标签： Trinidad and Tobago

Despite the relentless downpour, the annual Tobago Blue Food Festival at the Bloody Bay Recreation Ground on October 19 was a resounding success, drawing hundreds of enthusiastic attendees. The festival, which celebrates the versatility of the root crop dasheen, offered a vibrant array of traditional blue food dishes, innovative creations like dasheen ice cream, and a bustling indigenous craft market. A highlight of the event was the interactive display by the Wildlife Association of Tobago, where visitors had the rare opportunity to interact with snakes, caimans, monkeys, and parrots, sparking delight and countless photo opportunities. The lively entertainment lineup featured Tobago’s October carnival Junior Calypso Monarch Koquice Davidson, alongside renowned soca artistes Shurwayne Winchester and Farmer Nappy, ensuring a festive atmosphere. Vendors and patrons alike remained undeterred by the weather, with smiles and umbrellas aplenty, making the event a testament to Tobago’s resilient spirit and rich cultural heritage.

The Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, celebrated a historic milestone on October 17, 2025, as it honored a record number of students for their exceptional academic achievements. The Evening of Excellence ceremony, held at the university, not only recognized academic success but also highlighted a transformative shift within the legal education community. Dean Dr. Alicia Elias-Roberts, addressing an audience of students, parents, and colleagues, praised the awardees as the most accomplished cohort in recent memory. She noted a significant increase in the number of students graduating with first-class honors, making the Dean’s Honor List, and receiving special awards for excellence. Statistics revealed that 18 first-year, 28 second-year, and 41 third-year students made the Dean’s List, while 38 law students graduated with first-class honors—a milestone Dr. Elias-Roberts described as evidence of a rising culture of excellence. In her speech, the dean emphasized the importance of resilience, integrity, and a commitment to justice, qualities she deemed essential in a rapidly evolving legal landscape shaped by artificial intelligence and innovation. She also highlighted the faculty’s growing partnerships with international organizations such as the UNDP, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the JB Fernandes Memorial Trust, which support initiatives like the Human Rights Legal Aid Clinic and internship opportunities in development financial law. These collaborations, she said, bridge academia and real-world impact, providing students with invaluable exposure and opportunities to serve communities. The ceremony also featured a personal message from Dr. Elias-Roberts, urging graduates to remain humble and grounded, emphasizing that integrity and professionalism define a person more than academic grades. The event honored numerous achievers, including Solange Joseph, Reshad Ahmed, Jehoshua Williams, and Kreshaun Gordon, who graduated with first-class honors and received special recognition from the Law Society executive. The dean concluded by reminding graduates that their LLB degrees carry a responsibility to lead, serve, and advocate for the marginalized, shaping the next generation of ethical and compassionate legal professionals. The ceremony, which included an address by Attorney General John Jeremie, celebrated not only academic success but also the broader mission of preparing lawyers to be stewards of justice in a changing world.

In a disturbing escalation of violence, the law office of Saira Lakhan, President of the Assembly of Southern Lawyers (ASL), was firebombed for the second time in less than a month. The latest attack occurred in the early hours of October 22 at the Magnus Law Office on Lewis Street, San Fernando. The perpetrator breached the perimeter fence, placing Molotov cocktails at the front door and near an external electrical panel. Although the flames extinguished on their own, the incident left parts of the antique door and wooden flooring damaged. Lakhan, a seasoned attorney with 15 years of practice, expressed deep concern for her safety and that of her staff, all of whom are women. She revealed that she feels constantly watched and fears a potential daytime attack if the situation remains unchecked. Despite the trauma, Lakhan remains resolute, vowing to continue her legal work and rely on the justice system for protection. Fellow attorneys Prakash Ramadhar and Gobin Harrypersad, who were present at the scene, condemned the attacks as a grave threat to the rule of law. Ramadhar emphasized the severity of arson under Trinidad and Tobago law, which carries a potential life sentence, and called for swift justice to deter future crimes. Harrypersad warned that those orchestrating the attacks would not escape accountability, even if they employed others to carry out their plans. San Fernando police are actively investigating the incidents, but no arrests have been made yet.

Christopher Boodram, the sole survivor of the 2022 Paria diving tragedy, has publicly criticized the exorbitant legal fees paid during the commission of enquiry, labeling it a ‘feeding frenzy at our expense.’ In a statement on October 21, Boodram expressed his disgust at the former PNM administration’s allocation of millions to commissioners and lawyers, while the families of the four deceased divers remain uncompensated. He likened the legal proceedings to ‘vultures picking at the corpses of my brothers,’ emphasizing the emotional toll on the bereaved families. The enquiry, which cost $15.5 million, was described by Boodram as a ‘political excuse,’ with none of the Lynch Report recommendations implemented. Despite the matter being referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, no progress has been made on potential corporate manslaughter charges. Boodram thanked Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for not appealing Justice Joan Charles’ judgment, which revealed the legal payments, and urged her to intervene to provide relief to the families. He highlighted the ongoing struggles of the families, including Paria’s recent ‘meet-and-greet’ session with its new board, which he dismissed as a ‘well-intentioned public-relations exercise.’ Boodram lamented the lack of justice for the poor, stating, ‘I bared my soul and told my story to the nation for free, and it is grievous and painful to learn about the millions that were spent on lawyers when not one red cent has been paid to the families.’ He also noted the unfulfilled $1 million compensation promise made by former Prime Minister Stuart Young. Paria’s chairman, Nyree Alphonso, acknowledged the pledge but cited complexities with insurers and attorneys as obstacles to timely resolution.