标签： Trinidad and Tobago

In a surprising twist of medical workforce dynamics, Trinidad and Tobago faces the paradoxical situation of simultaneously experiencing a physician shortage and surplus. While healthcare facilities remain overwhelmed with patient demand, approximately 300 new medical graduates enter the system annually, with 7,345 doctors currently registered with the Medical Board.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration has proposed an innovative solution: establishing a partnership with Guyana that would enable 50 local doctors to practice there. This initiative, announced on December 7, represents a strategic approach to addressing structural issues within the healthcare sector.

The core problem lies in the experience gap faced by recent graduates. Despite completing internships, these new physicians are often perceived as insufficiently experienced for full positions, creating a professional catch-22 where they cannot gain experience without employment opportunities.

Beyond the graduate experience dilemma, systemic challenges persist. Health authorities have consistently failed to hire adequate medical personnel, despite the World Health Organization reporting that physician density per 1,000 people doubled between 2010 and 2020. This understaffing affects both doctors and nurses, with health facilities remaining insufficiently expanded to meet population demands.

Additional complicating factors include the declining tradition of visiting local general practitioners, which has reduced opportunities for new graduates, and allegations of medical equipment worth $100 million being left to deteriorate at the Couva facility opened in 2015.

The proposed Guyana partnership offers multiple benefits: providing employment for emerging practitioners, breaking the experience-employment cycle, advancing regional integration, and potentially reducing pressure on domestic healthcare systems. While 50 doctors may not solve the entire problem, it represents a meaningful step toward addressing complex healthcare workforce challenges.

In a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago’s law enforcement community, Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindial convened with newly elected TT Police Service Social Welfare Association (TTPSSWA) president Ishmael Pitt and executive members on December 9. The meeting, held at the Personnel Department headquarters in St. Clair, marked a pivotal step in fostering collaborative relations between government administration and police representatives.

During the cordial exchange, both parties engaged in substantive discussions addressing critical organizational matters. While explicitly characterized as preliminary talks rather than formal negotiations, the dialogue encompassed several pressing issues including the ongoing job evaluation exercise, comprehensive pension reform proposals, enhancements to the group health plan, and potential timelines for resuming official bargaining sessions.

Dr. Dindial emphasized the administration’s commitment to maintaining transparent and productive channels of communication with all stakeholders. The meeting notably served as an occasion to honor outgoing TTPSSWA president Gideon Dickson, whom the CPO praised for his principled leadership and dedication to advancing members’ welfare during his tenure. Dickson’s stewardship was credited with significantly strengthening the association’s advocacy capabilities and achieving tangible benefits for personnel.

The constructive nature of the discussions has established a foundation for continued engagement, with follow-up dialogues scheduled for early January 2026. Dr. Dindial concluded the proceedings by extending seasonal greetings to all police service members and their families, acknowledging their service during the holiday period. This meeting occurs against the backdrop of the association’s previous acceptance in February 2023 of a four percent remuneration offer covering the 2014-2019 periods.

A devastating nighttime fire has displaced six residents, including a senior citizen and a child, in the Moody Stewart Street area of San Fernando. The incident occurred on December 9 around 9 PM, completely destroying a multi-generational wooden structure that had stood for over six decades.

Henry Dick, a 74-year-old pensioner who lived alone on the upper floor, narrowly escaped the rapidly spreading flames after hearing an unusual noise moments before retiring for the evening. “I turned my light back on to see what it was. The front door was on fire, the curtain was burning—everything was engulfed,” Dick recounted while surveying the charred remains of his lifelong home.

The blaze consumed not only his dwelling but also precious family heirlooms dating back to his grandparents’ era. Despite attempts to extinguish the fire with buckets of water, the structure was completely destroyed within hours.

While official investigators from the Mon Repos Fire Station have not determined the cause, Dick suspects possible arson. “Somehow, I feel somebody threw something. If I had been asleep, I might not have made it out alive,” he expressed with evident concern.

The ground floor housed two separate tenant families: a 67-year-old woman with her adult daughter and grandchild in one unit, and two male occupants in another. All residents escaped without physical injury.

Local political representative John Michael Alibocus (UNC Shadow MP for San Fernando East) visited the scene, pledging to mobilize government resources and ministerial support for the displaced families. “During this Christmas season—a time for sharing and love—this tragedy is particularly heartbreaking,” Alibocus stated, emphasizing the urgency of coordinated relief efforts.

Community solidarity has emerged as a silver lining, with neighbors providing immediate shelter to those affected. Investigation into the fire’s origin continues as authorities pursue all possible leads. Those wishing to assist Mr. Dick may contact him directly at 750-1715.

The tranquil waters surrounding Trinidad’s Down D Islands have been shattered by anxiety as the three-day kidnapping ordeal of renowned 70-year-old boating expert Derek ‘Stones’ Tardieu and his wife Clarabelle continues unabated. The maritime community, once considered a safe haven, now grapples with unprecedented security concerns as authorities scramble to address systemic vulnerabilities.

At Tardieu Marine Ltd in Chaguaramas, boatmen expressed profound unease about their exposure to criminal elements. ‘We operate without any meaningful protection,’ one marine worker revealed, drawing disturbing parallels to established extortion schemes in other coastal areas. ‘The pattern from Sea Lots, where boat owners face monthly payments to criminal entities, appears to be spreading to our waters.’

The security vacuum stems from insufficient patrols by Coast Guard and Marine Police units, leaving workers fundamentally vulnerable. Despite having communication radios, the prohibition against firearms aboard vessels creates critical safety gaps. ‘When armed intruders board, our options vanish within seconds,’ another boatman explained. ‘The psychological toll is constant—we’re perpetually calculating risks in what was once our sanctuary.’

Yohan Goviah, President of the Island Property Owners Association, articulated the community’s shaken confidence: ‘This incident forces us to reconsider our security paradigm. Our proximity to Venezuela and the porous maritime border create inherent challenges, while law enforcement agencies face resource constraints that limit 24/7 surveillance capabilities.’

Investigative developments reveal sophisticated criminal tactics. The kidnappers communicated via a Colombian-numbered phone, demanding a $2.5 million ransom in a voice message from Tardieu. Subsequent social media circulation showed disturbing footage of the couple held at gunpoint with a military-grade M-26 grenade—a weapon variant produced in Colombia—pressed against Tardieu’s chest.

Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander acknowledged institutional shortcomings: ‘We inherited limited assets for coastal protection, but are developing coordinated responses with defense counterparts.’ His comments referenced ongoing debates about maritime radar systems, particularly one installed in Tobago that failed to detect the kidnappers’ approach.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has classified the investigation as high-priority, mobilizing specialized resources while urging media restraint to protect the victims’ safety. Western Division ACP Henry encouraged community reporting of extortion attempts, pledging immediate response to credible threats.

As the search operation continues across the complex maritime border region, the incident has exposed fundamental security deficiencies in Trinidad’s coastal communities, raising urgent questions about sustainable protection strategies for vulnerable maritime populations.