken into custody the following day and is currently being held alongside Genevieve at the Golden Grove Women’s Prison.

  • 13,000 sign petition against AI data centres

    13,000 sign petition against AI data centres

    Just days after the government of Trinidad and Tobago unveiled plans to build two large-scale artificial intelligence data centres, widespread public anxiety over the projects’ environmental footprint and strain on national utility systems has sparked a rapidly growing grassroots campaign to suspend development until full public consultation can be held. The petition, hosted on change.org, targets two proposed facilities: a 300-megawatt centre developed by Ernst & Young LLP, and a 150-megawatt AI infrastructure and data hub from Hummingbird AI Holdings LLC that could eventually expand to 500 megawatts. Within 24 hours of its launch, the petition had gathered more than 8,500 signatures, and that number surged past 13,000 in the following 24 hours.

    The government’s announcement of two memoranda of understanding for the projects comes amid a global boom in AI investment, where major international technology firms have poured billions of dollars into new AI-related infrastructure. Morgan Stanley analysts project that total global spending on data centres by tech companies, governments and their partners will hit nearly $3 trillion by 2028, driven largely by the race to develop Artificial General Intelligence and improve digital user experiences. But this global construction wave has already drawn fierce international pushback: several U.S. states have even called for temporary moratoriums on new data centre development over sustainability concerns. Trinidad and Tobago’s government has framed the projects as an economic opportunity, projecting they could create up to 5,000 local jobs.

    The petition was launched by Syam Nath, a bioacoustician and conservation researcher with extensive experience in underwater ecological studies. Nath is raising alarms over the massive water and energy demands of hyperscale data centres—facilities operating above 20 megawatts, which rely on enormous volumes of fresh water for their cooling systems. The petition calls for all development work to be paused until independent, comprehensive assessments of environmental impacts, water resources, and existing infrastructure are completed and released for full public review.

    In an interview with local outlet the Express, Nath explained that he launched the petition in response to ongoing state of emergency restrictions that limit public protest, creating a need to document widespread public concern formally. “A lot of people were upset and there was a reaction from people not knowing what the next step was. I am very glad that I did this, and for it to get this response,” Nath said. “Everybody is really riled up. We need to try something and at least we have these names. The Government may underestimate the people but we have a few thousand names and they may see that we are not going to be taken for fools.”

    Nath’s concerns extend beyond water scarcity to threats to local marine and aquatic ecosystems, many of which host already endangered species. As an underwater researcher, he noted that construction and operation of the data centres could put both human communities and marine life that depend on local water supplies at severe risk. Endangered freshwater species, echolocating animals such as dolphins and manatees, already face mounting threats in Trinidad and Tobago’s waters, and data centre operations could push vulnerable populations closer to extinction. “I do know our dolphins already have fungal infection only found in dolphins and humans. In the Gulf of Paria they already have this and everything washes off into the water. My main concern is the environmental effects from chemicals and pollution. The liquid that cools these centres is possibly going to wash off into the ocean,” Nath explained.

    He also highlighted the noise pollution generated by large data centres, which can radiate into surrounding aquatic environments and disrupt the echolocation that fish, dolphins, and even local bat and bird populations rely on to navigate and communicate. This noise disruption would also negatively impact the quality of life for nearby human communities, he added. Of particular concern is Trinidad and Tobago’s small remaining manatee population, which numbers only around three dozen individuals and depends on connected river systems that could be contaminated by runoff from the data centres. “We need to look at the bigger picture of the environment and assess what’s happening. We need to know everything about where the water is going to go and where it is going to come from,” Nath said, calling for full transparency before any construction proceeds.

    Local residents have widely criticized the government for failing to publicly disclose details of the data centres’ planned water usage. Most large data centres use open-loop evaporative air cooling systems, which are extremely water-intensive. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute, a U.S.-based non-profit focused on climate and energy issues, reports that a medium-sized data centre can consume up to 110 million gallons of water annually for cooling—equal to the annual water use of roughly 1,000 households. The largest hyperscale facilities can draw up to 5 million gallons of water per day. For context, Trinidad and Tobago’s total national water production in 2024 is estimated at just 240 million gallons per day.

    Barry Padarath, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Public Utilities, has pushed back on these concerns, stating that the country has sufficient utility capacity to meet the data centres’ demands without disrupting residential water access. When asked for further details on the exact water and electricity requirements of the projects, Padarath confirmed that a cross-ministerial working group was established by the Cabinet months ago to outline project requirements. He added that the group has already mapped out both short-term and long-term utility provisions for the projects, and said he was not aware of any widespread public backlash against the development.

  • Threats for Guevarro’s daughters

    Threats for Guevarro’s daughters

    Law enforcement agencies in Trinidad and Tobago have launched an urgent investigation after explicit threats were made against the family of the country’s top police official, in a separate incident, a sitting cabinet minister is also facing a documented assassination plot that authorities are already probing. The disturbing sequence of events began last Saturday, when police received an emergency call through the E999 emergency response line. According to internal police sources, the caller was unable to contact Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro directly, and issued a chilling warning that they would instead target Guevarro’s two adult daughters if their demand to speak to the commissioner was not met. Immediately after the threat was received, the call was marked as high-priority, and specialist investigators from the Cyber Crime Unit were brought in to trace the origin of the call and identify the perpetrator behind the threats. On Monday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) Junior Benjamin publicly addressed the situation during an interview with the Express, emphasizing that the entire Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stands unwaveringly behind its leader and will not be cowed by attempts at intimidation. “We certainly do not take kindly to threats, especially threats made to our Commissioner of Police, his family, any officer or any citizen, and we will do what is absolutely necessary to deal with the situation decisively, and we will deal with it in accordance with the law… the full brunt of the law,” Benjamin stated. “The TTPS stands firmly behind its Commissioner, and officers would not be intimidated, by such actions, from performing their duties.” Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander also spoke to reporters yesterday from his constituency office in Tunapuna, confirming that he was aware of the threats against Guevarro’s family, and expressed full confidence in the TTPS’s ability to bring the investigation to a successful conclusion. While he declined to disclose sensitive operational details of the ongoing probe, Alexander framed the threats as an indicator that the national police force is making meaningful progress in cracking down on criminal activity, that is pushing desperate criminal elements to lash out. “It is clear that something positive is happening in this country, and criminal elements are doing what they can to disrupt it,” Alexander added. Beyond the threats targeting Guevarro’s family, Alexander also confirmed that investigators are already probing separate alleged threats against Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath. Earlier reporting from the Sunday Experience has detailed claims that a former government minister offered a $250,000 payout to a hired individual to assassinate Padarath. Padarath first went public with the threat in December 2025, saying he was contacted by the head of Special Branch, who arranged a formal meeting to inform him of the planned plot against him. Following that briefing, police advised Padarath that his personal security detail would be strengthened, and Special Branch would carry out a full security evaluation to address any vulnerabilities. The minister told reporters at the time that he was shocked by the revelation of the assassination plot, but made clear that the threat would not stop him from carrying out his official duties to the public. Alexander confirmed yesterday that law enforcement moved quickly to address the threat against Padarath as soon as it was brought to his attention, stressing that the incident is treated with the highest level of urgency. “The ministers and I speak every day, and if something comes to my attention that needs urgent attention, it will be dealt with. It happens to the minister, it can happen to the public. So, yes, a lot of communication took place. And it is necessary that it should be done now because of what we have unearthed. It is very serious,” Alexander said.

  • PM: Data centres won’t drain water and power

    PM: Data centres won’t drain water and power

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has pushed back against public criticism of a landmark series of multi-billion-dollar US-backed investment projects, dismissing opponents’ concerns about strains on the nation’s water and electricity supplies and defending the initiatives as a transformative opportunity for economic growth.

    Last week, the Trinidad and Tobago government signed three memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with US-based entities that lay the groundwork for major developments across the technology and industrial sectors. These projects include the construction of large-scale data centres, new artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the restart of the idled iron and steel plant at Point Lisas, with preliminary estimates projecting the creation of more than 5,000 new jobs across all initiatives. If completed, the 300-megawatt primary data centre would rank as one of the largest digital infrastructure projects in the entire Caribbean, dramatically boosting the country’s cloud computing and digital capacity.

    Speaking to local outlet *Trinidad Express* in response to growing public pushback – which has included a public petition opposing the developments – Persad-Bissessar called on critics to abandon what she termed their unfounded high-handed opposition, arguing that objecting to the projects before full proposals are released is premature. She emphasized that all projects are 100% funded by private sector investors, with no public expenditure required, and are designed to create new employment opportunities while diversifying Trinidad and Tobago’s historically energy-dependent revenue base.

    To address widespread claims that the data centres would drain domestic water reserves managed by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the Prime Minister outlined detailed water use plans tailored to each of the five shortlisted potential sites: Picton Estate near Debe, the former Usine Ste Madeleine sugar factory, Brechin Castle, Point Lisas, and an additional parcel of land adjacent to the Beetham Water Treatment Plant. For the Picton Estate site, all non-potable water would be stored in purpose-built on-site ponds, while the Usine Ste Madeleine and Brechin Castle locations will expand existing pond infrastructure to supply water needs. If the Beetham site is ultimately selected, the facility would exclusively use treated wastewater. All water used by the centres will be recycled through a closed-loop system, Persad-Bissessar confirmed, meaning no potable water will be drawn from the public WASA supply network. She also added that none of the shortlisted sites are currently inhabited, so no local residents will be displaced to make way for construction.

    On the energy side, the Prime Minister clarified that government subsidies will not cover the electricity or natural gas consumed by the projects, though the sites will be designated as Special Economic Zones to encourage investment. Formal facility design plans are still pending regulatory approval, and final financial negotiations with relevant state-owned enterprises are yet to be completed, she noted.

    In sharp criticism of opponents who have framed the projects as environmentally harmful, Persad-Bissessar pointed to widespread ongoing littering and illegal dumping across the country as a far more pressing environmental threat. “Every river and drain is filled with plastic and tyres, most streets and highways have litter on the sides, illegal dumping occurs indiscriminately and all our recreational sites and beaches are strewn with litter,” she said. “The citizens of our country are responsible for that, not any outside group. So when citizens want to get on a high horse about protecting the environment they should look at how the country is a dump and understand why it’s hard to take their objections seriously.”

    Breaking down the three signed MOUs, the first agreement pairs the government with Ernst & Young LLP to build out a collaborative framework for large-scale data centre and supporting infrastructure development across the country. The project will leverage Ernst & Young’s proprietary Energy to Intelligence (E2I) platform, and the firm plans to partner with third-party investors to develop the 300-megawatt facility, which would mark a major expansion of Caribbean digital infrastructure.

    The second MOU, signed with Hummingbird AI Holdings LLC, sets out a framework for preliminary coordination, due diligence, and planning for a proposed 150-megawatt artificial intelligence infrastructure and associated data centre. The plan includes provisions for potential long-term expansion to 500 megawatts as global demand for digital and AI capacity grows, with initial commercial operations targeted for the first quarter of 2028, pending completion of due diligence and final investment approval from all stakeholders.

    The third and final MOU focuses on reviving the shuttered Point Lisas iron and steel plant, which was recently acquired by Pinnacle Steel and Vanadium Corporation. The agreement establishes a formal framework for due diligence and negotiations surrounding the facility’s refurbishment, restart, and long-term operation for steel and vanadium production.

    Persad-Bissessar framed the incoming foreign investments as a positive indicator of Trinidad and Tobago’s attractiveness to global business, saying that the projects put the country on a path toward long-term prosperity. “Any project will have some type of environmental impact so planners will cater for that in their designs. Foreign companies want to invest in Trinidad and this is a good sign for future prosperity,” she stated, urging critics to wait for full project details to be released before passing judgment.

  • MURDER DILEMMA

    MURDER DILEMMA

    As Trinidad and Tobago closes in on the midpoint of 2026, national security officials are grappling with a persistent public safety crisis, after official data put the country’s cumulative murder toll at 203 as of July 13. Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander framed domestic dispute-related killings as one of the most intractable challenges facing the nation’s law enforcement apparatus, even as he noted a modest but encouraging drop in overall homicides compared to the previous year. In an exclusive interview with local outlet Express held at his Tunapuna constituency office on Monday, Alexander explained that while intelligence-led operations have allowed police to disrupt gang-related criminal activity effectively, impulsive, interpersonal violence often unfolds far faster than authorities can intervene. New statistics from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) show that the 2026 murder count is 9 cases lower than the 212 recorded by the same date in 2025, representing a 6% year-over-year decline. So far in July, the country has reported 12 homicides, half the 22 logged over the same stretch in 2025. Alexander credited the ongoing state of emergency (SoE) – implemented without a widespread curfew – for the downward trend, saying the measure has granted law enforcement expanded authority to investigate criminal networks, collect evidence, and bring charges against suspects. “What we have done is give police the powers, the authority, to apprehend persons, secure evidence against persons and eventually charge them for offences,” Alexander noted. While the government views the lower homicide count as a welcome development, Alexander emphasized every lost life matters, and officials remain focused on addressing gaps in violence prevention. A deep dive into the 2026 homicide data reveals that a large share of killings stem from personal, unorganized conflicts rather than gang or organized criminal activity. “One of the things we are looking at, among that 200 plus, is a lot of domestic violence. Issues among persons, persons fighting over land and things like that. Persons in toxic relationships that lash out. Men in bars who get into an altercation and end up in stabbings…so there is a lot of domestic involvement,” Alexander explained. Unlike gang-related violence, which can be monitored and preempted through intelligence gathering, these domestic incidents often escalate suddenly with no prior warning to police, making proactive intervention extremely difficult. “Domestic murders is something that is difficult for the police to treat with beforehand,” Alexander said. Gang-related violence remains a top priority for the government and law enforcement, Alexander added, and the availability of intelligence on gang activity allows agencies to allocate targeted resources to disrupt plots and take criminal groups off the street. To curb domestic homicide rates, Alexander says police will need to expand community outreach and pre-emptive engagement efforts to identify at-risk conflicts before they turn deadly. Greater proactive engagement with local communities and private households, he argued, will help flag simmering tensions that might otherwise fly under the radar of official monitoring. “It’s about meeting people in their homes, and encouraging them to make reports,” Alexander said. Even with expanded outreach, however, Alexander acknowledged that many domestic violent acts happen with little to no warning, making full prevention a persistent challenge. “But then these things can also happen in the blink of an eye, so it’s difficult for the police to really get a handle on,” he stressed.

  • Penny: PNM has nothing to hide

    Penny: PNM has nothing to hide

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has issued a firm public declaration that the People’s National Movement (PNM) has no wrongdoing to conceal, and pledged to resist every effort by the ruling United National Congress (UNC) government to smear the main opposition party. Her remarks came in direct response to recent comments from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who on Sunday called on the PNM to submit evidence proving the legal construction of its Port of Spain headquarters, Balisier House, to two independent state bodies — the national police service and the judiciary.

    The latest development in this unfolding political clash began last Friday, when High Court Justice Margaret Mohammed granted a court order to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) forcing the PNM to explain the source of funding for the multi-million-dollar construction project. The TTPS has been carrying out an official inquiry into the building’s origins for some time. On the same day the order was granted, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro — who had appointed acting Assistant Commissioner Ramdath Phillip to lead the investigation — authorized Phillip to file an application for a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order with the High Court, a step permitted under Section 58(1) of the 2019 Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act.

    In her official statement released this week, Beckles referenced a separate detailed comment issued the same day by PNM Chairman Marvin Gonzales, noting that after a meeting with the party’s top leadership, Gonzales was directed to release a clear response to a story published the previous Saturday in the *Express* newspaper.

    “The legacy of our longstanding political institution will not be tarnished by a government that would rather launch desperate political attacks than tackle the actual problems our country faces,” Beckles said. She described the PNM as a historic movement that has served Trinidad and Tobago with distinction for seven decades.

    Beckles argued that the UNC government, which is already facing growing public pressure over its failure to address spiraling crime, a stagnant economy, high unemployment, rising living costs and plummeting public trust in national leadership, has deliberately shifted focus to attacking the PNM’s headquarters to distract voters. She emphasized that the public’s top priority should be the UNC’s clear failure to deliver improved living standards for ordinary citizens.

    Going further, Beckles launched a scathing counter-attack on the ruling party, labeling the UNC as politically adrift, corrupt and fraudulent, claiming it has ties to alleged human traffickers, includes members currently free on bail, and is facing multiple active police investigations into the conduct of its own members of parliament.

    She stressed that the governing party will not be permitted to rewrite Trinidad and Tobago’s national political history, framing Balisier House as far more than just a physical office building. “Balisier House is the soul of the PNM. It embodies the blood, sweat and tears of generations of citizens who have dedicated themselves to this movement,” Beckles, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Arima, explained. She added that the building stands as a monument to the thousands of volunteers, supporters, party workers and patriotic citizens who have given their time and personal resources to the PNM out of a commitment to public service.

    “Under my leadership, the PNM will never stand by and allow anyone to erase these contributions from our nation’s political and physical landscape,” Beckles vowed. She repeated her call for the public to question why the government is prioritizing an attack on the main opposition when communities across the country are crying out for urgent action to curb violent crime, working families are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing living costs, and local businesses are grappling with widespread economic uncertainty.

    Closing her statement, Beckles reaffirmed her commitment to continuing her defense of the PNM, the country’s democratic system, and the fundamental right of citizens to have a robust opposition that holds the sitting government accountable for its actions and policies.

  • Probe after ‘$250,000 disappears’ during police search

    Probe after ‘$250,000 disappears’ during police search

    A formal misconduct investigation is underway targeting three members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), following allegations that $250,000 in cash went missing during a search of a scrap iron dealer’s Claxton Bay property in late June. The case has sparked accusations of police abuse of power amid the country’s current state of emergency, with the dealer’s attorney arguing the allegations expose serious misconduct by law enforcement.

    Akini Joseph, a scrap metal dealer widely known by the alias “Mundo,” was not at his residence when officers from the Marabella Police Station arrived on the evening of June 27. The officers stated their mission was to locate stolen brass on the property, and when Joseph was contacted mid-search by a concerned relative, he instructed his family to grant the search team full access to the compound, attorney Subhas Panday, who represents Joseph, confirmed to local outlet Express in a recent interview.

    According to Panday’s account of the search, the operation took an unexpected turn when officers probing a bedroom ceiling dislodged a five-dollar banknote. The lead corporal on the scene then ordered a constable to retrieve a ladder to access the attic space, where the team discovered a hidden box containing stacks of cash totaling $250,000. From that point, the cash was never recorded as evidence or returned to Joseph: the search team told Joseph’s family they had found no illegal materials on the property before concluding the operation.

    Independent police sources have confirmed that closed-circuit security footage from the property, a portion of which has been viewed by Express, captures one of the responding officers exiting the home and concealing an amount of cash in his uniform pockets. Investigators have also obtained additional corroborating details about the officers’ activities on the compound during the search.

    When Joseph returned home from the cricket match he was attending, a relative immediately alerted him that the search team had seized his hidden cash. When Joseph confronted the officers and demanded the money’s return, while stating his intention to contact legal representation, he was taken into police custody on allegations of making threats against officers, Panday explained. Joseph remained detained at the local police station for four days before he was formally questioned about the alleged stolen brass on July 1 — it was during this interrogation that Joseph first formally brought up the missing $250,000 to the lead corporal, according to his attorney.

    On July 6, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander signed a Preventive Detention Order (PDO) against Joseph, citing intelligence reports that place the dealer as a member of an informal organized crime group. The order links Joseph’s scrap business to the illegal disposal of stolen property, claims he threatened responding officers during the June 27 search, and alleges he is in illegal possession of firearms. Authorities further assert that intelligence indicates Joseph’s criminal network was planning to expand its illegal operations, including carrying out more frequent attacks on commercial properties across the region.

    Panday has since filed a formal application to challenge the PDO before the independent Review Tribunal, and as of the latest update, is still waiting for a hearing date to be scheduled. The attorney has issued a sharp rebuke of law enforcement actions in the case, arguing that officers are exploiting the existing state of emergency to enter the homes of private citizens without required search warrants and target innocent people.

    “They are abusing the state of emergency and going into innocent people’s homes without search warrants. Authorities must take steps to prevent this kind of behaviour, they are taking advantage of innocent people,” Panday told Express.

    The Professional Standards Bureau (PSB), the TTPS internal body mandated to investigate officer misconduct, corruption, and abuse of authority, is leading the probe into the three officers — one corporal and two constables. The official complaint against the officers was filed by Joseph’s relatives just hours after the search concluded, a timeline confirmed by Panday.

  • Verkeersveiligheidsinstituut slaat alarm na vier jonge verkeersdoden in vijf dagen

    Verkeersveiligheidsinstituut slaat alarm na vier jonge verkeersdoden in vijf dagen

    In a devastating five-day stretch that has sent shockwaves through road safety circles, four young people have lost their lives in traffic incidents across the Netherlands, prompting urgent alarm from the national Verkeersveiligheidsinstituut (VVI, the Institute for Road Safety) over the rapidly growing toll of fatal crashes involving young road users. Multiple of these recent deadly accidents involved moped riders and motorcyclists, a high-risk group that safety officials have long targeted for additional prevention efforts.

    The uptick in fatalities has drawn fierce concern from top national officials, including Minister of Justice and Police Harish Monorath, who has labeled the recent string of deaths as an issue of extreme severity. The VVI emphasized that this cluster of fatal incidents should not be dismissed as a series of isolated, random events; instead, it represents a critical wake-up call for the entire nation to address systemic gaps in road safety culture.

    VVI Director Joanne Kasno-Adraai described the consecutive deaths as an unmitigated tragedy. “Four young people never made it home,” she said, noting that grieving family members, partners, friends, and children are left to navigate overwhelming grief with few answers for why these losses occurred. On behalf of the entire institute, Kasno-Adraai extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved, wishing them strength as they process their irreversible loss.

    Moving forward, the VVI confirmed that the Ministry of Justice and Police, led by Minister Monorath, will continue partnering with the institute and other relevant agencies to invest in expanded road safety education, public awareness campaigns, targeted prevention initiatives, and stricter enforcement of existing traffic rules. Even as institutional authorities commit to action, the institute stressed that individual road users bear a critical share of responsibility for preventing future deaths.

    In an urgent appeal directed at high-risk groups, the VVI called specifically on moped riders, motorcyclists, and all young road users to moderate their speed, always wear an approved, properly fitted safety helmet, and eliminate distractions including alcohol consumption and mobile phone use while on the road. The institute also issued a call to passenger vehicle drivers to increase their vigilance, reminding motorists to account for blind spots, maintain safe following distances, and give adequate space to two-wheeled road users.

    “One moment of rushing, recklessness, or inattention can change a life forever,” Kasno-Adraai said. “Instead of waiting for the next tragic report, let us work together to build safer roads for everyone.”

  • Column: Tijdelijke maatregelen vragen blijvende openheid

    Column: Tijdelijke maatregelen vragen blijvende openheid

    There is an old adage that holds true across many policy contexts: no measure is more permanent than a temporary policy that never gets scheduled for review. This principle is now playing out in Suriname, where a temporary fuel price cap implemented amid the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East continues to operate without the public transparency and scheduled evaluation that good governance demands.

    When regional hostilities sent international oil prices skyrocketing in early 2025, threatening to accelerate already strained inflation levels, the Surinamese government faced a critical policy choice. To protect household purchasing power and avoid adding additional pressure to already strained manufacturing and transportation sectors, authorities introduced a fuel price cap on March 18. The policy set maximum retail prices of 53.27 Surinamese dollars (SRD) per liter for diesel and 48.32 SRD per liter for unleaded gasoline. At the time of its introduction, the emergency measure was widely viewed as a justifiable decision to counter volatile market conditions.

    But every temporary intervention raises an unavoidable question over time: when and how will policymakers assess whether the policy is still needed? Since March, the global oil market has been anything but stable, with prices swinging sharply between steep increases and sudden drops before climbing again amid continued Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions. This volatility underscores just how challenging it is to implement and sustain fuel price policy in an unpredictable global economy – and that reality makes transparency all the more critical for public accountability.

    During recent parliamentary budget deliberations, Minister of Finance and Planning Adelien Wijnerman confirmed that the government would review the future of the fuel subsidy program in the near term. She also noted that a gradual phase-out of the cap would likely be more prudent than an abrupt end to the policy. Wijnerman added that without the current price cap, retail prices would rise to roughly 64 SRD per liter for diesel and 62 SRD per liter for unleaded gasoline.

    President Jennifer Simons has also shed light on the significant fiscal cost of the policy, revealing that the government foregoes approximately 300 million SRD in monthly revenue to keep fuel prices artificially low, through a reduction in state levies on fuel. This represents a major fiscal commitment: public funds can only be spent once, and every month that the state treasury forgoes hundreds of millions of Surinamese dollars means less budget available for critical investments in healthcare, education, public safety, infrastructure, and other core public services.

    This fiscal trade-off does not automatically mean the fuel subsidy must be eliminated entirely. But it does mean that Surinamese society has a right to know how policymakers are weighing these competing priorities. The core debate around this policy is not ultimately whether fuel prices should rise or fall – it is a question of responsible governance and an open, accountable government.

    Multiple critical questions remain unanswered for the public: How is the current price cap calculated on a monthly basis? Exactly how much revenue is the state actually foregoing? What is the current size of the effective subsidy, given that global oil prices have shifted dramatically multiple times since the cap was introduced? When will policymakers assess whether market conditions have changed enough to require policy adjustments? And when will these trade-off decisions be shared openly with the public?

    Beyond fiscal impacts, the price cap also reshapes competitive dynamics among private oil companies. Before the policy was introduced, companies competed on retail pump prices to attract customers; today, motorists pay nearly identical prices at every filling station across the country. This market intervention has spawned new questions: How does healthy competition still function in this regulated market? Is the subsidy calculated uniformly for every operating oil company? How will policymakers prevent unequal outcomes that stem from differing cost structures and price-building processes among companies? Precisely because the government has chosen to intervene directly in the fuel market, the full workings of this system deserve complete public transparency.

    Price stability for consumers is a legitimate policy goal, and no government is required to adjust retail fuel prices on a weekly basis to match shifts in global commodity markets. But stability does not justify silence on policy trade-offs. Precisely because the government made the deliberate choice in March to implement a sweeping market intervention, the public has a reasonable expectation that authorities will periodically explain how the system works, what trade-offs guide decision-making, and when the policy will next be evaluated. This approach also aligns with the original process the president used to develop the policy, which included open consultations with business groups, trade unions, independent economists, political parties, and other civil society organizations.

    Remarkably, almost no public information is currently available about how fuel prices under the cap are calculated. This information vacuum pushes public debate toward speculation rather than fact-based discussion – an outcome that serves no one, neither the government, operating oil companies, nor the Surinamese public.

    At its core, the debate over the temporary fuel price cap is not about the cost of a liter of gasoline. It is about how much transparency and open accountability good governance is worth. Temporary emergency measures can remain in place for extended periods when conditions justify it. But secrecy around those measures never can.