Carib Scope

标签： Trinidad and Tobago

特立尼达和多巴哥

  • TTUTA: Schools must be safe zone

    TTUTA: Schools must be safe zone

    The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) has issued a strong condemnation of all sexual misconduct by educators against students, emphasizing that schools must remain secure environments for children. This declaration came in response to disturbing findings published in the 2024 Teaching Service Commission (TSC) annual report, which documented 16 separate allegations involving five different teachers across the nation’s educational system.

    According to the TSC report, which prompted Newsday’s December 18 investigation titled “Probe into touchy teachers,” the allegations reveal a troubling pattern of misconduct. One primary school teacher faced five distinct abuse allegations, while another primary educator was accused in two separate cases, and a third faced one allegation of sexual misconduct. At the secondary level, one teacher was implicated in a single case, while another secondary educator confronted four separate misconduct matters. The report did not clarify whether multiple allegations against individual teachers involved repeated abuse of single victims or multiple victims.

    TTUTA President Crystal Ashe articulated the union’s position, stating, “Our schools are and should always be safe zones for all who occupy them, including students.” While acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations, the teachers’ association refrained from commenting on specific cases currently under review by the TSC. The union emphasized its confidence in existing legal mechanisms and the collaborative efforts between the Teaching Service Commission and the Ministry of Education to properly address such incidents.

    The association has urged all TSC members to strictly comply with legal requirements, particularly emphasizing the thorough and timely reporting of all sexual misconduct cases. “Our students are our future leaders,” the statement concluded, “and we all should work together to keep them safe.” Notably, none of the five accused teachers have faced criminal proceedings to date, with all matters remaining within the TSC’s administrative jurisdiction.

  • Beckles: PM behaving like a dictator

    Beckles: PM behaving like a dictator

    Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape is embroiled in a heated controversy surrounding the undisclosed establishment of US military infrastructure on sovereign soil. Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has launched scathing criticisms against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, accusing her of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies through evasive responses regarding American military presence in Tobago.

    The core of the dispute centers on a sophisticated G/ATOR radar system developed by Northrop Grumman, a prominent US defense contractor specializing in advanced military technology including stealth aircraft and unmanned drones. This multi-role detection system, capable of identifying aerial threats from missiles to drones, became operational at the ANR Robinson International Airport in November alongside supporting US Marine facilities.

    Beckles, who also serves as Political Leader of the People’s National Movement, condemned the Prime Minister’s dismissive attitude toward legitimate public inquiries. During a December 21 press engagement, Persad-Bissessar exhibited visible irritation when questioned about the military infrastructure, characterizing these national security concerns as ‘nonsense’ and a waste of her time.

    The Opposition Leader highlighted concerning inconsistencies in the government’s narrative, noting that Tobagonian leadership including Chief Secretary Farley Augustine maintained no prior knowledge or consultation regarding the military installation. This lack of transparency extends to the National Security Council, where key regional representatives claim exclusion from critical decision-making processes.

    Beckles, drawing from her diplomatic experience as Trinidad’s former UN ambassador, emphasized the fundamental principles of international law and CARICOM solidarity that previous administrations had consistently upheld. She expressed grave concerns about the Prime Minister’s simultaneous defense of US military actions while criticizing regional partners for questioning these developments.

    The escalating confrontation underscores deeper tensions regarding national sovereignty, governmental accountability, and the proper channels for democratic oversight. Beckles reiterated that no elected leader stands above public scrutiny, emphasizing that transparency remains non-negotiable when concerning matters of national security and international military cooperation.

  • Laventille family’s Christmas hope ends in tragedy

    Laventille family’s Christmas hope ends in tragedy

    A Laventille family’s hopes for a Christmas reunion were shattered when search teams recovered the body of 25-year-old MTS Security officer Jamal Brandon Jessop from a swampy area near the WASA facility at Beetham Gardens on December 22. The discovery concluded an intensive two-day search operation involving multiple law enforcement and rescue organizations.

    Jessop, described as a muscular black male standing approximately six feet tall with a bald head and distinctive goatee, was reported missing by his mother Sherry-Ann Jessop on December 20. According to police reports, the young security officer had last been seen at the family home in Eastern Quarry, Laventille, where he shared lunch before departing unexpectedly—behavior his mother noted was highly uncharacteristic.

    The search gained urgency when Sherry-Ann received disturbing information on December 21 suggesting her son had been fatally shot during an altercation in Beetham Gardens. The tipsters, whose identities she protected citing safety concerns, indicated the incident occurred between 2 am and 6 am, with Jessop’s body allegedly discarded in either the Sea Lots swamp or near the WASA pump station along the Beetham Highway.

    Vallence Rambharat of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team coordinated with police to comb the challenging terrain, though initial efforts were suspended due to poor lighting and dense vegetation. The operation resumed at dawn on December 22 with support from the Police K9 Unit, Air Support, and multiple divisions, ultimately leading to the grim discovery beneath a bridge where spent shell casings were reportedly found nearby.

    Social media footage captured the heartrending scene as Jessop’s mother and relatives gathered while recovery teams worked. The deceased, who had been receiving outpatient mental health treatment at St Ann’s Hospital, was identified by his chest tattoo bearing the surname “Jessop.”

    The Anti-Kidnapping and Homicide Bureau has assumed investigation into the case. In separate but geographically proximate incidents, police are investigating another suspected homicide in Beetham Gardens where an unidentified African male was found shot execution-style, plus a shooting in Morvant that left a 21-year-old man wounded but stable at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

  • Couva police spread Christmas cheer

    Couva police spread Christmas cheer

    The Inshan Ali Promenade in Couva became a vibrant hub of seasonal joy on December 19th as the Couva Police Station Community Council (CPSCC) hosted its Christmas on the Promenade celebration. This heartwarming event successfully united approximately 300 residents from Couva and surrounding neighborhoods for an evening dedicated to festive harmony, cultural performances, and community bonding.

    Embracing the council’s foundational theme of ‘one district, one family,’ the festivities featured an array of engaging activities. Approximately 130 children experienced the magic of Christmas firsthand, receiving personalized gifts that sparked widespread delight. The program showcased inspirational addresses from police leadership, including Council Chairman Inspector Khan of the Couva Police Station.

    Cultural enrichment formed the cornerstone of the evening with captivating performances by Levantamientos Parang Group, the Couva Anglican Primary School Steel Orchestra, and the Dow Village Dance Group. Young talents including Ella Isaac, Siarah Mohammed, and Brandon Khan delivered memorable musical presentations, while DJ Zion Child provided rhythmic entertainment. The event was skillfully hosted by CPSCC President Bishop Ezekiel Clarke, who also debuted his original community anthem titled ‘Peace and Love.’

    This successful initiative originated from Bishop Clarke’s visionary leadership and was executed by the council’s event planning committee under Vice President Miguel Charles. The celebration represented a significant expansion of the CPSCC’s ongoing outreach programs throughout the central region.

    The council extended profound gratitude to its sponsors and community partners whose support was instrumental to the event’s success, including R&R Trading, Couva Glass, Kayvanic Logistics, NB Environmental Services, and the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation.

  • New life for Christmas Oye

    New life for Christmas Oye

    A Trinidadian musical collaboration has experienced an extraordinary revival as the rapso parang track ‘Christmas Oye’ surges in popularity nearly a decade after its initial creation. The festive composition, born from the creative alliance of Jason ‘Fridge’ Seecharan (formerly of H2O Phlo) and Wade ‘Tim Starr’ Christian (ex-Spotrushaz), with production by Jayron ‘Rawkus’ Remy, has found renewed relevance through a recently launched music video.

    The project originated when Remy shared unfinished Christmas rhythms with Tim Starr, who immediately recognized their potential. Seecharan, then frequently requested for Christmas cover performances, collaborated with Starr to develop authentic lyrics that resonated with Trinidadian holiday traditions. The resulting composition blended contemporary rapso elements with classic parang influences, creating a uniquely local soundscape.

    Despite limited radio play upon its 2016 release, the track maintained underground popularity through live performances. The breakthrough came in October 2024 when Tim Starr orchestrated an impromptu video shoot at Adam Smith Square in Woodbrook. Utilizing only his smartphone, Starr captured authentic moments of community celebration, supplemented by contributed footage from various artists and personalities including Roland ‘RemBunction’ Yearwood, Marcus Braveboy, and radio icon Allan Diaz.

    The video’s organic production approach perfectly complemented the song’s themes of familial bonding and culinary traditions referenced in lyrics describing sorrel, fruitcake, pastelles, and homemade wine. This authenticity has struck a chord with audiences, generating unexpected viral engagement across social platforms.

    For the creators, this belated success demonstrates music’s timeless quality. Remy reflects: ‘Music doesn’t expire. Sometimes it simply awaits the right moment for audience reception.’ The resurgence has prompted the artists to reconsider their archive of unreleased material, recognizing that digital platforms enable perpetual discovery beyond traditional radio cycles.

    The phenomenon underscores how cultural artifacts can find their audience through persistent curation and adapted presentation methods, proving that artistic merit sometimes requires patience before receiving its deserved recognition.

  • JCC warns: Caricom indispensable to Trinidad and Tobago economy

    JCC warns: Caricom indispensable to Trinidad and Tobago economy

    A significant diplomatic and economic debate has emerged in Trinidad and Tobago regarding the country’s relationship with the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry (JCC) has issued a strong warning that the Caricom market remains indispensable for TT’s economic stability and diversification efforts.

    JCC President Fazir Khan emphasized in a December 23 media release that Trinidad and Tobago must reject any notion of prospering without Caricom’s support. This statement came in response to recent criticisms from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who characterized Caricom as fractured and an ‘unreliable partner’ while indicating TT’s pursuit of partnerships beyond the region.

    The Prime Minister had previously asserted that Caricom members had supported Venezuela against the United States in the latter’s anti-drug trafficking initiatives, specifically mentioning that Antiguans were ‘bad-mouthing’ the US, resulting in additional visa restrictions for that country.

    In a counter-argument, Gaston Browne responded via Facebook on December 21, challenging the characterization of Caricom as unreliable. He highlighted that Caricom represents TT’s second-largest export market after the United States, with substantial economic benefits. ‘In 2024 alone,’ Browne noted, ‘TT earned more than US $1.1 billion in foreign exchange from trade with Caricom, comprising approximately US $784.7 million in domestic exports and US $501.3 million in re-exports to Caricom states.’

    Khan supported this perspective, indicating that Caricom accounts for roughly ten percent of all global exports from Trinidad and Tobago and an even more significant portion of non-energy exports. Excluding petroleum and petroleum products, exports to Caricom reached over US$560 million in a recent benchmark year, representing approximately one quarter of all intra-regional exports—the largest share held by any member state.

    For the domestic construction industry, this regional demand translates into critical employment opportunities for technicians, engineers, contractors, and professional consultants who would otherwise face limitations within the local market. Khan warned that any disruption to this relationship could result in hundreds of millions of US dollars in potential annual export losses, particularly affecting non-energy sectors that are still establishing themselves in extra-regional markets.

    When questioned on December 22 about whether withdrawal from Caricom was under consideration by herself or the Cabinet, Persad-Bissessar stated, ‘Withdrawal from Caricom has not been discussed by Cabinet.’ She additionally expressed that she was not concerned about any economic impact resulting from the current Caricom divide.

  • Central defender Kobi Henry signs two-year deal with Real Salt Lake

    Central defender Kobi Henry signs two-year deal with Real Salt Lake

    Trinidad and Tobago international defender Kobi Henry has finalized a permanent transfer to Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake, signing a two-year contract with an option for extension through December 2027. The 21-year-old center back previously spent the 2025 season on loan from French Ligue 2 club Stade de Reims, ultimately convincing the Utah-based franchise to make the move permanent.

    Henry’s initial loan spell encountered early challenges when a hamstring injury limited his first-team appearances to just five matches. Despite this setback, the Florida-born defender demonstrated resilience by completing 14 appearances for Real Monarchs, Salt Lake’s MLS Next Pro affiliate team. His pre-injury performance included two Concacaf Champions Cup appearances against Costa Rican champions CS Herediano in February.

    The towering defender quickly established himself as a key component of Trinidad and Tobago’s national team setup under coach Dwight Yorke, featuring in all six matches during the final round of FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification. Though Trinidad’s qualification campaign ultimately proved unsuccessful, Henry emerged as a fan favorite while showcasing unexpected offensive prowess—scoring crucial goals against Bermuda in both home and away fixtures.

    Real Salt Lake’s sporting director Kurt Schmid expressed enthusiasm about the permanent acquisition, noting: ‘Kobi’s foundational development during 2025 paid dividends late in the season. His abilities on the backline in multiple defensive setups will provide great competition within our roster.’

    Henry conveyed his excitement about the permanent move, stating: ‘I’m extremely excited to be signing permanently with RSL. Last season on loan taught me a lot and I feel ready to make the next step. I’ve been working hard this off-season and can’t wait to help our team enjoy a successful season.’

    Prior to his MLS move, Henry gained experience through 21 appearances for Stade Reims’ B team and 15 matches during a loan spell with FC Villefranche, demonstrating his adaptability across different competitive environments.

  • Padarath: Let Rowley stay in retirement

    Padarath: Let Rowley stay in retirement

    A significant diplomatic controversy has erupted within Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape, pitting current government officials against former leadership over fundamental foreign policy directions. Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has openly advised former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to remain in retirement while vigorously defending Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s controversial ‘TT First’ approach to regional affairs.

    The political confrontation stems from Persad-Bissessar’s recent criticism of CARICOM (Caribbean Community), which she characterized as an ‘unreliable partner’ suffering from ‘dysfunctional and self-destructive’ tendencies. During a December 20 address, the Prime Minister elaborated that beneath the surface unity of the regional bloc lie ‘many widening fissures’ that threaten its stability. She specifically cited poor management, lax accountability, factional divisions, and inappropriate meddling in member states’ domestic politics as contributing factors to the organization’s rapid deterioration.

    These comments emerged following CARICOM leaders’ collective response to recent US immigration restrictions affecting citizens from Haiti, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda. The regional body, now operating as the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government, had called for renewed engagement between member states and the United States.

    Rowley responded with intense criticism through a Facebook statement on December 21, accusing Persad-Bissessar of demonstrating ‘subservience to the US’ and engaging in ‘the most unpatriotic and recklessly incompetent’ leadership he had witnessed in his lifetime. The former Prime Minister asserted that reducing Trinidad and Tobago to a ‘vassal state’ that takes ‘secret instructions from another country’ effectively negates the nation’s constitutional sovereignty and fundamental right to independent decision-making.

    In his retaliatory statement, Padarath dismissed Rowley’s decade-long premiership as ineffective and contrasted it with what he described as Persad-Bissessar’s ‘bold leadership, courageous decisions and strategic alliances.’ The Minister emphasized that the current administration refuses to ignore regional challenges including gun trafficking, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, while simultaneously avoiding coddling ‘tyranny and despotism.’

    The government’s position maintains that regional solidarity should not rely on utopian fantasies of the Caribbean as a ‘zone of peace,’ but rather confront harsh realities through decisive action. Padarath concluded that the Prime Minister is ‘redefining TT’s foreign policy’ to deliver tangible benefits in national and economic security, fully aligning with the administration’s ‘TT first’ doctrine.

  • Chase: First-innings batting failures cost Windies Test series loss

    Chase: First-innings batting failures cost Windies Test series loss

    West Indies Test captain Roston Chase has pinpointed consistent first-innings batting failures as the decisive element behind his team’s 2-0 Test series defeat against New Zealand, concluding a grueling multi-format tour in 2025. This assessment came following a comprehensive loss in the final Test at Mount Maunganui on December 22, which sealed a dismal overseas campaign that saw the Caribbean side fail to secure a single victory across all formats.

    Chase emphasized that establishing a strong first-innings total, ideally around the 300-run mark, is fundamental to controlling a Test match and pursuing a favorable outcome. He confirmed that early batting inconsistencies have been a persistent issue for the squad, one that proved exceedingly costly throughout the tour. The team’s struggles were starkly evident in the final Test, where a monumental 323-run opening partnership from New Zealand’s Devon Conway (227) and captain Tom Latham (137) led to a commanding host declaration at 575/8. Although the West Indies mounted a stern reply with 420 runs, a subsequent second-innings collapse for 138 all out confirmed a heavy defeat.

    The skipper expressed visible disappointment, particularly as the defeat extended the West Indies’ winless streak in New Zealand since 1995. He admitted the pitch’s rapid deterioration, with developing cracks and unpredictable bounce, presented an unexpected challenge for his batsmen. While defending his bowling unit’s effort amidst injury concerns, Chase was unequivocal that batting remained the central weakness, despite being encouraged by three centuries scored in the series, including a brilliant unbeaten 202 from Justin Greaves and 140 from Shai Hope in Christchurch.

    On a personal note, Chase was self-critical, labeling his own performance with a highest score of 29 as ‘very below par’ and admitting he failed to lead from the front. Looking ahead, he stated that addressing these deficiencies is non-negotiable for both himself and the team to compete more consistently on the international stage. He also praised New Zealand’s standout performers, including Jacob Duffy’s bowling effectiveness and the dominance of Conway and Latham, while paying tribute to the exceptional career of Kane Williamson.

  • Calls for TTEC New East Side to be disqualified from small band finals

    Calls for TTEC New East Side to be disqualified from small band finals

    A significant controversy has erupted following the December 20 Panorama small conventional band semifinals, with mounting calls for the disqualification of TTEC New East Side Dimension. The Tobago-based steelband failed to perform in its originally drawn position of number five due to severe travel and accommodation complications, eventually taking the stage in position nineteen instead.

    Arranger Kersh Ramsey detailed to Newsday on December 21 the extraordinary logistical challenges that plagued the band’s journey from Tobago to Trinidad. These included critical transportation failures, accommodation breakdowns, and personal baggage delays that left musicians without basic necessities and unable to practice for the prestigious competition.

    The situation has drawn comparisons to previous Panorama incidents where strict enforcement of performance order rules led to disqualifications. Critics specifically reference Valley Harps’ elimination from medium band semifinals for technical difficulties and NLCB Fonclaire’s exclusion from a Panorama final after delayed instrument arrival. Some commentators have alleged preferential treatment, noting Ramsey’s familial connection to Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore, though these claims remain unsubstantiated.

    Despite the controversy and significant competitive disadvantages, TTEC New East Side Dimension achieved a remarkable fourth-place finish with 272 points for their arrangement of Sparrow’s ‘Water de Garden,’ maintaining their preliminary round ranking. The band has secured advancement to the finals scheduled for January 10, 2026, at Skinner Park in San Fernando.

    The semifinal competition at Victoria Square, Port of Spain, saw Southern Stars Steel Orchestra (D’South Band) and Uptown Fascinators Steel Orchestra maintaining their leadership positions. Defending champions Golden Hands Steel Orchestra dramatically improved their standing from seventh to third place. Due to multiple scoring ties, sixteen bands instead of the planned fourteen will progress to the finals, including three-way ties for seventh and thirteenth places among several accomplished ensembles.

    Ramsey has indicated that comprehensive arrangements are being implemented to prevent recurrence of the logistical issues, allowing the band to focus entirely on their championship aspirations in the upcoming finals.