标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The controversial United States military radar system previously stationed at ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point, Tobago, has been formally dismantled and removed from the site. Visual confirmation yesterday revealed no traces of the equipment at its previous location, with airport security personnel now monitoring the area.

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine confirmed to media outlets that his office received advance notification about the equipment’s removal, characterizing the development as unsurprising. “The radar system that was temporarily installed in Tobago has now been dismantled and preparations are under way for the equipment and associated US military personnel to leave the island,” Augustine stated.

The Chief Secretary emphasized that the dismantling aligned perfectly with the original schedule presented to him, noting that the temporary nature of the installation made previous concerns about permanent militarization unfounded. “This was always a temporary fixture,” Augustine remarked, “which makes the alarmists quite laughable because they engaged in fearmongering about making us a military target.”

Augustine framed the episode as a crucial lesson in national security sovereignty, asserting that Trinidad and Tobago must invest in its own defense infrastructure. “We cannot permanently rely on the capabilities of other countries; we must make our own investments into our national security infrastructure to strengthen our surveillance, maritime and air defense systems,” he emphasized.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had previously disclosed that the radar system operation cost the United States approximately $3 million daily. While unable to confirm the exact number of US personnel stationed at Grafton Beach resort, the Prime Minister indicated their phased departure would conclude by month’s end. She acknowledged the intelligence-sharing collaboration between US forces and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service had proven instrumental in recent security operations.

Despite the removal of US military assets, Augustine maintained that “Tobago remains safe and focused on its development,” highlighting the island’s continued commitment to both security and economic progress.

A significant institutional standoff has emerged between Trinidad and Tobago’s Children’s Authority board and its overseeing minister, with board members firmly rejecting resignation demands despite revelations of substantial financial liabilities. Minister of People, Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit publicly called for the board’s resignation during a Sunday news conference, citing a troubling $77 million liability and alleged operational mismanagement within the agency.

Board Chairman Marsha Bailey explicitly stated the board’s intention to serve through its appointed term until October 2026, countering the minister’s demands. The authority’s governing body expressed astonishment at Mohit’s public statements, revealing that numerous formal requests for ministerial meetings had gone unanswered throughout their tenure.

The conflict appears rooted in fundamental disagreements regarding financial oversight and operational responsibilities. The board emphasized its compliance with the Children’s Authority Act, which establishes that presidential appointees serve fixed terms, suggesting the minister lacks direct authority to demand resignations.

Financial constraints have significantly hampered the Authority’s operations, affecting critical areas including personnel costs, foster care programs, facility maintenance, and infrastructure upgrades. These challenges were formally communicated to the ministry following the 2026 national budget passage, yet the board claims it received inadequate ministerial support.

The current confrontation escalated after the board implemented disciplinary measures regarding non-payment of statutory deductions—a violation of national law. Minister Mohit subsequently requested a comprehensive report on these actions, which the board provided within 24 hours despite having received only a brief five-minute meeting with the minister in February.

The board maintains that operational management falls under the director or chief executive officer’s purview, while their role focuses on governance and oversight. They expressed concern that public criticism potentially damages the Authority’s reputation and undermines the professionals serving on the board.

Both parties have committed to providing additional clarifications regarding the $77 million liability, though neither side had issued further statements by press time. The minister indicated a response would be forthcoming regarding potential government actions should the board maintain its position.

In a dramatic political development, Minister of People, Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit has issued a forceful demand for the immediate resignation of the entire board of management overseeing Trinidad and Tobago’s Children’s Authority (CATT). The call comes amid revelations of a staggering $77 million financial liability that has compromised the institution’s operational stability.

During a press conference at the United National Congress headquarters in Chaguanas, Minister Mohit presented a comprehensive indictment of the Authority’s financial management practices, describing the situation as a ‘serious financial debacle’ with liabilities accumulating since 2020. The minister asserted that these financial troubles represent not isolated incidents but a systemic pattern of governance failure that threatens the institution’s ability to protect vulnerable children.

Detailed documentation revealed multiple areas of financial concern, including outstanding security service payments exceeding $23 million collectively owed to two firms, unpaid staff health insurance contributions surpassing $1.5 million, and the startling acquisition of an ice-maker costing $343,000—an expenditure characterized as frivolous given the Authority’s financial constraints.

Perhaps most seriously, Minister Mohit disclosed that the Authority had failed to remit statutory deductions to national insurance and revenue authorities despite deducting these amounts from employee salaries. As of September 2025, these unremitted payments totaled over $10 million, creating what the minister described as ‘serious legal and ethical implications’ that expose the state to potential litigation.

The minister further questioned the timing of disciplinary actions against the Authority’s former chief executive officer, suggesting these measures appeared reactive rather than responsible, implemented only after ministry auditors began examining the institution’s finances.

In response, Children’s Authority Chair Marsha Bailey expressed astonishment at the minister’s statements, asserting that the presidentially-appointed board had ‘made every effort to work with the minister’ and remained committed to fulfilling their responsibilities under the governing legislation. Bailey noted the board stands by its record of doing ‘what is right’ for the nation’s children.

The developing crisis has drawn commentary from former government officials, including Ayanna Webster-Roy, who emphasized the traditional separation between ministerial policy direction and operational management of the Authority. The Children’s Authority has indicated it will issue a comprehensive statement addressing these allegations.

A landmark legal opinion prepared for the Trinidad and Tobago government has concluded that U.S. military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean constitute lawful acts of self-defense under international law. The analysis, authored by renowned British King’s Counsel Harish Salve of Blackstone Chambers, provides significant legal justification for operations targeting narcotics networks allegedly supported by the Venezuelan government.

The legal assessment, commissioned by Attorney General John Jeremie, addresses the complex intersection of national security, non-state actors, and international jurisprudence. Central to Salve’s argument is Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognizes the inherent right of self-defense. The opinion contends that modern security threats increasingly emanate from non-state actors operating with state support, requiring updated interpretations of international law.

Salve’s analysis establishes that when criminal organizations operate with governmental support, their actions become attributable to the sponsoring state. The opinion references specific allegations against the Maduro government, including providing diplomatic passports to traffickers, offering diplomatic cover for illicit transport operations, and partnering with armed groups like Colombia’s FARC guerrillas.

The legal framework acknowledges that affected states may implement preventive measures—including vessel destruction—when facing narcotics trafficking that threatens national security. However, Salve emphasizes that such actions must meet established international law principles of necessity and proportionality.

Regarding Trinidad and Tobago’s potential liability, the opinion clarifies that the nation would not automatically bear responsibility for U.S. operations conducted in or near its waters. International law principles developed by the International Law Commission indicate that a state is only responsible if it knowingly assists another state in committing wrongful acts.

The document further notes that Trinidad and Tobago itself suffers significantly from regional drug trafficking, having expended over $60 billion on national security during the past decade while continuing to combat smuggling networks and manage migration flows resulting from Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.

Salve’s opinion characterizes the global narcotics trade as a fundamental threat to national sovereignty, referencing UN treaties that recognize connections between drug trafficking, money laundering, arms trading, and terrorism financing. The analysis concludes that the profits from illicit drug operations frequently fund violence and governmental destabilization, imperiling the security of affected nations.