标签： Trinidad and Tobago

In a landmark legislative vote held yesterday morning, Trinidad and Tobago’s Senate has unanimously passed the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) (Remote Gambling) Order 2026, voting to amend the 2021 Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Act and establish a formal legal regime for regulated remote gambling operations nationwide.

First introduced by Minister of Finance Davendranath Tancoo, the regulatory order cleared the House of Representatives earlier this week, and secured cross-party backing from both opposition and independent legislators ahead of the Senate vote. The core change introduced by the order amends Section 76(1) of the existing act, which currently criminalizes the use of remote gambling infrastructure within Trinidad and Tobago for the purpose of soliciting or facilitating remote gambling participation from users in prohibited territories.

Speaking in robust support of the legislative change, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Kennedy Swaratsingh framed the order as a critical step to unlock new economic opportunities and drive national growth, noting that decades of prohibition failed to eliminate unregulated, underground remote gambling activity in the country. According to Swaratsingh, the updated regulatory framework will generate new state revenue, create local job opportunities, nurture a domestic remote gambling sector, and boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves. He added that legalization will also allow Trinidad and Tobago to tap into a fast-expanding global industry projected to hit $700 billion in total annual revenue by 2028.

To back his argument, Swaratsingh referenced recent growth data from North America’s regulated gambling markets, where gross sports betting revenue ranged between $963 million and $1.3 billion from July 2025 to July 2026, with same-store sports betting revenue growing 31% over the same 12-month period. “These numbers confirm the massive scale and consistent growth of remote gambling revenue; while they do not offer a direct forecast for Trinidad and Tobago, they make one point impossible to ignore: it is no longer reasonable for our legislation to pretend this market does not exist,” he emphasized. “Overall, global data shows consistent expansion across the sector. Against the government’s goal of formalizing remote gambling to unlock economic opportunity, these figures create a positive outlook for Trinidad and Tobago’s gambling sector,” he added.

Swaratsingh explained that the update is a long-overdue modernization of Trinidad and Tobago’s gambling regulation, which was originally built on frameworks enacted as early as 1963 – a time before the internet, smartphones, and digital connectivity revolutionized global commerce. “Our outdated legal system was not designed for the current landscape of the global gambling industry, and that is why we are updating it to meet modern realities,” he said.

A key policy objective of the new order is to bring the economic value of online gambling into Trinidad and Tobago’s formal economy, tying the new regulatory regime to the already existing Gambling Control Commission to avoid institutional overlap. Swaratsingh stressed that legalization does not mean unregulated access: only operators that obtain a valid remote gambling license from the Commission and adhere to strict regulatory rules will be permitted to operate, and the government remains committed to tight oversight rather than open, unrestricted access.

Formalizing remote gambling, he noted, is a core component of the government’s broader national economic transformation agenda, which aims to encourage the development of non-traditional income sources and nurture a locally rooted digital gambling sector. Regulation also ensures that all licensed operators are subject to corporate income tax and business levies, guaranteeing the public shares in the sector’s profits. Swaratsingh added that the government’s shift away from prohibition is supported by existing preparatory work: the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has already finalized work on licensing electronic money issuers, and completed public consultations on updated payment systems legislation.

“We are not pursuing open, unregulated gambling; we are building a properly supervised framework. Through this order, the government is seizing the chance to build a regulated industry that creates new economic activity, while strengthening the state’s ability to monitor and oversee all participating operators,” Swaratsingh said.

Despite the unanimous final vote, Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi raised critical questions about the timing and implementation of the order, saying he remained skeptical and that the move “does not make sense.” “Put plainly, this move is premature. It is not ready for approval, and it does not add up,” Al-Rawi said. He challenged the government’s plan for regulating license issuance, noting that while Section 20 of the 2021 Act grants the Gaming Commission licensing authority, the commission was appointed by the Cabinet in 2022 – and four years on, key implementation structures remain unbuilt. Al-Rawi also raised concerns about potential unregulated foreign exchange outflows that could accompany the launch of cross-border remote gambling operations.

Responding to the opposition’s concerns briefly, Attorney General John Jeremie confirmed that all the outstanding issues raised by Al-Rawi had already been discussed with technical advisors in his ministry and other relevant stakeholders. Jeremie committed that all open questions will be addressed on or before January of next year, ahead of the new regulatory framework entering into force.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has officially confirmed that the national budget for the 2026/2027 fiscal cycle will be laid before Parliament on October 12, marking a key milestone for the United National Congress (UNC) administration that took office last year.

In a response to questions from local media outlet the Express, Persad-Bissessar outlined that the upcoming budget will offer a full public accounting of the Trinidad and Tobago economy’s progress under her government, alongside a detailed breakdown of the administration’s policy agenda and developmental plans for core national sectors. A subsequent official statement from the Office of the Prime Minister clarified that Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo will deliver the budget address at 1:30 p.m. on the scheduled date inside the country’s Parliament building. Reaffirming a core campaign pledge, the Prime Minister emphasized that her administration remains fully committed to delivering improved economic prospects for all Trinidad and Tobago citizens.

A central area of progress highlighted by the Prime Minister is the country’s energy sector, which has seen a flurry of major agreements, expanded upstream investment, and strengthened cross-border cooperation with neighboring Venezuela throughout 2026. Securing reliable additional natural gas supplies for the domestic market has been a top policy priority for the government, and several key milestones have already been delivered. In May, the state-owned National Gas Company (NGC) finalized a new gas supply contract with EOG Resources eight months ahead of the original negotiation timeline. Following that deal, NGC secured a binding term sheet for 50% of the total gas volumes from the Coconut development project, which is on track to launch commercial production in the first quarter of 2027. September brought another breakthrough, when NGC and Shell completed commercial agreements to move forward with the Aphrodite gas development, with first production expected in the second quarter of 2027.

The government has also renegotiated production sharing terms with Perenco for offshore Blocks 2(c) and 3(a), aligned with new gas supply agreements between NGC and Perenco covering those blocks plus the Teak, Samaan and Poui fields. Investment in the country’s untapped ultra-deepwater acreage has also expanded significantly: in June, Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal approved Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) joining ExxonMobil on the TTUD-1 ultra-deepwater block, which was awarded to ExxonMobil in August 2025 and marked the global energy giant’s return to Trinidad and Tobago’s upstream sector after an extended absence.

Progress is also advancing on the Manakin-Cocuina cross-border gas field, shared by Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. NGC recently signed agreements with bpTT to acquire a 20% participating interest in Block 5(b), which holds the Manakin field on Trinidad and Tobago’s side of the maritime border. This progress has been supported by a marked improvement in bilateral relations between Port of Spain and Caracas. On September 3, the two nations announced a new bilateral cooperation roadmap following high-level talks in Caracas, with energy collaboration identified as a top priority. Relations deepened further when Persad-Bissessar met acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez on September 23 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the two leaders agreed to strengthen energy cooperation and advance a joint work agenda. This renewed bilateral relationship is critical for Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to develop shared cross-border resources like Manakin-Cocuina, as well as its long-held goal of accessing gas from Venezuela’s Dragon field. Other major energy sector developments include ongoing progress on Shell’s Manatee project, and bp’s recent acquisition of Woodside’s 70% stake in the Calypso deepwater gas development, which will see bp take over as operator of the project. For 2025, NGC reported an after-tax profit of $3.46 billion, the highest annual after-tax profit the state energy firm has recorded in more than a decade.

Beyond economic and energy progress, Persad-Bissessar is also pushing forward with social policy reforms to address public safety and harmful youth behavior, and has strongly defended recently passed legislation that raises minimum legal age limits for access to alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and gambling. The Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026, which passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday, raises the legal age for purchasing, possessing, and consuming alcohol and tobacco from 18 to 21. It also increases the minimum age for cannabis use and possession, as well as gambling, from 18 to 25, and raises the minimum age for membership in most registered clubs from 21 to 25, with an exception for athletic-focused clubs. People under 25 are also barred from entering most licensed gambling premises, with the exception of race tracks, and age verification will be mandatory for all purchases of regulated products and entry to gambling venues. The bill amends seven existing national laws and introduces stiffer fines and prison sentences for violations.

Persad-Bissessar argued that the new rules are designed to protect young people from addiction, and will ultimately improve their chances of building successful, fulfilling lives. “Some will not and will just set themselves backward. If you think this is restrictive, then you are mistaken. When you fail at life because of addictions and feel that the whole world is closing in on you with nowhere to go, and no idea how to kick the addiction and become depressed or suicidal, then you will know what restrictive is. I did this out of love; some of you may not understand now, but as you get older, you will,” she said. She expressed confidence that most young Trinbagonians will ultimately support the changes.

The Prime Minister launched sharp criticism at the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) for opposing the bill, accusing the party of hypocrisy. She claimed PNM politicians would never allow their own children to access these substances or engage in underage gambling, but actively encourage other people’s children to do so. “Their contributions in Parliament were embarrassing and low-intellect in this debate. None of them would give their children or grandchildren these substances or encourage them to gamble, but out there encouraging other people’s children to participate. They are wicked and hypocritical,” she said. Persad-Bissessar argued that the measures will benefit generations of young Trinbagonians, acknowledging that opposition will persist but framing critics as self-interested parties who stand to lose income or political power from the reform. “As always, some will complain, some will support and some have no clue what what’s going on. The people complaining are those whose business will be affected, those who are politically aligned to the PNM, those who have miserable lives and want our young people to become losers at life like them; and lastly, those who are predators that target our young people,” she added. “The fact is that this legislation, when combined with proper educational programmes on the ill-effects of these substances and gambling, will help protect our young people. Young people who have a good start in life, free from addictions, will always have happier, more successful futures.”

Persad-Bissessar also rejected opposition claims that the government failed to conduct sufficient public consultation on the age limit reforms, pointing out that the policy was explicitly included in the UNC’s election manifesto ahead of the April 28, 2025 general election. “Consultation occurred on April 28, 2025. I campaigned on everything that I am doing. These age increases were in the UNC manifesto,” she stated. She added that she expects the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to enforce the new rules effectively, noting that the service already enforces existing age limits for alcohol and will simply adjust to the new higher threshold. The Prime Minister also pushed back against opposition complaints about parliamentary workload, arguing that PNM lawmakers are overpaid for a light schedule and too lazy to fulfill their elected duties. “They are too lazy. Every month Pennelope Beckles receives $52,000, PNM MPs $23,000 and the Presidents and PNM senators $17,000 to go to Parliament six or eight days a month. They also get tax breaks on vehicles and perks. They just came off two-and-a-half months holiday and are now complaining about the workload. There are people working 22 days a month for much less than these people are earning. They need to stop complaining and do their jobs or leave it and let someone else do it,” she said.

Lawmakers in Trinidad and Tobago have advanced landmark public health and youth protection legislation this week, giving initial approval to the Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026, following a divided vote in the House of Representatives Wednesday. The final vote tally came out 23 in favor to 10 against, with no abstentions, after a full committee stage debate that saw multiple amendments adopted, with further changes already teed up for upcoming consideration.

The core of the proposed regulation centers on mandatory national identification checks for age verification when consumers purchase alcohol and tobacco products, enter gambling facilities, and handle regulated cannabis. Attorney General John Jeremie, who sponsored the bill and closed the opening debate, confirmed that two key amendments will be brought forward in the next stages: one to add vaping products to the list of regulated goods requiring age checks, and another to formalize the mandatory ID requirement across all covered categories.

A defining ideological pillar of the bill is its extension of youth protection beyond the traditional 18-year threshold for legal adulthood. Jeremie argued that legal adulthood at 18 does not automatically grant equal access to all regulated substances and activities, pointing to growing scientific evidence that young people’s biological and psychological development continues through their early 20s, with lasting impacts on decision-making capacity and long-term personal wellness. As such, the bill extends protective safeguards to the “emerging adulthood” demographic spanning ages 18 to 25.

Research cited by the Attorney General confirms that early exposure to alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and unregulated gambling significantly increases an individual’s lifetime risk of dependency. The legislative framework aligns with a regional age standard already adopted across the Caribbean Community (Caricom), drawing on successful policy precedents from other nations. For context, Jeremie noted that Singapore has incrementally raised its minimum legal age for regulated substances to 21, while the United States implemented a federal increase in the minimum sales age for tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21 back in 2019, and maintains a 21-year minimum drinking age. U.S. rules already require retailers to check photo ID for any buyer under 30 attempting to purchase tobacco products, a model that informed Trinidad and Tobago’s proposed ID requirements.

Jeremie also referenced guidance from the Caricom Regional Commission on Marijuana, which explicitly warns against cannabis use before age 24 due to proven risks to long-term memory function and learning ability. Citing 2025 projections from the United Nations Population Fund, roughly 285,000 people – 19% of Trinidad and Tobago’s total estimated population of 1.5 million – fall between the ages of 10 and 24. “We cannot, on this side, sit idly by while nearly one-fifth of our nation’s human capital is compromised,” Jeremie said, framing the bill as a formal commitment “that Trinidad and Tobago will act decisively to protect its young people, to strengthen its communities and to uphold the values of responsibility and care that bind us together as a people.”

The legislation drew sharp criticism of parts of the private sector from government supporters during debate. Defence Minister Wayne Sturge, who announced his support for the bill, accused segments of the local business community of prioritizing short-term profit over the well-being of young Trinidadians and Tobagonians. Sturge claimed that leading business associations “don’t care that they’re destroying young people” and are only focused on expanding their customer base. “They want more customers. That’s what they want,” he said.

Sturge raised urgent alarms about the widespread public health and social damage of substance abuse among the country’s youth, arguing that regulatory intervention is necessary to protect vulnerable populations. “We have to protect the young people from the Chambers of Commerce because all they’re studying about is their right to make money. That’s all well and good, you know, as long as your poison doesn’t affect me. Or as long as your poison doesn’t affect the taxpayer,” he added.

The Defence Minister pointed out that substance abuse is linked to a range of preventable chronic illnesses, which create significant financial and social burdens for both affected families and the state. When individuals become too unwell to work due to dependency, he explained, government and family members are forced to cover the resulting costs of care and support. While he acknowledged that some young people may oppose the new restrictions in the short term, Sturge expressed confidence that the policy will win broad appreciation over time. “This bitter medicine is what many young men and women in my constituency so desperately need,” he said, describing the bill as a “manifestation of parental love” and “tough love” for the nation’s youth.

Wednesday’s debate featured contributions from multiple government ministers, including Minister of Sport Phillip Watts, Social Development Minister Vandana Mohit, Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, and Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath. Members of the Opposition also took part in debate, led by Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, alongside sitting MPs Colm Imbert, Hans des Vignes, Dominic Romain, and Keith Scotland. While the bill has cleared its first major hurdle in the House, details of the final mandatory ID requirements remain unresolved, as the agreed-upon amendments leave open the question of whether all buyers or only age-ambiguous buyers will be required to show identification going forward.

A sweeping new substance regulation law officially cleared Trinidad and Tobago’s Lower House this Wednesday, after heated parliamentary debate that highlighted a growing public health and safety crisis of underage substance abuse across the nation.

Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit, who spearheaded the government’s defense of the bill, opened her remarks by revealing startling data on State-managed interventions for at-risk minors. Currently, 130 children are enrolled in support programs for marijuana misuse, 59 receive assistance for problematic alcohol use, and 38 are being supervised for co-occurring abuse of both substances. Of all minors struggling with addiction, 20 are participants in the specialized Children’s Drug Treatment Court program, all falling between the ages of 14 and 17.

At the core of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026 are key adjustments to legal age limits: the bill raises the minimum legal age for purchasing and consuming alcohol and tobacco from 18 to 21, and pushes the legal age for cannabis use from 18 to 25. Mohit stressed that the legislation also updates the nation’s Children’s Act to strengthen protections for minors, arguing that early exposure to addictive substances creates lifelong harms that anchor cycles of criminality.

To underscore the urgent need for stricter age limits, Mohit shared firsthand case profiles of minors currently receiving State care for addiction and behavioral issues. One case involved a teen with frequent school suspensions, persistent marijuana use, and persistent aggressive, defiant conduct. Another described an adolescent with diagnosed conduct and cocaine use disorders, who experiences regular violent outbursts. Other cases ranged from teen gang affiliation, threats of violence against family members, and charges of property crime like housebreaking and larceny, all tied to underage substance abuse. She also directly linked last week’s violent riot at the National Care and Empowerment Centre (NCEC), a residential treatment facility for young people, to unaddressed substance addiction among residents, framing the unrest as a clear warning of the cost of delayed intervention.

The bill faced pushback during debate from Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, a former education minister and current opposition MP for St Ann’s East, who argued the new age restrictions unfairly target young adults rather than protecting children. Mohit rejected this critique, countering that preventing underage access to addictive substances addresses the root of problems that carry into young adulthood and fuel widespread crime across the country.

Mohit added that the policy has earned backing from key stakeholder groups: segments of the business community, including bar owners, have voiced support, as have psychologists and frontline practitioners working with at-risk youth, including members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and professional social workers. Business leaders, she noted, welcome policies that cut crime and create a more stable operating environment.

Beyond substance regulation, the minister defended the current government’s decision to suspend a slate of youth-focused programs inherited from the previous administration, including the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Military-Led Academic Training Programme (MILAT). She claimed the previous administration left the programs in disarray, with documented cases of misconduct and misappropriation of funds. Many of the programs, she argued, functioned as unmonitored dumping grounds for vulnerable youth with no follow-up support or pathways to stable employment after completion, leaving many teens to fall back into harmful behavior. Inspections of legacy youth facilities under the previous government also found unsanitary conditions, she added, with no alternative housing arranged when inadequate facilities were shuttered. The current suspensions, she said, are part of a necessary review to restructure the programs to deliver tangible benefits for young people.

Under Trinidad and Tobago’s existing framework, children who cannot be controlled by their parents or guardians can be formally designated as Children In Need of Supervision (CHINs) via court order, a classification that can eventually lead to designation as a Child In Conflict with the Law (CCL) if the minor faces criminal charges. The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobato holds responsibility for overseeing these minors and coordinating intervention and treatment services.

In a significant move to strengthen public health protections across Trinidad and Tobago, Attorney General John Jeremie has announced that vaping will be included in a broad new legislative package that tightens age limits for alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and gambling.

Jeremie made this announcement yesterday during the introduction of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026 before the country’s Parliament. He confirmed that targeted amendments will be added to formally integrate vaping regulations into the bill, alongside new requirements for age verification when purchasing tobacco and alcohol, accessing cannabis, and entering gambling facilities.

One of the bill’s most notable provisions is an amendment to the existing Registration of Clubs Act, which would bar individuals under the age of 25 from becoming club members, with the sole exception of athletic-focused clubs. Under the new rules, anyone under 25 would also be prohibited from gambling on club premises.

Jeremie emphasized that all of the bill’s combined provisions work in tandem to advance a cohesive public policy agenda: protecting minors and young adults from preventable health harms, reinforcing existing public health safeguards, and ensuring that legal penalties match the severity of violations of these new rules. He noted that the government views the proposed measures as both necessary and proportionate, aligned with legitimate public health goals that meet the jurisprudential standards set by the nation’s highest court.

To build a robust case for the new restrictions, Jeremie presented a wide range of both international public health data and local demographic statistics to Parliament. He began by outlining the context for alcohol regulation, noting that 2025 United Nations Population Fund estimates place Trinidad and Tobago’s total population at 1.5 million, with roughly 285,000 people — 19% of the total population — falling between the ages of 10 and 24. This age demographic, Jeremie argued, is currently facing a growing convergence of public health threats, including chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and rising rates of mental health struggles.

“We cannot, on this side, sit idly by while nearly one-fifth of our nation’s human capital is compromised,” Jeremie told lawmakers.

He referenced the World Health Organisation’s June 2024 Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, which found that 22% of 15 to 19-year-olds globally consumed alcohol in 2019. That same year, alcohol consumption was linked to 2.6 million deaths worldwide — accounting for 4.7% of all global fatalities that year. The WHO report also estimated that 400 million people aged 15 and older live with alcohol-use disorders, and 209 million struggle with alcohol dependence. Of the alcohol-linked deaths, 724,000 were caused by injuries including road traffic crashes, self-harm, and interpersonal violence, with 13% of all alcohol-attributable deaths occurring among adults aged 20 to 39 — the highest share of any age group.

Jeremie stressed that the harms of excessive alcohol consumption extend far beyond the people who consume it. Approximately 298,000 people die annually in alcohol-related road crashes, and more than half of those deaths — 156,000 — are caused by the impaired driving of another person. He also cited Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) data showing that NCDs accounted for 82.7% of all deaths in Trinidad and Tobago in 2019. While Jeremie clarified that alcohol is not the sole cause of the country’s NCD burden, he noted that both the WHO and PAHO have confirmed causal links between alcohol consumption and the development of NCDs. PAHO’s 2024 STEPS Survey, which polled 4,052 adults aged 18 to 69, found that national alcohol consumption has risen from 40.6% of the population in 2011 to 51.5% in 2024. Among 18 to 44-year-olds, 28.4% have three or more separate risk factors for developing NCDs.

Turning to tobacco regulation, Jeremie argued that the evidence supporting stronger age-based restrictions is incontrovertible. Citing research from the American Cancer Society, he explained that nicotine addiction is uniquely dangerous for younger people because their brains are still developing, leaving them far more susceptible to long-term dependence. Research confirms that current smokers are three times more likely to die from cancer than people who have never smoked, and people who start smoking as minors face a dramatically elevated risk of cancer death compared to those who start later in life — even though starting at age 21 or older does not eliminate all health risks.

Jeremie pointed to the United Kingdom’s recent groundbreaking tobacco policy as a model for this kind of preventive regulation. In late April, the UK enacted legislation banning the sale of all tobacco products, herbal smoking products, and cigarette papers to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, across all four of its constituent nations. “In effect, what they have done is to legislate for the creation of a smoke-free generation. It ensures that in a very short period of time, the UK is going to be smoke-free,” Jeremie noted.

For cannabis, Jeremie argued that a similarly careful, targeted approach is needed given its unique impacts on developing brains. He recalled that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) established a Regional Commission on Marijuana in 2014 to study the social, economic, health, and legal impacts of cannabis use and explore potential regulatory reforms. The commission found that the average age of first cannabis use across the Caribbean is approximately 13 years old, a time when the adolescent brain is undergoing critical developmental changes that make it uniquely vulnerable to the drug’s effects. Caricom heads of government have formally concluded that cannabis use before the age of 24 is not recommended, due to proven negative impacts on memory, learning, and attention, as well as an increased risk of early-onset psychosis.

Finally, Jeremie addressed gambling, which he categorized as a distinct form of harm because unlike alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis, it does not involve consuming a substance, but harmful gambling habits can still leave severe, long-lasting social scars. Citing a December 2024 WHO fact sheet, he explained that problem gambling can lead to crippling financial stress, relationship breakdown, family violence, mental illness, and even suicide. The WHO has also warned that the harms of problem gambling can persist across an individual’s entire lifetime and even be passed down to future generations.

A controversial proposal to impose maximum $50,000 fines on children over the age of 10 found in prohibited circumstances involving alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and dangerous drugs has sparked fierce pushback from opposition lawmakers in Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament, with critics arguing that vulnerable minors in these situations should be categorized as victims of harm rather than criminal offenders.

The debate over the measure unfolded during parliamentary discussions on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Alcohol, Cannabis, Dangerous Drugs, Gambling and Tobacco) Bill, 2026, when Hans Des Vignes, opposition Member of Parliament for Diego Martin West, laid out a series of pointed concerns about the planned amendment to Section 38 of the nation’s Children Act. Under the revised language, children aged 10 and older found in the specified prohibited circumstances would be formally charged with a criminal offense, and could receive the $50,000 fine if convicted through a summary proceeding.

Des Vignes raised a fundamental practical question: how could a child between 10 and 14 years old ever be expected to pay a fine of that magnitude. “A ten-year-old does not have $50,000,” he emphasized to the chamber. He argued that the proposed framework incorrectly frames at-risk children as criminals, when their situations actually point to unmet protection needs that the state should address, rather than punishment. He challenged the ethical and legal foundation of the policy, asking, “does this violate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the legal principle of due process and basic decency for us as a society to criminalise a child, ten, 11, 12, 13, 14. $50,000?”

Additional criticism targeted a provision in the proposed Section 38 C2 that would allow authorities to issue the fine without requiring a parent or legal guardian to be present during the process, a rule that Des Vignes argued further undermines minor’s legal protections.

Notably, the opposition MP expressed clear support for one core component of the government’s bill: stiffer penalties for adult offenders who involve children in the drug and alcohol trade. The legislation outlines significant increases to penalties for adults who expose minors to dangerous drugs: under Section 35, the maximum penalty will jump from 27 months imprisonment to a combined $3 million fine and 15 years prison time, while penalties rise to $5 million and 30 years imprisonment in cases where the child suffers harm. The bill also increases penalties for adults who supply drugs to minors, or recruit children to sell, purchase or transport controlled substances.

Des Vignes acknowledged the logic behind harsher penalties for offending adults, stating “those criminals that use young people in this way should be penalised harshly.” Even so, he cast doubt on whether the steep penalty increases will actually serve as an effective deterrent for illegal activity in high-risk communities, asking “Even these increases sometimes, the question is, are they really deterrents in communities?”

Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles echoed these concerns, specifically calling out the proposed $50,000 fine for minors found with alcohol, and questioned the government’s underlying motivation for the policy. Speaking to reporters outside the parliamentary chamber after the debate, she challenged, “Are they serious? Is this a revenue-generating measure?”

Beckles noted that this proposed fine hike comes as part of a broader series of penalty increases rolled out by the current government, and connected the move to a previous budget statement from Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, who announced the government aimed to raise $1 billion in new tax revenue last year. She asked, “Is it revenue generation, or is it that you genuinely care about social issues and young people?”

She slammed the proposed measure as overtly punitive, adding that the government failed to conduct meaningful public or stakeholder consultation before drafting the policy. She described the legislation as “another piece of legislation by vaps,” criticizing the government’s rushed, unplanned approach to lawmaking.

A contentious parliamentary vote has cleared the way for two senior temporary police appointments in Trinidad and Tobago, after the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) pushed back against the nominations, centered on a decades-old disciplinary ruling against one of the candidates.

The dispute unfolded this week when Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander tabled two motions before the House, seeking legislative approval for President-endorsed nominations from the Police Service Commission (PolSC). Under the proposal, Junior Benjamin would serve as acting Commissioner of Police, while Anand Ramesar, currently an Assistant Commissioner of Police, would step in as acting Deputy Commissioner. The temporary arrangement is designed to cover the official travel of incumbent Commissioner Allister Guevarro, who is scheduled to attend the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s annual conference and trade exposition in Orlando, Florida, from October 22 to 28.

Despite unified opposition from the PNM, the government’s parliamentary majority carried both motions, with 23 government-aligned MPs voting in favor and 8 opposition members voting against.

Opposition MP and former police officer Marvin Gonzales led the push against Ramesar’s nomination, raising pointed questions about the candidate’s 11-year-old internal disciplinary record. Gonzales told the chamber that opposition researchers had uncovered a 2012 Daily Express report documenting a 2011 disciplinary tribunal ruling that found Ramesar guilty of professional misconduct. The case stemmed from an incident at Tobago’s Scarborough Magistrates’ Court, where Ramesar provided unauthorized legal representation to a fellow police officer facing public misconduct charges connected to the illegal rental of his service weapon. The tribunal ultimately ordered a salary deduction equivalent to 36 days’ pay as punishment.

Gonzales further cited additional reporting showing Ramesar chose not to appeal the guilty verdict, despite disagreeing with it, to avoid delaying his promotion from sergeant to inspector. “So he accepted the punishment,” Gonzales told the House, adding that he could not rule out the possibility that Minister Alexander was aware of this critical background but chose not to disclose it to parliament.

Alexander launched a sharp defense of both nominees and pushed back against Gonzales’ line of questioning, dismissing the opposition’s criticisms as a fruitless search for scandal that he dubbed “Scooby-Doo tactics.” “It seems like the member for Arouca/Lopinot came here with a kind of Scooby-Doo tactics and looking for clues because he had none at all,” Alexander said.

The minister, who also targeted Gonzales for misunderstanding the inner workings of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), noted that PolSC had already vetted all candidates for the acting positions through a structured interview process, and Ramesar had ranked high enough on the merit-based list to earn the nomination. Alexander emphasized that Ramesar has already advanced to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, and described the decades-old infraction as a “very minor” offense that does not bar officers from promotion within the TTPS. He also reaffirmed full confidence in both Benjamin and Ramesar, pointing to falling national crime rates under the TTPS’s current leadership as evidence of effective command.

The debate boiled over into personal tension when Alexander responded to Gonzales’ comment that he had passed every polygraph examination during his police career by posing a provocative question: “Would you subject yourself to one today? If I was to polygraph you and ask you if you want to be the leader of the opposition?” The Speaker of the House rebuked Alexander for the personal jab, prompting the minister to issue a formal apology. Despite the heated exchange, the government moved forward with the vote, securing final approval for the temporary appointments.