Carib Scope

标签： Trinidad and Tobago

特立尼达和多巴哥

  • US lawsuit alleges Trinidadian men were unlawfully killed

    US lawsuit alleges Trinidadian men were unlawfully killed

    In a landmark legal action, the families of two Trinidad and Tobago citizens killed in a US military strike have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the United States government. The case, lodged in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on January 27, challenges the legality of America’s maritime security operations in the Caribbean region.

    The plaintiffs allege that a October 14, 2025 missile attack destroyed a civilian vessel traveling from Venezuela toward Trinidad, resulting in the deaths of all six persons aboard. Among the victims were Chad Joseph, 26, and Rishi Samaroo, 41, both residents of Las Cuevas who their families maintain were returning from legitimate fishing and agricultural work in Venezuela.

    Legal representatives for the families are pursuing compensation under the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute, contending the strike constituted both wrongful death and extrajudicial killing under international law. The suit invokes the Suits in Admiralty Act to overcome sovereign immunity protections typically afforded to the US government.

    According to court documents, the incident formed part of what plaintiffs describe as an ‘unprecedented’ military campaign initiated in September 2025, involving approximately 36 armed attacks on maritime vessels in Caribbean and eastern Pacific international waters. The lawsuit estimates these operations resulted in roughly 125 casualties.

    The complaint references former President Donald Trump’s public acknowledgment of authorizing the October 14 strike via social media, including shared footage showing a stationary boat being destroyed by munitions. Families maintain neither Joseph nor Samaroo presented any imminent threat, and their vessel was unequivocally civilian in nature.

    US officials have previously defended such strikes as lawful operations within a non-international armed conflict against regional drug cartels. Government representatives have cited a classified Office of Legal Counsel memorandum purportedly supporting this legal position.

    The families’ lawsuit systematically dismantles this justification, arguing drug trafficking does not constitute armed conflict under international humanitarian law. The filing emphasizes that neither victim had documented connections to criminal organizations, noting Trinidadian authorities have publicly stated they possess ‘no information linking Joseph or Samaroo to illegal activities.’

    The legal action seeks not only financial compensation but also accountability for senior officials who authorized the strikes. It represents a significant challenge to the legal frameworks governing maritime security operations and the boundaries of lethal force in counter-narcotics missions.

  • How taxes impact air connectivity in the Caribbean

    How taxes impact air connectivity in the Caribbean

    The Caribbean aviation sector faces mounting pressure as airlines and industry leaders decry exorbitant taxation rates that threaten regional connectivity. Windward Islands Airways International NV (Winair) has launched cautious twice-weekly service between Trinidad and Sint Maarten, with CEO Hans van de Velde acknowledging the challenging economic landscape. ‘Operating an airline in this region is inherently expensive,’ van de Velde stated, revealing that approximately 50% of their introductory $200 one-way fare consists of government taxes.

    This taxation crisis isn’t new. Since at least 2018, when CaribSKY alliance members first raised concerns, regional carriers have struggled with escalating fees. LIAT 1974 documented a startling 56% increase in taxes between 2009-2016 while base fares rose merely 3%. The consequences are stark: annual passenger numbers plummeted from one million to 750,000, with taxes identified as the primary deterrent.

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued stern warnings, noting Caribbean destinations risk pricing themselves out of the global market. While global taxes average 15% of ticket prices, Caribbean routes endure 30-50% taxation—significantly higher than competing destinations like Cancun (23%). IATA’s Peter Cerdá emphasized that modern travelers prioritize total cost, making the Caribbean increasingly uncompetitive.

    At the recent State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Barbados, the tax dilemma dominated discussions. Barbados Tourism Minister Lisa Cummins defended the fees as necessary for infrastructure funding, acknowledging the challenge of reducing taxes without compromising service quality. Meanwhile, LIAT Air CEO Hafsah Abdulsalam stressed the urgent need for efficiency improvements and tax reform to enable regional expansion plans, including future routes to South America and Africa.

    A Caribbean Development Bank working paper from 2018 remains critically relevant, recommending reductions in both aviation taxes and airport charges to stimulate connectivity. The report highlighted that high costs particularly distort intra-regional travel markets, where demand proves highly price-sensitive. Without intervention, the Caribbean’s aviation ecosystem risks further contraction, potentially isolating islands and undermining tourism recovery efforts.

  • Dump truck driver robbed at Beetham Landfill

    Dump truck driver robbed at Beetham Landfill

    In a brazen daylight robbery, a dump truck operator fell victim to an armed assault at Port of Spain’s Beetham Landfill on January 25th. The incident occurred approximately at 1:20 pm as the driver was exiting the waste management facility.

    According to law enforcement officials, four individuals of African descent confronted the victim while he operated his blue and red Nissan CK20 dump truck. The assailants executed a coordinated robbery, making away with multiple valuable possessions from the driver, who resides in La Paille Gardens, Caroni.

    The stolen items include a premium grey Samsung S20 mobile device housed in a blue protective case, valued at approximately $2,000 TT dollars. The perpetrators additionally confiscated a black wallet containing $675 in cash and a First Citizens bank card, with the wallet itself appraised at $200. Notably, the thieves also took a black Adidas strap bag worth $60, which contained critical access items to the victim’s personal vehicle and residential property.

    Law enforcement authorities have circulated detailed physical descriptions for three suspects involved in the criminal act. All individuals are described as having brown complexion and slim builds. The primary suspect stands approximately six feet tall with distinctive cane-row comb-back hairstyling and an elongated, clean-shaven facial structure. His attire consisted of a white vest paired with blue three-quarter length trousers.

    A second accomplice matches similar height characteristics with conservatively cropped hair, last seen wearing a green T-shirt with blue three-quarter pants. The third identified individual presents significantly shorter at five feet three inches with rounded facial features and no visible facial hair. His clothing included a distinctive yellow and black padded jet ski vest complemented by brown three-quarter pants.

    Criminal investigations remain actively ongoing as authorities pursue multiple investigative avenues to apprehend those responsible for this violent act against a essential service worker.

  • Jafari Edwards, Peyton Winter storm to wins at Power in the Field Classic

    Jafari Edwards, Peyton Winter storm to wins at Power in the Field Classic

    While track athletes typically command the most attention at athletic competitions, the spotlight shifted decisively to field event specialists during the Wright Foundation’s Power in the Field Classic held January 24 at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

    The event showcased remarkable performances from emerging talents who demonstrated exceptional prowess across various disciplines. Mercury’s Jafari Edwards emerged as a double champion in the boys’ under-17 category, securing gold in both long jump with a winning leap of 6.41 meters and high jump with a clearance of 1.75 meters. His long jump victory came after a tense competition with Memphis Pioneers’ Zayne Martin, who nearly overtook him with a final attempt of 6.37 meters.

    Burnley Athletic Club’s Peyton Winter delivered a spectacular triple crown performance in the girls’ under-20 category, dominating shot put (12.91m), javelin (28.85m), and discus (35.73m). Her shot put victory was particularly notable as she outperformed Tenique Vincent, the recently crowned Female Multi-event Athlete of the Year, who managed 10.10 meters.

    Vincent later redeemed herself by claiming the girls’ under-20 high jump title with a clearance of 1.65 meters, while her twin brother Tyrique Vincent, the Male Multi-event Athlete of the Year, triumphed in the boys’ under-20 long jump with an impressive 7.07-meter effort.

    The competition also featured standout performances from Kaizen Panthers’ Kaori Robley (girls’ under-20 long jump, 5.21m), QRC Athletic Club’s La Queen Welch (girls’ under-17 high jump, 1.64m), and Ascend Athletic Club’s Daryan Boyce who edged out clubmate Nykel Gomez in a thrilling boys’ under-20 discus contest with a throw of 44.45 meters.

    These results highlight the growing depth of field event talent in Trinidad and Tobago’s athletic landscape, with multiple athletes showing potential for future regional and international success.

  • Tancoo: US$1b bond shows investor confidence

    Tancoo: US$1b bond shows investor confidence

    Trinidad and Tobago has successfully issued a ten-year unsecured sovereign bond worth US$1 billion at a 6.4% interest rate, signaling robust international investor confidence in the nation’s economic direction. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo announced the bond offering, which was immediately oversubscribed by 2.5 times upon its January 22 launch, demonstrating substantial market demand.

    The transaction, managed by financial giants J.P. Morgan and Bank of America, attracted over 140 unique orders from top-tier accounts. Minister Tancoo emphasized that this represents the largest bond transaction for the Republic in the past decade and generated the most substantial order books in five years at US$2.4 billion, despite recent negative ratings outlooks from credit agencies.

    This new bond issuance serves to refinance a 2016 bond acquired under former Finance Minister Colm Imbert. Tancoo criticized the previous administration’s management of the funds, alleging insufficient repayment planning. The current bond, governed by New York laws, offers superior terms and benefits compared to its predecessor.

    Key achievements highlighted include a 20 basis point compression from initial price thoughts to launch, extension of the external debt maturity profile from 4.1 to 6.3 years, and full addressing of the August 2026 external bond maturity. The transaction priced at 54.6 basis points tighter than the original 2016 issuance.

    Notably, Trinidad and Tobago’s bond outperformed comparable Caribbean nations’ offerings. The Bahamas (BB- rating) issued a ten-year bond at 8.25%, Barbados (B+ rating) at 8%, and the Dominican Republic’s twelve-year bond at 6.9%.

    To meet financial commitments, the government plans to address an estimated $10 billion tax gap and leverage energy sector revenues through partnerships with major energy companies including EOG, ExxonMobil, bpTT, Shell, and Perenco. Additionally, Gulf States and China have expressed interest in investing in the government’s Revitalisation Blueprint, featuring 11 major infrastructural projects over the next decade.

  • Digicel’s Deep Blue One strengthens Tobago network

    Digicel’s Deep Blue One strengthens Tobago network

    Digicel Trinidad and Tobago has officially activated its Deep Blue One submarine fiber-optic cable system, establishing a direct digital link between Trinidad and Tobago that promises to transform the island’s telecommunications landscape. The groundbreaking infrastructure project, announced on January 23, represents a significant advancement in Tobago’s network capabilities.

    Pieter Verkade, Chief Executive Officer of Digicel TT, emphasized the strategic importance of this development: “This enhancement to our service portfolio ensures comprehensive redundancy for our Tobago customer base across mobile, residential, entertainment, and business sectors. The result is a substantially more resilient network architecture capable of overcoming operational challenges while maintaining superior connectivity standards throughout the island.”

    Current usage patterns already demonstrate substantial engagement with the new infrastructure. Roweena Crooks, Head of Retail Sales and Operations at Digicel TT, reported: “Deep Blue One is currently transmitting multiple gigabits of live data traffic to Tobago, with the western region exhibiting the highest utilization rates. This infrastructure already supports thousands of Tobagonians in their daily digital activities including media streaming, video conferencing, remote work operations, business management, and distance learning initiatives.”

    Crooks, speaking from personal experience as a Tobagonian, highlighted the societal impact: “Reliable connectivity is fundamentally important to contemporary island life. Deep Blue One represents a substantial upgrade to Tobago’s telecommunications framework, significantly bolstering network durability and service consistency. This strategic investment substantially reduces the potential for island-wide service interruptions and provides residents with enhanced confidence in their digital connectivity both presently and for future requirements.”

    The telecommunications company’s analysis indicates rapidly increasing data consumption patterns throughout Tobago, with the western region expected to demonstrate the most accelerated growth trajectory while the eastern sector anticipates robust expansion as additional households and enterprises come online. The Deep Blue One cable system was specifically engineered to accommodate this escalating data demand, providing the necessary infrastructure foundation to support Tobago’s evolving digital ecosystem encompassing remote education, telecommuting, daily communication, and entertainment services.

  • Griffith urges CoP: Use the bodycams

    Griffith urges CoP: Use the bodycams

    Former Trinidad and Tobago Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has issued a forceful demand for transparency regarding approximately 1,200 body-worn cameras acquired during his administration that remain unused. This call comes amid growing public outrage over a controversial police shooting in St. Augustine that resulted in the death of Joshua Samaroo and left his common-law wife Kaia Sealy paralyzed.

    The incident, captured on CCTV footage that has since gone viral, shows Samaroo with his hands raised in what appears to be a surrender gesture moments before officers opened fire. This visual evidence directly contradicts the official police account that claimed officers were fired upon during the January 20th encounter.

    Griffith emphasized that the body camera initiative was specifically designed to prevent such contentious situations. “Twelve hundred body cameras for 7,000 police officers is more than adequate,” he stated, explaining that his administration had established strict operational protocols requiring officers to activate cameras during all patrols, roadblocks, and operations. The system included accountability measures where officers signed for equipment and supervisors verified proper usage.

    The former commissioner accused current Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro of deliberately ignoring standing orders mandating camera use. Griffith further questioned why multiple accountability measures implemented under his leadership—including tasers, pepper spray, online reporting systems, a police app, GPS vehicle tracking, and live feed cameras—had been discontinued.

    In a concerning revelation, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander disclosed to the Senate that a $24.9 million contract for 3,000 additional body cameras had been terminated to cut costs. Commissioner Guevarro later justified this decision by claiming the contract involved inflated prices, with cameras priced at $8,000 per unit compared to market rates of $2,500-$3,000.

    The Police Complaints Authority has joined the call for body camera implementation, stating that such technology would “enhance accountability, transparency, and public confidence in policing.” Public trust in the police service has dramatically declined from 59% during Griffith’s tenure to just 8% according to recent surveys, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

  • Curacao score late to pinch draw with Trinidad and Tobago U-17 women

    Curacao score late to pinch draw with Trinidad and Tobago U-17 women

    In a thrilling Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifier, Trinidad and Tobago’s young footballers experienced both triumph and disappointment as they conceded a late equalizer to settle for a 2-2 draw against host nation Curaçao on January 24. The Group F encounter at Stadion Rignaal “Jean” Francisca in Willemstad saw dramatic momentum shifts that ultimately denied the Caribbean visitors a coveted victory.

    The match remained scoreless through the first half despite promising opportunities for both sides, with TT striking the crossbar and Curaçao forcing a goal-line clearance during a chaotic penalty area scramble.

    Curaçao broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Jacelynn Jubithana capitalized on a defensive error from Layla Gregoire to put the hosts ahead. Trinidad and Tobago responded decisively six minutes later as Jade Jones unleashed a spectacular left-footed strike from outside the penalty area following a partially cleared cross from Giuliana Meyer.

    The visitors appeared destined for victory when captain Sanni Wilson demonstrated exceptional composure in the 80th minute, expertly converting Jones’ precision cross from the right flank with a clinical left-footed finish. However, Curaçao substitute Xiarleahmay Martis Nocento delivered a crushing blow just three minutes later, scoring with a deft glancing header from an in-swinging corner that eluded TT goalkeeper Zofia Richards.

    Head coach Ayana Russell, while expressing pride in her team’s performance, acknowledged the result as a missed opportunity. “I thought they did an excellent job and fought until the very end,” Russell stated. “The result is unfortunate. We dominated and I felt we dropped some points today.”

    Statistical analysis revealed TT’s dominance throughout the match, with 54% possession and 15 shots (five on target) compared to Curaçao’s seven attempts. Russell identified finishing as the primary area requiring improvement, noting, “We struggled to put the game away in that final middle to final third.”

    The squad now prepares for their January 28 encounter against Barbados, with additional training sessions focused on offensive execution before concluding group play against El Salvador on February 1. The top six group winners and two best second-place teams will advance to join Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States in the tournament’s final round.

  • Nicholas Dillon, Joevin Jones make mas; Army clobber Rangers 9-0

    Nicholas Dillon, Joevin Jones make mas; Army clobber Rangers 9-0

    In a spectacular display of football dominance, Defence Force FC delivered a devastating 9-0 thrashing to Terminix La Horquetta Rangers during their TT Premier Football League encounter on January 25 at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. This commanding performance extends Defence Force’s lead at the summit of the 2025/26 table to three points as they continue their title defense campaign.

    The Army/Coast Guard combination showcased their offensive firepower through new acquisitions Nicholas Dillon and Joevin Jones, who each recorded impressive hat-tricks. The scoring onslaught began early with Jones opening the account in the 12th minute, followed by quick successive goals from central defender Jamali Garcia (16th minute) and midfielder Rivaldo Coryat (21st minute), establishing a 3-0 halftime advantage.

    The second half witnessed an equally explosive performance as Defence Force netted three additional goals within ten minutes after the restart. Dillon secured his first goal alongside contributions from Jones and playmaker Kevin ‘Nash’ Molino, pushing the scoreline to 6-0 by the 57th minute. Jones completed his hat-trick in the 61st minute, while Dillon sealed the historic victory with his third goal during second-half stoppage time.

    The match also served as an integration platform for recent defensive signings Triston Hodge and Keston Julien, who made their appearances ahead of the team’s upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup clash against Philadelphia Union commencing February 18.

    In the evening’s earlier fixture, second-placed Club Sando maintained pressure on the leaders with a narrow 1-0 victory over third-placed Miscellaneous Police FC, courtesy of Tarik Lee’s 22nd-minute strike—his ninth goal of the season.

    The TTPFL action continues on January 28 with MIC Central FC Reboot facing San Juan Jabloteh, followed by Prisons FC versus AC Port of Spain in another double-header event at Couva.

  • TTFA president lauds progress of national youth teams

    TTFA president lauds progress of national youth teams

    Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards has expressed strong optimism about the nation’s youth football development programs as multiple national teams engage in critical CONCACAF competitions. The association’s commitment to developing young talent appears to be yielding promising results across various age groups.

    The under-17 women’s team, currently competing in Willemstad, Curaçao, demonstrated remarkable resilience in their opening match against hosts Curaçao on January 24, fighting back to secure a 2-2 draw after trailing twice. Under coach Ayana Russell, the squad faces crucial Group F matches against Barbados (January 28) and El Salvador (February 1), with the group winner and two best second-place teams advancing to the final qualification round.

    Edwards emphasized the significance of these developments in an official statement: “The TTFA is encouraged by the continued progress being demonstrated across our national youth programmes. We extend our full support and best wishes to our under-17 women’s national team as they continue their CONCACAF qualifying campaign.”

    The men’s youth teams are similarly positioned for important competitions. The under-17 squad, guided by coach Randolph Boyce, will host the CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 qualifiers from February 3-12, facing Barbados, Mexico, Saint Martin, and Sint Maarten. Meanwhile, Marvin Gordon’s under-20 team will compete in their qualifiers in Costa Rica from February 23 to March 4.

    Preparation matches have shown encouraging results. The under-20 team displayed offensive prowess with decisive victories over St Vincent and Grenadines (6-0) and AC Port of Spain’s second team (5-0), though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Grenada in their final preparatory match.

    The association’s technical development efforts extend beyond the pitch, with acting technical director Devin Elcock recently attending a FIFA Technical Leadership Workshop in Barbados from January 12-16. Edwards highlighted this comprehensive approach: “By investing in our young players, providing meaningful international exposure and strengthening our technical leadership, we’re laying a solid foundation for sustained success.”

    This strategic focus on youth development represents a concerted effort to elevate Trinidad and Tobago’s football program to greater regional and international competitiveness.