标签： Trinidad and Tobago

Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has announced a public forum to address growing concerns regarding the recent installation of a US military radar system at Tobago’s Arthur NR Robinson International Airport. The meeting is scheduled for December 7 at the Mason Hall Community Centre, commencing at 6:30 PM.

In a December 5 Facebook post, Rowley stated, “Tobago, the conversation continues. In a time of uncertainty, our island deserves clarity.” The former leader pledged to confront difficult questions surrounding the radar system, the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed with the United States in December 2024 during his administration, and the genuine implications of these developments for Tobago’s security and future.

The radar installation first came to public attention when current Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar disclosed its existence on November 27 following a laptop distribution ceremony in Penal. Persad-Bissessar characterized the equipment as essential for enhancing surveillance capabilities against narcotics traffickers operating in regional waters.

This development occurs within the broader context of increased US military presence throughout the southern Caribbean. Beginning in August, the United States deployed three guided missile destroyers—USS Gravely, Jason Dunham, and Sampson—to the region. The naval contingent has since expanded to include the nuclear attack submarine USS Newport News, amphibious assault vessels, special forces command vessels, the 22nd US Marine Expeditionary Unit, and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford with its strike group.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has repeatedly emphasized that Trinidad and Tobago will not serve as a base for military operations against Venezuela, despite having expressed willingness to permit US troop operations if Venezuela encroaches on Guyanese territory. The Prime Minister has publicly endorsed the US military deployment as an anti-narcotics initiative, notwithstanding international criticism of US strikes on alleged drug vessels as extrajudicial killings.

The situation has revealed political tensions, with Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine claiming exclusion from security discussions despite arguably warranting membership on the National Security Council. Constitutional questions have emerged regarding Augustine’s eligibility for such membership, as former national security minister Gary Griffith contends that only cabinet ministers may participate.

Meanwhile, Tobago East MP David Thomas has aligned with the government’s position that the radar primarily addresses narcotics trafficking concerns. This alignment occurs despite the absence of a formal coalition between Thomas’s Tobago People’s Party and the governing UNC, highlighting the complex political dynamics surrounding this security development.

The Assembly of Caribbean People (ACP) has issued a forceful condemnation of what it characterizes as Washington’s expanding military footprint across the Caribbean basin. In a December 4 declaration, the regional coalition of civil society organizations denounced recent US deployments as evidence of an “imperial agenda” targeting Venezuela and destabilizing regional stability.

The ACP highlighted concerning military developments, including the positioning of the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group—comprising destroyers, amphibious assault vessels, fighter aircraft, B-52 strategic bombers, and nuclear submarines—representing approximately ten percent of US naval capacity. The organization specifically noted heightened activity in the narrow maritime corridor separating Trinidad and Tobago from Venezuela, describing the Caribbean as facing its most volatile period in recent history.

Further escalation indicators cited include multiple visits by the US Marines’ 22nd Expeditionary Unit to Trinidad within a three-week period, repeated destroyer incursions into the Gulf of Paria, and the installation of US radar systems in Tobago. The ACP dismissed official narratives linking these deployments to counter-narcotics operations, asserting instead that Washington seeks regime change in Venezuela and control over its substantial natural resources.

The coalition expressed particular alarm over recent aviation restrictions, including Federal Aviation Administration warnings about military operations in Caribbean airspace and President Trump’s declaration of a Venezuelan no-fly zone. These developments, coupled with the designation of Venezuela’s leadership as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, are viewed as creating pretexts for military intervention.

ACP spokesman David Abdulah called for unified regional resistance, urging Caribbean citizens, governments, and civil society organizations to reject US military activities. “The message must be clear,” Abdulah emphasized, “A US military attack—Not in our name. War in the region—Not in our name.”

The organization criticized regional governments that have aligned with US interests, specifically referencing Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s public support for aggressive counter-narcotics measures. Such positions, the ACP argued, undermine the Caribbean’s traditional status as a zone of peace.

While acknowledging resistance from certain CARICOM leaders and grassroots movements, the ACP called for stronger collective opposition to preserve regional sovereignty and prevent military conflict.

Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram has confirmed that the appointment of a new governing board for the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) is progressing, though the process has encountered unexpected delays due to rigorous Cabinet-level vetting procedures. The minister made these statements following a ceremonial distribution of Brazilian green dwarf coconut seedlings at the Central Experiment Station in Centeno on December 1.

Minister Ratiram emphasized that multiple proposed board configurations have undergone Cabinet review in recent weeks, with each candidate subjected to comprehensive background verification and eligibility assessments. “The Cabinet, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, ensures all board appointees fully meet statutory requirements,” Ratiram stated, acknowledging the time-consuming nature of these mandatory checks.

The future board’s mandate will encompass establishing policy direction, strategic oversight, and addressing operational challenges including workforce management issues. While expressing urgency for the board’s installation, Ratiram declined to specify particular matters awaiting board attention, preferring to let the incoming directors address them upon formal appointment.

Regarding agricultural concerns beyond the banking sector, Minister Ratiram directly addressed circulating rumors about fertilizer shortages affecting rice cultivation. He categorically dismissed these claims, asserting that multiple fertilizer varieties remain commercially available and that ministry researchers are actively evaluating optimal formulations for current crops.

The minister revealed that the rice industry is currently in replanting phase following recent harvests, with seed distribution already completed. While acknowledging some concerns regarding germination rates, Ratiram confirmed ongoing collaboration between the ministry and relevant boards to address these agricultural challenges.

Ratiram concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to agricultural development, highlighting ongoing support programs ranging from genetic seed improvement to water management initiatives and extension services.

Independent Senator Dr. Marlene Attzs has issued a stark warning to the Trinidad and Tobago government, cautioning against abdicating its fundamental responsibility for public safety through the proposed Home Invasion (Self-Defence and Defence of Property) Bill, 2025. During Senate deliberations on December 2, Attzs challenged the administration’s approach to combating crime, arguing that the legislation effectively shifts the burden of security from the state to ordinary citizens.

The senator directly addressed previous comments by government senator Dr. Kirk Meighoo regarding the UNC’s campaign promise to reduce crime by 50% over five years. ‘The government cannot retreat from the battle it was elected to fight,’ Attzs declared, emphasizing that public safety constitutes an essential public good that must be delivered by the state rather than privatized.

Attzs characterized the proposed stand-your-ground legislation as potentially signaling ‘a quiet retreat by the state from perhaps its most fundamental duty.’ She interpreted the bill’s underlying message as essentially telling citizens that the government acknowledges the mammoth scale of the crime problem and cannot guarantee public safety, thereby transferring the responsibility for self-defense to individuals.

The senator expressed particular concern about the legislation potentially creating a ‘license to kill’ mentality, contradicting government descriptions of the bill as empowering citizens. ‘This is not empowerment,’ Attzs argued. ‘It is the privatization of violence and the outsourcing of the state’s most sacred duty to thousands of frightened, untrained, unsupported individuals.’

Attzs further warned that the legislation would transform safety from a guaranteed public right into a ‘private gamble,’ replacing organized state-managed security with ad-hoc household-by-household defense. She noted the particular danger of disproportionate impact, explaining that ‘when violence is privatized, it is not privatized evenly,’ with resource-rich individuals able to fortify themselves while marginalized communities become more vulnerable.

Citing international research, Attzs highlighted that stand-your-ground laws typically increase rather than reduce crime rates and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. She also questioned the timing of the legislation, noting it emerges amid a ‘troubling policy vacuum’ without a coherent national crime strategy and while criminal justice institutions remain ‘on some kind of life support.’

While expressing empathy for government senator Brian Baig’s personal experience with home invasion trauma, Attzs cautioned that fear-based narratives should not form the foundation of lawmaking. The Senate continues its debate on the controversial legislation, which has sparked significant discussion about the state’s role in ensuring public safety.

The Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) has terminated its association with prospective candidate Tevin Duke following his criminal conviction for repeatedly violating a protective order. Dr. Denise Tsoiafatt Angus, political leader of the Tobago-based party, confirmed the immediate removal of Duke as their intended representative for the Belle Garden/Glamorgan constituency.

The development emerged just days after the IDA unveiled its candidate list for the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections scheduled for January 12. Upon learning of Duke’s sentencing on December 3, the party convened an emergency executive meeting to address the situation.

In an official statement released on December 4, the IDA emphasized its commitment to integrity, accountability, and public safety as core values that necessitated swift action. The party expressed particular concern about the nature of the offense, noting that violations of protective orders involving family safety represent serious breaches of trust.

The 30-year-old Tobago farmer received a three-month, 24-day prison sentence after pleading guilty to his third violation of a protection order. Magistrate Avion Gill of the Scarborough Second Court handed down the sentence on December 3, with court records indicating Duke had previously served two jail terms for similar offenses.

The IDA has initiated its internal ethical review process and is currently vetting two potential replacement candidates. Party officials indicated a new candidate for the district would be announced shortly to ensure adequate representation for Belle Garden/Glamorgan constituents.

While acknowledging the regrettable nature of the incident, the party maintains its focus on the upcoming THA elections, reaffirming its commitment to protecting women, families, and vulnerable individuals across Tobago.