标签： Trinidad and Tobago

Across Trinidad and Tobago’s bustling shopping centers and public spaces, the familiar sight of bright red kettles and ringing bells heralds the arrival of the Christmas season—and a 124-year tradition of compassionate giving. The Salvation Army’s iconic fundraising campaign, launched locally in the early 1900s, continues to serve as a critical support system for vulnerable communities despite evolving challenges.

Major Chris Matthias, divisional commander overseeing operations in TT, St. Vincent, and Grenada, reveals this year’s ambitious target: $600,000 TT through the Christmas Kettle Appeal. The campaign, running from November 7 to December 31, deploys 28 collection points nationwide (26 in Trinidad, 2 in Tobago), though volunteer availability remains a persistent constraint.

The initiative’s origins trace back to 1891 San Francisco, where Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee adapted a Scottish maritime charity tradition. Recalling Fishermen’s Wharf’s donation pot for families of lost sailors, McFee employed an iron crab pot to fund hot meals for the impoverished. This grassroots effort rapidly expanded across the Bay Area, evolving into the recognizable red-kettle phenomenon that eventually inspired the classic Christmas ballad Silver Bells.

In Trinidad and Tobago, where The Salvation Army formally incorporated in 1915, the kettle program serves multiple humanitarian functions. Funds enhance Christmas food hampers beyond regular distributions, support children’s holiday parties, and provide personal care packages during institutional visits to five major medical facilities—including the traditional Christmas morning visit to Port of Spain General Hospital.

Matthias emphasizes the program’s transformative impact, recounting how one recipient eventually secured employment and housing before returning to express gratitude. This exemplifies the organization’s philosophy of providing ‘hand-ups’ rather than mere handouts.

Despite maintaining robust transparency through independently audited reports mandated by the Street Collections (Control) Act, the organization faces growing challenges. Donor bases have contracted at both individual and corporate levels, while demand has surged—particularly among single-parent households affected by recent nationwide layoffs.

Safety protocols ensure volunteers receive training in public interaction, donation handling, and site security, with donors encouraged to place contributions directly into kettles. The organization continues seeking business partnerships similar to international models where corporations staff kettle locations as part of CSR initiatives—though such collaborations remain elusive locally.

Matthias concludes with a poignant reminder: Need knows no season. While kettle donations peak during holidays, public support through food contributions remains vital year-round. The ultimate gift, he reflects, extends beyond material assistance—offering hope, joy, and love through practical compassion that transforms lives during the festive season and beyond.

In a vibrant display of activism, Soroptimist International Esperance has launched the Cedros Mural Activism Project, marking the commencement of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The initiative, situated near Beaulieu Recreation Grounds and Cedros Secondary School, directly aligns with this year’s UN Women theme combating digital violence against women and girls.

The striking orange mural serves as both artistic statement and practical resource, featuring six bilingual messages that address various dimensions of gender-based violence. These messages highlight non-physical abuse patterns, confront human trafficking realities, warn about online predators, advocate for victim support, and provide essential contact information for assistance services. This project extends the club’s previous efforts, including the installation of awareness benches addressing human trafficking in July.

The launch event garnered significant governmental support, with Minister of People Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit declaring the initiative “a national symbol of resistance against abuse, exploitation and digital violence.” Minister Mohit emphasized national responsibility in breaking digital gender-based violence walls through policy measures, counseling services, grant support, and community interventions.

Notably, the Soroptimists’ ‘Think Before You Click’ initiative previously received the Delegates Choice Best Practice Award at the Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland Conference. The program, developed in partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), educates secondary school girls about cybercrime protection and gender-based violence prevention.

Director of The Counter Trafficking Unit Allan Meiguel endorsed the campaign while highlighting the urgent need for a dedicated service office in the vulnerable coastal community of Cedros. This sentiment was reinforced by Energy Minister and local MP Ernesto Kesar, who emphasized that gender-based violence constitutes a societal issue requiring collective condemnation and action.

The event culminated in a powerful appeal urging legislative action against digital violence, increased investment in women’s organizations, and community commitment to challenging harmful online norms while supporting survivors.

A contentious meeting between Special Reserve Police (SRP) officers and Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) management has exposed significant challenges in implementing Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander’s directive to integrate 800 reserve officers into the regular force.

The December 3 gathering descended into chaos when senior TTPS officials cut microphone access following controversial comments from an SRP representative. The tension escalated particularly around the requirement for incoming officers to possess a CSEC pass in English Language, revealing deep divisions between the groups.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Curt Simon attempted to restore order, emphatically stating that “The TTPS is not a market or a parlour,” emphasizing that selection for regular service constitutes a privilege rather than an entitlement. This declaration prompted several SRP members to exit the meeting in protest.

This confrontation represents the latest development in a long-standing struggle for improved status among reserve officers. Only in July, following a judicial ruling by Justice Frank Seepersad, were SRPs and municipal police granted voting rights in police association elections.

The current integration initiative, designed to address a staffing shortfall of 1,154 officers, marks the most substantial proposed change in SRP status since 2019. That year, authorities targeted integrating 500 reserve officers into full police roles.

Deputy Commissioner Junior Benjamin subsequently assured media outlets of the service’s commitment to fulfilling the cabinet directive. However, this assurance comes with the recognition that elevating potentially unqualified or unprepared officers to full TTPS duty could significantly impact both police operations and public safety.

The resistance to basic academic requirements suggests that SRP recruitment standards may have been considerably more flexible than those applied to regular officers. While Minister Alexander may personally know qualified SRPs who could transition effectively, identifying 800 such candidates presents a considerable challenge.

Police leadership appropriately maintains that any integration process must include rigorous, transparent assessment protocols alongside provisions for remedial training where necessary. Experts suggest that reserve officers indicating interest in regular service should receive preparation from their initial deployment, ensuring they meet the functional standards required of all officers performing full police duties.

As the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women concludes, the grim reality of ongoing gender-based violence persists unabated. Hazel Thompson-Ahye, a seasoned legal professional, reflects on the tragic pattern of domestic fatalities that continue to plague society, questioning how many more women must perish before substantive change occurs.

The recent murder of Councillor Romona Teeneal Victor represents the latest chapter in a devastating narrative that Thompson-Ahye first witnessed four decades ago with the death of client June Edwards. Despite court-issued injunctions and legal interventions, the system failed to prevent Edwards’ husband from stabbing her before ending his own life. The haunting memory of Edwards’ young children at their mother’s funeral remains etched in Thompson-Ahye’s consciousness, symbolizing the profound collateral damage of domestic violence.

Through her extensive career, Thompson-Ahye has adopted a survival-first approach, advising clients to immediately flee dangerous situations regardless of material sacrifices. However, she acknowledges the complex barriers that prevent many from leaving, including homelessness and paralyzing fear. Her practice has evolved to include counseling male clients, encouraging emotional maturity and acceptance when relationships end. One transformative success story involved a formerly troublesome client who reformed his behavior and maintained positive communication years later.

The legal profession bears significant responsibility in preventing violence, Thompson-Ahye emphasizes. She recalls a catastrophic instance where a lawyer’s negligence resulted in a client fracturing his wife’s skull with a hammer. This incident underscores the critical need for legal professionals to exercise diligent protection measures.

Educational reform represents another crucial frontier. Thompson-Ahye advocates for comprehensive training from preschool onward to help both girls and boys recognize abusive patterns and understand gender equality. The University of the West Indies Laboratory Pre-School’s model of teaching equality through difference provides a replicable framework for nationwide implementation.

While legislative improvements have been made to the Domestic Violence Act, Thompson-Ahye criticizes law enforcement’s continued failure to treat domestic violence with the same seriousness as other crimes. She argues that police must investigate regardless of victim cooperation, breaking the cycle of impunity.

In tribute to victims, Thompson-Ahye shares her calypso composition “Ah Reconstructing Masculinity,” originally written to honor Professor Eudine Barriteau of UWI Cave Hill. The poem employs powerful symbolism—hard hats, steel-tipped boots, and toolkits—to represent the rebuilding of masculinity with gender sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and respect. Updated verses for 2025 celebrate Trinidad and Tobago’s female leadership while advocating for women’s expanded roles in governance, particularly in financial management where Thompson-Ahye believes women demonstrate superior competency.

A devastating residential fire in the New Grant community has resulted in the tragic death of a 40-year-old man on December 7th. The victim has been identified as Armanath Ramnarinesingh, who perished in the blaze that engulfed his two-story residence located on Frederick Branch Road.

According to preliminary reports obtained by Newsday, the catastrophic fire ignited approximately at 7:00 PM, rapidly consuming the structure where Ramnarinesingh resided. Emergency responders, including fire service personnel, rushed to the scene upon notification, battling the flames in efforts to control the inferno and prevent further destruction.

The exact cause of the conflagration remains undetermined at this time, with authorities launching a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Fire officials and forensic experts are meticulously examining the premises to establish the origin and circumstances that led to the deadly outbreak.

While the confirmed casualty remains singular, officials have not yet issued definitive statements regarding potential additional victims. The investigation continues as community members mourn the loss of life in this tragic incident, which highlights ongoing concerns about residential fire safety protocols and emergency response effectiveness in the region.