标签： Trinidad and Tobago

A disturbing incident of school violence at Sangre Grande Secondary School has left a Form Two student severely traumatized and fearful of returning to the classroom. The attack, which occurred on November 19, was captured on video by fellow students and later circulated on social media. The footage shows the victim being assaulted by another female student, with the altercation escalating when a male student hurled a metal chair across the room, striking the aggressor. The victim, who sustained a head injury, was subsequently stomped on and hit with the chair. She was rushed to Sangre Grande Hospital for treatment and has not attended school since the incident. An official from the school expressed deep concern over the event, stating that the presence of two police officers on campus did not prevent the violence. The official attributed the unruly behavior to a lack of parental guidance, noting that some parents tend to side with their children during disciplinary meetings. The incident reportedly began when the victim refused to give money to a male student, prompting his girlfriend and her friends to confront and attack her. Despite police intervention, the assailants appeared indifferent to the consequences of their actions. This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence in Sangre Grande schools, which has led to increased police patrols and officers stationed on school grounds. DCP Junior Benjamin acknowledged the challenges but emphasized that the initiative to place officers in schools has led to a reduction in violence overall. He called for a collective effort from families, religious institutions, and schools to address the root causes of such behavior and foster positive change among students.

In a heart-wrenching incident that has left the community of Siparia in shock, UNC councillor Romona Victor and her common-law husband Rodney Ramsumair were found dead in their home on Sunday. The police have classified the case as a murder-suicide, with Ramsumair allegedly killing Victor before taking his own life. The discovery was made by Victor’s father, Francis Victor, who described the scene as harrowing and deeply traumatic. Francis revealed that he had long feared for his daughter’s safety due to the volatile nature of her relationship with Ramsumair, which had been marked by frequent conflicts and reconciliations. Romona, known for her dedication to her constituents, had a private life fraught with challenges. Autopsies confirmed that she died from blunt force trauma to the neck, while Ramsumair succumbed to poisoning. The tragedy has prompted condolences from political leaders, including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles. Ramsumair’s father has proposed a joint funeral, though the Victor family has yet to decide on the matter. The incident underscores the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the urgent need for intervention in troubled relationships.

The families of UNC councillor Romona Victor and her husband Rodney Ramsumair, who were tragically found dead in their Siparia home, have appealed to the public to refrain from speculating about the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The couple was discovered by Victor’s father on November 23 around 3:30 pm at their residence on Coora Road. Upon entering, he found their decomposing bodies lying motionless on a bed and immediately alerted his other daughter, who subsequently contacted the police. Officers arrived to find Victor covered with a blanket and Ramsumair lying beside her with froth on his face. Speaking to Newsday at the Forensic Science Centre in St. James on November 24, Ramsumair’s father expressed the family’s confusion and distress, stating, ‘We don’t know exactly what happened or how it reached to that.’ He acknowledged that while the couple had occasional disagreements, there was no indication of anything as extreme as the speculated murder-suicide. He emphasized that both families remain united and urged the public to cease spreading unverified theories, particularly on social media, as it exacerbates their grief. ‘People saying all kinds of things and posting things all over social media. They need to stop that because they don’t know what happened either for sure,’ he said. The families are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death.

The nation of Trinidad and Tobago is reeling from the tragic deaths of UNC Siparia East/San Francique South councillor Romona Victor and her husband, Rodney Ramsumair, whose bodies were discovered on November 23 at Coora Road, Siparia. The incident has prompted an outpouring of grief and calls for urgent action against domestic violence. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, also the UNC political leader, expressed profound sorrow in a Facebook post, describing Victor as a dedicated and compassionate public servant who tirelessly served her community. She emphasized the need for support systems to help those facing personal struggles. Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles echoed these sentiments, stressing that the tragedy transcends political affiliations and calls for a unified national response. Beckles highlighted the urgent need to strengthen legal frameworks, enhance gender-based violence units, and improve police sensitivity and victim support services. She also noted the poignant timing of the incident, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on November 25. Patriotic Front leader Mickela Panday also expressed her condolences, urging humanity to take precedence over politics in such moments of shared grief.

The College of Science, Technology, and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (Costaatt) marked its 25th anniversary with a vibrant graduation ceremony on November 22 at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya. The event highlighted exceptional achievements across diverse fields, including graphic design, mass communication, accounting, and radiography. Among the standout graduates was Zoe Laydoo, who earned her BA in Mass Communication with an impressive GPA of 3.963 and delivered a heartfelt valedictorian speech. Laydoo emphasized the power of storytelling in fostering human connections and paid tribute to her peers who balanced work, family, and studies to achieve their degrees. Shakira Jones graduated magna cum laude in Accounting, while Niema Rahaman, Kareena Rampersad, and Travis Ali shared the Wilma Collins Award of Excellence in Radiography. Leah Hanley received the Academic Excellence Award in Library and Information Studies. The ceremony also commemorated Costaatt’s institutional accreditation milestone in 2010 and featured reflections from Aventa Group CEO James Walker, who encouraged graduates to embrace confidence, critical thinking, and perseverance. Minister of Tertiary Education Senator Prakash Persad highlighted the challenges and opportunities posed by AI and climate change, urging students to remain resilient. Acting President Naseem Koylass praised the graduates’ determination and announced the new Dr Gillian Paul Award for Academic Excellence and Community Service. The event concluded with the conferral of degrees across multiple disciplines and the presentation of the Partnership Award to Republic Bank and the National Petroleum Institute of TT for their support in Costaatt’s cashless initiative.

In a dynamic display of youthful insight and advocacy, 36 participants from secondary schools, youth organizations, and tertiary institutions across Trinidad and Tobago gathered at the Red House on November 24 for the 22nd annual Youth Parliament debate. The focal point of the event was a proposed Cyberbullying bill, which aims to address the escalating issue of online harassment through a structured two-tiered offence system. The bill includes provisions for threats of violence, sexual harm, targeting children, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and impersonation. Penalties proposed range from mandatory counseling and community service to fines of up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to five years. Additionally, the bill introduces a takedown provision, empowering law enforcement to seek court orders for the removal of harmful content or its preservation as evidence in legal proceedings. Kachay Marcano, a Polytechnic Institute student and ‘opposition leader’ in the debate, emphasized the urgency of enacting legislation to combat the pervasive impact of cyberbullying, citing the rapid dissemination of harmful content on social media. She highlighted the dehumanizing effects of such actions, urging the government to balance freedom of expression with the right to safety and dignity. Johann George of Milat, representing the opposition, underscored the severe mental health consequences of cyberbullying, referencing alarming statistics from the Journal of the American Medical Association that link cyberbullying victims to a 50% higher likelihood of suicidal thoughts. On the government side, Zyane Bissoon of the Trinidad Youth Council acknowledged the existing framework to combat cybercrime, including the 2011 Data Protection Act and the efforts of the cybercrime unit since 2019. Delano Joefield of the Tobago Youth Council highlighted recent amendments to the Sexual Offences Act and the Offences Against the Person Act, which now criminalize voyeurism and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Despite differing perspectives, the debate underscored the need for updated legislation to address the evolving digital landscape. Speaker of the House Jagdeo Singh praised the participants for their leadership and commitment, expressing confidence in the future of Trinidad and Tobago’s democracy.