Carib Scope

标签： Trinidad and Tobago

特立尼达和多巴哥

  • Nurses association: Wage negotiations must resume amid Couva hospital reopening

    Nurses association: Wage negotiations must resume amid Couva hospital reopening

    The Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) has intensified pressure on the government to resolve long-standing wage negotiations, simultaneously criticizing the controversial commencement of adult surgeries at Couva Children’s Hospital on November 28. This development occurs despite previous objections from nursing professionals regarding staff and resource limitations at the facility.

    TTRNA President Idi Stuart contends that the government’s financial capacity to refurbish and operationalize the hospital for the third time demonstrates available funds that should rightfully address nursing compensation. Wage discussions have remained stagnant since 2013, creating significant dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals.

    According to Stuart, the initial operational phase has encountered substantial challenges. Specialized surgical nursing staff are being transferred from Point Fortin Hospital and San Fernando General Hospital to support the new facility, potentially compromising patient care at existing institutions. Additionally, reassigned nurses report excessive working hours without adequate breaks or meal periods.

    Stuart further alleges that medical consumables are being diverted from other healthcare facilities to equip Couva Hospital, raising concerns about resource allocation across the public health system. The TTRNA has actively advised its members through social media to formally document overtime hours and seek written reassignment instructions, highlighting administrative uncertainties regarding regional health authority jurisdiction.

    The hospital’s history reflects political complexities. Originally commissioned in 2015 under Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration, it was subsequently transferred to North Central Regional Health Authority management. Persad-Bissessar, now returned to power, had previously criticized the government for failing to fully operationalize the facility during her opposition period.

    Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe maintains that the hospital’s operationalization aligns with the Prime Minister’s mandate, emphasizing the ministry’s commitment to a coordinated transition as additional services become available. Newsday reports that ministerial response to the TTRNA’s allegations remained unavailable at publication time.

  • PNM’s Keigon Denoon jumps ship, named TPP canddiate

    PNM’s Keigon Denoon jumps ship, named TPP canddiate

    In a significant political realignment, former People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago West constituency chairman Keigon Denoon has officially crossed party lines to become the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) candidate for Buccoo/Mt Pleasant. The dramatic transition was formally announced during TPP’s candidate presentation event on December 1 at Scarborough’s Calypso Rose Boulevard.

    TPP Political Leader Farley Augustine introduced Denoon—a native Buccoo resident and coordinator of the Youth Energised for Success (YES) program—as the final addition to their electoral slate. Augustine characterized the move as evidence of TPP’s inclusive approach, describing the party as “a coalition of the competent and willing” that welcomes members from across Tobago’s political spectrum, including former TOP, NAR/DAC, Tobago Forwards, UNC, and PNM supporters.

    The transition unfolded rapidly, with PNM’s Tobago Council leader Ancil Dennis announcing Denoon’s departure via Facebook approximately one hour before the TPP’s official unveiling. Dennis responded with diplomatic grace, acknowledging Denoon’s service while urging PNM members to maintain focus on “restoring stability, opportunity, and decency to Tobago.”

    The TPP also confirmed that incumbent representative Ian Pollard will defend his Mason Hall/Moriah seat, joining thirteen other candidates previously announced on November 24. The complete TPP candidate roster represents constituencies across Tobago, signaling a comprehensive challenge in the upcoming elections.

    This development marks another chapter in Tobago’s dynamic political landscape, where party allegiances frequently shift in pursuit of regional advancement and improved governance structures.

  • Emotions run high in SYG senate debate

    Emotions run high in SYG senate debate

    The Trinidad and Tobago Senate witnessed profoundly emotional deliberations on December 2nd during the debate over the controversial Home Invasion (Self-Defence and Defence of Property) Bill, 2025. Government Senator Brian Baig delivered a heart-wrenching testimony detailing his personal experience as a home invasion survivor, visibly trembling as he addressed the chamber.

    Senator Baig recounted how the traumatic event permanently altered his psychological state, revealing he still wakes daily at 3 AM—the hour preceding the incident—haunted by the fear that intruders remain in his home. The senator described implementing extensive security measures including alarms, round-the-clock security personnel, and guard dogs to restore his family’s sense of safety. Baig further shared the devastating story of his aunt who was murdered during another home invasion, with her throat slit ‘from ear to ear’ while his uncle, a heart patient, was bound to a chair.

    Despite the emotional appeal, opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi expressed reservations about the legislation’s practical effectiveness. While acknowledging the bill was ‘heading in the right direction,’ Al-Rawi questioned whether the proposed law would actually assist victims in real-time crisis situations. He raised significant concerns regarding the exclusion of approximately 230,000 squatters lacking lawful property possession, the treatment of common areas in housing developments, and the application to institutional dwellings like children’s and geriatric homes.

    Independent Senator Dr. Desiree Murray highlighted additional ambiguities, noting the legislation potentially conflates domestic disputes with armed invasions by labeling known acquaintances as ‘home invaders.’ She warned this blurring of distinctions could lead to disproportionate use of lethal force in situations already covered by existing laws. The debate revealed deep divisions between the emotional imperative for enhanced self-defense protections and practical concerns about legal precision and unintended consequences.

  • Padarath: Ag CEO’s departure not affecting WASA

    Padarath: Ag CEO’s departure not affecting WASA

    Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has affirmed that the resignation of former Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) acting CEO Jeevan Joseph has not disrupted the state utility’s operational continuity or strategic initiatives. In an official statement, Padarath emphasized that WASA maintains robust leadership under chairman Roshan Babwah and continues to advance numerous short-term and medium-term projects without interruption.

    Contrary to initial media speculation suggesting Joseph was ‘sent on leave’ without explanation, the minister clarified that Joseph voluntarily resigned between November 28-29 citing personal reasons. The ministry respects his decision while maintaining confidence in WASA’s operational framework.

    Padarath highlighted organizational enhancements including the revamping of the ministry’s monitoring and evaluation division to strengthen project oversight. ‘The ministry is taking greater interest in actual operations compared to our predecessors,’ he noted, signaling increased governmental involvement in WASA’s management.

    Dain Maharaj, acting director of corporate services since June, has assumed interim CEO responsibilities until a permanent appointment is finalized. Maharaj’s previous appointment followed the termination of Keithroy Halliday and nine other senior executives shortly after the United National Congress assumed office on May 28.

    Joseph’s tenure included significant contributions as manager of technical services for wastewater systems, where he pioneered development of standard operating procedures, asset management strategies, and technological innovations to improve both operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

  • Farley announces January 12 THA elections

    Farley announces January 12 THA elections

    The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will hold its pivotal elections on January 12, 2026, as formally announced by Chief Secretary and Tobago People’s Party (TPP) leader Farley Augustine. The declaration came during the party’s candidate unveiling ceremony at Scarborough’s Calypso Rose Boulevard on December 1, where Augustine addressed an assembly of enthusiastic supporters.

    Augustine revealed he has formally notified Prime Minister Keith Rowley of the election date, with both leaders subsequently advising the President of Trinidad and Tobago. The presidential election writ is anticipated to be officially issued around December 5, 2025, initiating the formal electoral process.

    Despite the energized crowd at the campaign event, Augustine delivered a pragmatic message about electoral realities. He emphatically stated that large gatherings do not automatically translate to electoral success, emphasizing that ‘votes win elections, not crowds.’ The TPP leader outlined an intensive grassroots strategy, committing to door-to-door outreach and direct voter engagement across Tobago’s constituencies.

    Augustine expressed confidence in securing all 15 contested seats in the legislative body, underscoring his party’s dedication to mobilizing substantial voter turnout through personalized engagement with every Tobagonian household. The upcoming election represents a critical political event for Tobago’s autonomous governance structure, with potential implications for the island’s developmental trajectory and relationship with the central Trinidadian government.

  • K2K twins Kathy and Karen Norman inducted into SJC POS Hall of Excellence

    K2K twins Kathy and Karen Norman inducted into SJC POS Hall of Excellence

    In a distinguished ceremony held on November 18, twin sisters Kathy and Karen Norman—renowned for their influential medium band K2K Alliance and Partners—were formally inducted into the Hall of Excellence at St Joseph Convent, Port of Spain. The event, hosted biennially at the school’s chapel on Pembroke Street, celebrates exceptional alumni who have made significant contributions to society.

    Established in 2001 by the school’s Past Pupils’ Association, this year’s induction was graced by Archbishop Jason Gordon, who delivered the opening prayer. Maritza Ramphal, the school’s current principal and first vice-president of the association, provided welcoming remarks, while Effuah Alleyne, president of the Past Pupils’ Association, concluded with a vote of thanks.

    The Norman twins stood among twelve honorees, including Meta’s Vice President of Accessibility and Engagement Maxine Williams, Arrive Alive President Sharon Inglefield, and former SJC principal Anna Pounder. Their pen portraits highlighted extraordinary academic achievements, with each twin securing ten CSEC subjects—including art, where both received awards for their submissions titled ‘The Cycle of Life’ and ‘Life in its Complexity.’

    Their early artistic development was further shaped by interviews with mas designers Peter Minshall and Wayne Berkeley, conducted as part of their School-Based Assessments. These experiences ignited their passion for costume design and creative expression. Throughout their school years, the twins consistently contributed their artistic talents to class and school projects. At the Advanced Level, Karen was recognized as the Caribbean’s most outstanding art student, and both portfolios were retained by Cambridge as exemplary references for future generations.

  • When the mind is sharp, and the body is frail

    When the mind is sharp, and the body is frail

    In the sterile environment of a hospital ward, a 93-year-old woman’s fate hangs in bureaucratic limbo. “She’s going to rehab tomorrow,” states a clerk, whose casual sympathy reveals the numbing frequency of such cases. When questioned about subsequent arrangements, the response is unsettlingly vague: “We don’t know. I guess we’ll see how rehab goes.

    This patient represents the cruel paradox of modern aging: a mind retaining remarkable sharpness trapped within a failing body. Despite scoring perfectly on cognitive assessments and demonstrating precise recall of medications and medical history—including an osteoporosis injection due exactly six months after her last administration—her physical autonomy has vanished.

    Her medical narrative includes a pacemaker implantation, cardiac stents following a 2017 heart attack, and an extensive network of physicians whose names she remembers with clarity. These medical relationships have increasingly replaced her social circle as friends gradually passed away. Where her daily planner once overflowed with social engagements, church activities, and book club meetings, it now primarily documents medical appointments.

    The contrast between mental acuity and physical deterioration creates what physicians recognize as the geriatric dilemma—the inevitable choice between preserving cognitive function or physical capability in advanced age. Her hands, deformed by osteoarthritis, struggle to grip a pen. Her knees produce audible grating sounds with movement. Standing requires assistance from two people against the invisible downward force of vertebral collapse from osteoporosis.

    Walking with a walker resembles a Herculean effort against imaginary leg weights, actually caused by fluid accumulation from circulatory issues. Neuropathic pain generates electric shock sensations down her legs, treated with medications that induce dizziness. Macular degeneration has stolen her ability to read, severing connection with her lifelong passion.

    Despite these accumulating adversities, her will remains unbroken. When confronted with end-of-life decisions regarding resuscitation, she responds with unequivocal clarity: “I want to live. Do whatever you would do for anybody else.” Even when warned that CPR would likely leave her machine-dependent and fundamentally altered, she maintains her stance, momentarily refusing to engage with the distressing hypothetical.

    This encounter leaves the attending physician with a profoundly unsettling thought: in such circumstances, cognitive clarity may become its own form of torture when the body can no longer obey the mind’s commands.

  • Port of Spain taxi-driver hits vehicles after suffering seizure

    Port of Spain taxi-driver hits vehicles after suffering seizure

    A midday medical emergency culminated in a multi-vehicle collision in Port of Spain on December 1st, prompting a significant police response and raising questions about emergency service timelines. The incident unfolded around 9:30 AM on Ariapita Avenue when a 63-year-old taxi driver experienced a sudden seizure while operating his vehicle.

    Losing control due to the medical episode, the driver’s car veered onto Scott Bushe Street, where it subsequently collided with five stationary, parked vehicles. The impact resulted in injuries to two individuals inside the taxi. The 63-year-old driver was found unresponsive at the scene, while a 51-year-old female passenger in the front seat sustained a back injury.

    Bystanders and passers-by played a crucial role in the immediate aftermath, swiftly assisting both occupants from the damaged vehicle and moving them to a safer location in a nearby carpark. Law enforcement officials arrived promptly to secure the area and cordon off the street for investigation.

    The emergency response was notably aided by a certified first-aid provider, a good Samaritan who worked in the vicinity and offered critical initial medical assistance before professional help arrived. A point of concern emerged as the official ambulance service took over an hour to reach the location following the incident’s occurrence.

    Local authorities have confirmed that an active investigation into the precise circumstances of the accident is ongoing, examining all factors surrounding the collision.

  • Roget takes Rowley to court over defamation claims

    Roget takes Rowley to court over defamation claims

    In a significant legal and political development, Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) president Ancel Roget has initiated defamation proceedings against former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley. The lawsuit, filed at the High Court on November 22, stems from comments allegedly made by Rowley regarding a 2022 highway blockade incident involving scrap-iron dealers.

    The controversy dates back to August 2022 when truckloads of dirt were dumped on the Solomon Hochoy Highway near Claxton Bay, creating massive traffic gridlock. This protest occurred shortly after the government implemented a six-month ban on scrap iron exports, which dealers argued would devastate their livelihoods. Roget asserts that while his union defended the protesters’ concerns, Rowley made defamatory statements about his character in connection with the incident.

    Speaking at a gathering of former Petrotrin employees commemorating the seventh anniversary of the state-owned company’s closure, Roget declared: ‘Rowley frequently pursues legal action against those who criticize him. Now he must answer this statement of claim in court.’ The comment received enthusiastic applause from union members.

    The Petrotrin closure remains a deeply contentious issue, with Roget characterizing it as ‘one of the most devastating economic decisions inflicted on the people’ by Rowley’s previous administration. He accused the former government of systematically ‘attacking and demonizing’ the OWTU for seven years while using misinformation to justify the refinery’s shutdown. Although the Rowley administration cited economic challenges and declining profitability as reasons for closure, Roget maintains the action specifically targeted the union while harming the entire nation.

    Roget used the platform to rally his ‘blue-shirt army’ of supporters, urging them to prevent the return of the People’s National Movement (PNM) to power. He specifically highlighted the union’s success in making traditionally secure PNM seats marginal, referencing San Fernando East, Point Fortin, and La Brea constituencies. The event was attended by current government officials including Point Fortin MP Ernesto Kesar, now Minister in the Ministry of Energy, and La Brea MP Clyde Elder, Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities—both former union leaders themselves.

    Roget announced plans to hold a press conference to provide further details on the defamation case, signaling continued escalation of tensions between the labor movement and former administration.

  • Ex-Petrotrin workers to get land from government

    Ex-Petrotrin workers to get land from government

    The Trinidadian government has announced plans to honor longstanding land allocation agreements for former Petrotrin workers, mirroring previous commitments made to ex-employees of the defunct Caroni (1975) Ltd. The declaration came from Minister Ernesto Kesar of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs during a November 30 gathering at Pointe-a-Pierre roundabout, where scores of former refinery workers and Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) members commemorated the seventh anniversary of the facility’s closure.

    Minister Kesar revealed that while 2,814 former workers had applied for land parcels through the Land Settlement Agency under the previous administration, only 238 had received commitment letters without actual land transfers. The current government initiative aims to address this disparity by preparing a comprehensive report for Cabinet consideration that includes all permanent, temporary, and casual workers from Petrotrin’s 76,000-acre holdings.

    In parallel developments, the government plans to reopen two vandalized medical facilities in Santa Flora and Guaracara within six months to serve former workers and their families. Kesar, who personally inspected the clinics, reported that while the Pointe-a-Pierre facility remains structurally sound with preserved medical records, the Santa Flora clinic requires significant rehabilitation due to severe vandalism.

    OWTU President General Ancel Roget delivered impassioned remarks criticizing the previous administration, alleging that over 1,000 retirees died due to inability to access medical plans. Roget detailed occupational health crises among workers, including exposure to chemicals and extreme working conditions that led to renal failure and heart conditions.

    The Rowley-led administration had previously cited economic challenges and declining profitability as reasons for the refinery’s 2018 closure. Following restructuring, Petrotrin became Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd (TPHL) with four subsidiaries, though Roget emphasized that none currently recognize OWTU representation due to successorship issues—a matter now being addressed through parliamentary procedures by Labour Minister Leroy Baptiste.

    The event also featured La Brea MP Clyde Elder, a former trade union leader, signaling broad governmental involvement in resolving these longstanding labor and social welfare issues.