标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The Port of Spain Prison has long been labeled as a ‘university of crime,’ but a groundbreaking new initiative seeks to redefine its role in society. The recently unveiled prison plan envisions transforming correctional facilities into campuses for human development, where inmates can access rehabilitative and restorative programs. This transformative approach aims to reduce recidivism, lower prison populations, and foster societal reintegration. Central to this plan is the empowerment of prison officers, who will evolve into professional human development agents, gaining greater respect and job satisfaction in their roles. The initiative emphasizes maintaining family ties, equipping inmates with income-earning skills, and facilitating job placements post-release. Education, school policing, and efforts to curb narco-trafficking are also prioritized to redirect young people away from illegal activities and into legal networks. Drawing inspiration from the Abdullah Report (1980) and the Penal Reform and Prison Transformation Reports in Trinidad and Tobago (2003), this project aspires to redefine justice based on the lived experiences of those most affected by the system. Catherine Ali, in her letter to the editor, highlights the potential for this initiative to create a ripple effect across the Caribbean, the Commonwealth, and globally. Thousands eagerly anticipate the launch of this creative justice project, which could mark a historic first in defining justice from the perspective of the marginalized.

On the evening of November 9, a modest yet diverse assembly gathered at Woodford Square in Port of Spain for a candlelight vigil advocating peace. This event coincided with Trinidad and Tobago’s annual Remembrance Day, traditionally a time to honor those who perished in World Wars I and II and other conflicts. However, this year’s vigil shifted focus to address the pressing need for peace and dialogue amidst escalating regional and political tensions. The gathering saw participation from at least ten civil society and religious organizations, including the Concerned Muslims of TT, the Emancipation Support Committee, and the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), among others. Representatives from Muslim, Hindu, and Christian communities, as well as cultural and activist groups, were present. The event was set against the backdrop of increasing geopolitical strain between the United States and Venezuela, a situation that has drawn Trinidad and Tobago into diplomatic crossfire. Recent controversial remarks by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, urging the US to ‘kill them all’ in reference to alleged drug smugglers, and her accusation that Caricom was ‘siding with Venezuela,’ added to the tension. Despite these political undertones, organizers emphasized that their involvement was not political but a collective appeal for peace. Rauold Keith Simon, shaman of the Warao Community of San Fernando, stated, ‘This is not political; this is purely spiritual… We want peace.’ However, his message carried a warning: ‘We won’t take it any more. We will fight back.’ Cacica of the Warao Nation of TT, Anicia Benjamin, offered a somber reflection on the long-term consequences of conflict, drawing parallels to the prolonged recovery periods post-World War II. Religious leaders also used the occasion to emphasize moral responsibility and collective renewal. Pandit Lloyd Mukram Sirjoo, head of the Trinidad Academy of Hinduism, urged greater spiritual engagement from citizens, lamenting the neglect of moments of prayer and reflection. JTUM reaffirmed its support for the initiative, calling for the Caribbean to remain a ‘Zone of Peace’ and warning that military escalation ‘can only be to the detriment of Caribbean people.’ The union stressed that progress ‘requires stability and peace,’ pledging solidarity with all groups advocating for calm and unity.

President Christine Kangaloo presided over the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at Memorial Park in Port of Spain on November 9, honoring the soldiers of Trinidad and Tobago who perished in World Wars I and II, as well as other conflicts. The solemn event, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, featured the traditional laying of wreaths at the cenotaph, a monument dedicated to the nation’s fallen heroes. President Kangaloo was the first to place a wreath, followed by Attorney General John Jeremie, who represented an absent Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Other dignitaries, including Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge, and Chief of Defence Staff Captain Don Polo, also paid their respects. Diplomats from Australia, Colombia, Germany, Jamaica, Korea, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Turkiye, Canada, China, Ghana, Argentina, and the European Union delegation participated in the ceremony, alongside Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne. The event, marked by a brief prayer and no formal speeches, was notably subdued, with fewer spectators than in previous years. The cenotaph, crafted from Portland stone and bronze, bears the names of TT nationals who died in both World Wars and features symbolic sculptures representing courage, sacrifice, and victory. Originally unveiled in the 1920s, the monument has been the centerpiece of TT’s Remembrance Day observances for nearly a century.

In a shocking incident on the evening of November 8, 30-year-old Darrina “Darri Boss” Dow was fatally shot outside Strood’s Bar in Tunapuna. According to police reports, Dow was engaged in a card game with friends when a white AD Wagon pulled up around 10:30 pm. A masked assailant, clad in black, emerged from the vehicle and opened fire, striking Dow four times in the back. The gunman swiftly returned to the car, which then sped away from the scene. A harrowing video of the attack has since surfaced on social media, capturing the tragic moment.

Witnesses recounted that Dow’s father and a bystander rushed her to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival at 11:25 pm. The following day, Newsday visited the scene, finding the bar closed and the outdoor area still wet, with visible water slicks. Residents in the neighborhood remained reticent, revealing only that Dow had rented an apartment a few houses away from the bar but was not originally from the area. A visit to her apartment complex revealed closed gates and no signs of occupancy.

Crime scene investigators from the North Central Division and officers from the Region II Homicide Bureau have processed the scene, and police investigations are ongoing. Efforts to reach the area’s MP and Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, for comment were unsuccessful.