标签： Trinidad and Tobago

A political storm has erupted in St Vincent and the Grenadines as Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves vehemently denies allegations of impropriety in the purchase of high-end apartments for his family. The controversy was sparked by Minister in the Ministry of Housing Anil Roberts, who claimed in a social media blog that Gonsalves’ wife, daughter, and son had acquired three luxury apartments at the Victoria Keys complex in Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, valued at $1.96 million, $1.625 million, and $1.3 million respectively. Roberts questioned whether Gonsalves’ recent criticisms of Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign policy were influenced by these transactions.

In response, Gonsalves dismissed Roberts’ claims as “misrepresentations” and “falsehoods,” accusing him of violating his family’s privacy and engaging in political mischief. He asserted that his family members had acted lawfully, paying mortgages for the properties without any preferential treatment. Gonsalves emphasized that he had never sought to influence Trinidad and Tobago’s government or its housing administration.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves’ son, Storm Gonsalves, has threatened to sue Roberts for defamation, vowing to invest any compensation in cryptocurrency. Storm suggested that the allegations were a politically motivated distraction ahead of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ general elections on November 27.

Former Trinidad and Tobago Housing Minister Randall Mitchell also weighed in, defending the sale of the apartments. He explained that the units were sold on the open market, bypassing the usual Housing Development Corporation (HDC) criteria, and that the process had saved taxpayers $400 million. Mitchell stressed that purchasers were entitled to privacy regarding their financial information.

The controversy has intensified political tensions in the region, with Gonsalves maintaining his innocence and accusing his detractors of spreading falsehoods for electoral gain.

The Trump administration has introduced stringent health-based criteria for legal migrants, sparking controversy and criticism. According to a directive reportedly issued on November 5 to US embassies worldwide, individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States through formal channels can now be denied entry based on pre-existing medical conditions or obesity. The guidelines cite conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, cancers, diabetes, and mental health disorders, which could potentially incur significant healthcare costs. This move has drawn sharp scrutiny, particularly given President Donald Trump’s own history of obesity and his recent diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, a cardiovascular condition. Despite his health challenges, Trump has consistently portrayed himself as fit and capable of fulfilling his presidential duties. Critics argue that the new policy reflects a double standard, as Trump’s ailments are deemed inconsequential, while migrants with similar conditions are labeled as burdens on the public healthcare system. Public health experts have countered this narrative, with a July 2024 analysis by Drishti Pillai and Samantha Artiga revealing that immigrants generally incur lower healthcare costs than US-born citizens. The policy also raises concerns about the arbitrary nature of decision-making, as visa officers, rather than medical professionals, are tasked with assessing applicants’ long-term health viability. This development marks another chapter in the Republican Party’s contentious approach to immigration, which has increasingly targeted legal migrants, including college students and others, under the guise of fiscal responsibility.

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has expressed his intention to investigate the reasons behind the delay in receiving reports from the State of Emergency (SoE) Review Tribunal. The tribunal, which reviews challenges to Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs), has reportedly submitted six reports to Alexander’s office, yet the minister claims he has not seen any of them. PDOs are issued under SoE regulations to detain individuals considered threats to national security or public safety, with detainees having the right to challenge their detention through the tribunal. Last week, the tribunal defended itself against claims by detainees’ attorneys that decisions on their clients’ detentions were delayed or withheld, stating that multiple reports had been completed and forwarded to the ministry between September 12 and October 22. However, Alexander, in conversations with Newsday on November 6 and 12, reiterated that he had not received any reports and was unsure of the cause of the delay. He emphasized the independence of the tribunal and expressed his reluctance to interfere in its processes, stating that he would consult his permanent secretary to avoid any perception of undue influence. Alexander acknowledged the concerns of detainees but assured that the process remains transparent and professional.

In a recent development surrounding the state of emergency (SoE) in Trinidad and Tobago, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander released four redacted copies of Review Tribunal reports on November 12, following attorneys’ claims that their detained clients had not received the tribunal’s recommendations. The reports, dated September 12, 19, 27, and October 6, revealed that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to review two requests but found sufficient cause for the preventative detention of other detainees. The tribunal had previously confirmed sending six reports to the minister between September and October, with a cover letter dated October 31.

Attorney Darren Mitchell, representing several detainees, criticized the government’s handling of emergency powers, labeling the indefinite detention of individuals as unconstitutional. He accused the police commissioner of using preventative detention orders (PDOs) as a substitute for proper investigations, stating, ‘The police have given up on crime detection investigations and convictions to embrace successful policing.’ Mitchell also questioned the timing of the reports’ release, suggesting it was a deliberate tactic to delay judicial review.

Mitchell further condemned the silence of professional bodies like the Law Association and the Criminal Bar Association, accusing them of failing to uphold justice and human rights. ‘Those expected to stand for justice are seemingly acquiescing or partnering with injustice,’ he said.

The tribunal defended its actions, emphasizing that its role under the Emergency Powers Regulations 2025 is limited to reviewing detention requests and submitting reports to the minister, who then decides whether to share relevant portions with detainees. The tribunal assured the public that it has performed its duties in accordance with the law.

The government extended the SoE for a second three-month period on October 31, with 98 of 156 PDOs executed by the police so far. The Ministry of Homeland Security has not clarified whether the remaining tribunal reports have been forwarded to other detainees.