标签： Trinidad and Tobago

A long-running labor dispute at Trinidad and Tobago’s Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has escalated this week, with the Public Services Association (PSA) mandating that utility workers halt business-as-usual operations until management progresses the union’s counter-proposals through the approval pipeline. The union blames WASA’s human resources director for a seven-month deadlock that has put overdue salary settlements at risk of further delay.

PSA President Felisha Thomas told reporters on Tuesday that union representatives and WASA workers gathered at the authority’s St Joseph Sports Club to await action from WASA’s board of directors, which must sign off on the counter-proposals before they can be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for final review.

The current standoff is rooted in years of back-and-forth negotiations over unpaid salary arrears for public servants covering two periods: 2014–2016 and 2017–2019. Under the established negotiation process, WASA’s HR director is tasked with drafting a formal submission for the WASA board, which then sends the approved counter-proposals to the Human Resources Advisory Committee before transmission to the Finance Ministry. Thomas confirmed that no progress has been made on this internal step since January.

“From January to the present, they have not made any submissions in that phase,” Thomas said in an interview with TV6 News. “In particular, the director of HR, who’s charged with the responsibility to move the negotiations from around the table to the board so that it can be transmitted to the ministry, she has not so much as prepared a note to the Human Resources Advisory Committee to advance the counter-proposals on behalf of WASA.”

In response to the prolonged inaction, the union issued a formal mandate that workers will not continue operating under normal work conditions until the full internal and external approval process for the counter-proposals is complete. Thomas called on WASA board members to attend the St Joseph Sports Club in person to approve the required documentation and get the process moving again.

Thomas also issued a stark warning that additional delays could push the final salary settlement back by another full year, citing comments from Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo regarding negotiation timelines tied to the upcoming mid-year budget review. Seven months of inaction since the initial counter-proposals were tabled, she said, is an unacceptable outcome for workers who have waited years for their owed arrears.

“These negotiations, these submissions were made since January. We are in August, and it is unacceptable for the director of HR to say that she has not done this,” Thomas added, stressing that urgent management action is required to prevent further hold-ups to a final settlement.

When pressed by reporters on the perceived conflict of serving as a labor representative while also holding positions on government-appointed state boards, Thomas pushed back on the framing of the question. “I am glad you asked that question. I sit on a State board as labour, and every single situation, I represent,” she said.

The current escalation comes three months after Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath told Parliament he had ordered WASA management to resume wage negotiations with the PSA, at which time he described the union as a valued partner of the current government.

In the wake of the union’s announcement, social media circulated claims that WASA workers had staged a lunchtime protest outside the authority’s St Joseph Public Education Centre after negotiations broke down, with a video posted to CNC3’s social platforms amplifying the narrative. But WASA’s Corporate Communications Manager Kristy Ramnarine refuted the protest claims in a telephone interview with the *Express*, clarifying the sequence of events that unfolded on Tuesday.

Ramnarine explained that PSA members were invited to gather at the Public Education Centre to receive an update on the status of negotiations. Following that briefing, the union and management teams walked together to the nearby St Joseph Sports Club to continue ongoing discussions, contradicting claims that an organized protest had taken place.

A major internal law enforcement investigation unfolding in Trinidad and Tobago’s capital has resulted in the detention of seven police officers, all linked to the mysterious disappearance of three Glock pistols, three firearm magazines and 45 rounds of 9mm ammunition from Port of Spain’s Central Police Station. Senior law enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday that two officers were taken into custody late Wednesday as the probe into the missing weapons intensified, with the remaining five arrested between Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon.

Authorities have planned to search the residential properties of all seven detained officers, though as of late Thursday, senior leaders had not confirmed whether those searches had been completed. Police spokespersons have also declined to release any details on the ranks or ages of the seven officers in custody, noting only that all suspects are currently undergoing questioning as a standard part of the investigative process.

The missing firearms and ammunition were originally deposited at the Central Police Station for secure storage by Port of Spain Municipal Police officers at 2:47 p.m. on August 10. Just under 13 hours later, at 3:40 a.m. on August 11, a routine inventory check revealed the cache of weapons was gone, and an official investigation was launched immediately.

Beyond the ongoing criminal probe, the incident has sparked growing friction between Port of Spain Municipal Police and Central Police Station personnel over the current protocols for storing deposited firearms. Municipal police sources told local media outlet the Express that officers attempting to retrieve weapons from the Central Police Station on Thursday faced delays of up to two hours, even for routine processes such as getting pocket diaries signed to confirm weapon collection. These delays are cutting into active patrol time, sources said, leaving municipal officers spending more time navigating administrative holdups than serving communities on city streets, and turning the storage arrangement into a persistent source of frustration for frontline personnel.

This latest weapons disappearance comes less than four months after a far deadlier incident at another Trinidad and Tobago police station: the murder of acting corporal Anuska Eversley and the theft of a large cache of firearms from the San Fernando Municipal Police Station. Eversley, a 42-year-old mother of three, was found dead at the King’s Wharf station on Lady Hailes Avenue. A post-mortem examination confirmed she died after being beaten and strangled.

Three people – municipal police officer Jivan “Bigs” Cooper, construction worker Kwame Arnold, and scrap iron dealer Nicholas “Nico” Ramdass – have been charged with Eversley’s murder, as well as firearms trafficking connected to the weapons and ammunition stolen from the station’s armoury. Four municipal officers who were suspended during the early phase of that investigation have since returned to active duty, though one superintendent remains suspended pending the outcome of ongoing probe work.

Back in May, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro announced that an Interpol Red Notice had been issued for a fourth suspect in Eversley’s murder, who investigators believe fled the country as the case unfolded. At that time, Guevarro also noted that a full firearms audit of the weapons stolen from the San Fernando station was still ongoing, describing the effort as a massive, large-scale project carried out by a dedicated team of officers. He confirmed that the audit was roughly 50 to 55% complete as of mid-May, after earlier police reports suggested approximately 123 firearms had been taken from the station armoury. As of May 21, Guevarro added, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) personnel had recovered 38 pistols, four shotguns, one MPX sub-machine gun, one revolver and more than 900 rounds of ammunition, most found in and around the Claxton Bay area. Many stolen weapons remain unaccounted for, however, leaving the investigation open.

A senseless act of violence has cut short the life of a young mother in northeast Trinidad, leaving her community reeling and law enforcement searching for answers. On a routine weekday morning yesterday, 30-year-old Shennel Lewis left her Sangre Grande residence, intending to catch a ride to her workplace – what unfolded minutes later was a targeted attack that left her dead at the scene.

According to local police reports, the tragedy unfolded shortly before 10 a.m. Lewis, a lifelong resident of the Brooklyn Settlement’s Bridge Road neighborhood, was walking toward McGillvary Road to access public transit. Her own sport utility vehicle was in the shop for repairs that morning, forcing her to make the trip on foot instead of driving herself.

As she reached the street corner, a white Nissan Tiida pulled up alongside her. A male suspect stepped out of the car, drew a hidden firearm, and fired two shots at Lewis at close range before quickly getting back into the vehicle and fleeing the area. Lewis collapsed to the pavement immediately after the shooting and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbors and family members who heard the gunfire rushed to the site within seconds and contacted police emergency services. Officers from the Sangre Grande Police Department and a medical ambulance arrived minutes later, but there was nothing medical personnel could do to revive her.

Soon after the shooting, investigators from the Region Two Homicide Bureau and the Crime Scene Unit were dispatched to process the scene and collect forensic evidence. As of yesterday evening, law enforcement officials confirmed they have not yet identified a clear motive for the killing, nor have they announced any suspects in the case.

When local media outlet Trinidad Express visited Lewis’ family home yesterday afternoon, grieving relatives had already gathered to mourn the loss. The family initially declined to comment on the shooting, but roughly 15 minutes later, a man identifying himself as Lewis’ uncle spoke on behalf of the family to share details about her life.

Lewis was a devoted mother to one child, and held a college degree in fitness education, her uncle shared. “She was a very nice, educated woman who had her whole life ahead of her. A very good person,” he said, adding that she was born and raised in the Sangre Grande area and had never given his family any reason to expect violence would find her. He also confirmed he did not have details on her specific employer at the time of her death.

This latest homicide pushes the total murder toll across Trinidad and Tobago for the current year to 229 as of last night. By comparison, the murder count at the same point last year stood at 234, marking a small year-over-year decrease in total homicides despite the high number of deadly violence incidents recorded this year.

Consumers across Trinidad and Tobago are currently grappling with widespread chicken shortages and sharp price increases, driven by a combination of unusual extreme weather patterns that have disrupted the nation’s poultry supply chain. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries released an official statement addressing the crisis this week, clarifying that the shortfall is a temporary, weather-driven disruption rather than a sign of long-term structural issues with domestic production capacity.

Local climatic conditions have put unprecedented strain on poultry farmers across the twin islands. Persistent record-high temperatures have forced producers to implement costly additional heat mitigation strategies, and in many cases, reduce the total number of birds raised on farms to protect animal welfare. According to the ministry’s statement, cutting stock numbers is a deliberate precaution: running farms at full capacity during extreme heat would lead to higher bird mortality rates and stunted growth, resulting in far greater long-term losses for producers and deeper shortages for consumers.

Officials note that while chicken remains available across the country in aggregate, many consumers are facing difficulty finding their usual quantities at local retail outlets. The Ministry is currently monitoring every link of the poultry supply chain, from hatchery output to domestic production, import volumes and changing weather conditions, while maintaining ongoing dialogue with producers and industry stakeholders to address emerging challenges quickly.

Looking ahead, official projections point to a gradual recovery of supply over the coming weeks. Based on data from local hatcheries, the number of newly hatched chicks available to farmers is set to rise within the next two weeks. Once these new birds complete the standard production cycle, full supply levels are expected to be restored approximately three weeks after that increase in chick availability, bringing the market back to normal as weather conditions improve.

“Poultry is a core component of national food security and a staple for household consumption across the country,” the Ministry said in its release. “We remain committed to supporting the local poultry sector while ensuring consumers have access to a stable, reliable supply of this essential product.”

Industry stakeholders and suppliers have confirmed the severity of the current shortages, reporting significant cuts to distribution quotas and steep price increases that have been passed on to consumers. One unnamed San Juan-based depot owner said that little has changed to ease the crisis since the *Express* first reported on emerging poultry supply issues in late June. “We are getting 50% less chicken than we usually get, and prices have gone up 15%,” he explained, adding that birds currently available are also smaller than the standard size consumers expect.

Since the start of 2024, average retail chicken prices have jumped from roughly $6 per pound to more than $9 per pound, a more than 50% increase that has put significant strain on household grocery budgets. A depot owner in Chaguanas also confirmed ongoing supply pressures, warning that if the disruption continues, many locations could run out of chicken entirely. She added that small independent chicken producers are facing particular strain, with even larger industry players like Arawak now facing disruptions that have created shortages of hatching eggs. She noted that fewer small farms are hatching their own chicks currently, forcing many to purchase day-old chicks from external suppliers instead.

Sudesh Ramkissoon, President of the Broiler Growers Association, confirmed that heat-driven stock reductions are a common precaution during hot periods, but this year’s extreme temperatures have created deeper disruptions than usual. “Chickens do not have sweat glands, so farmers have to reduce the density of birds in pens to keep them cool,” he explained. “This means the total weight of market-ready chicken available will be lower than usual for consumers, but this is not a permanent situation.” Ramkissoon added that some farmers are also facing water access issues, which have compounded existing supply constraints.

The shortage is not limited to retail outlets: local food businesses are also adapting to the new supply conditions. Pappy’s, a popular fried chicken restaurant based in Woodbrook known for its signature “Brian’s Fricken Chicken”, announced publicly this week that it would compensate customers for smaller-than-standard chicken portions during the shortage. In a post on social media, the restaurant explained: “Due to the current chicken supply shortage, our usual chicken sizes may be limited over the coming weeks. Don’t worry—if your pieces are smaller than our usual Pappy’s standard, we’ll add extra to make up for it. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through the shortage.”

This current shortage follows initial warnings issued by Ramkissoon back in June, when he first alerted consumers that reduced supply would lead to higher prices. At that time, prices had already risen to between $8 and $9.50 per pound, and checks conducted by the *Express* this week confirm that elevated prices remain in place across all retail and wholesale outlets.

Law enforcement leadership in Trinidad and Tobago’s Central Division has unveiled a proposal to establish permanent joint army-police security posts across five high-priority locations, part of a broader national crime reduction initiative announced earlier by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Senior Superintendent Rudolph Bhagwandeen, speaking at a press conference held at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain on Wednesday, clarified that the identification of the five sites does not guarantee all posts will move forward, as formal approval and implementation planning are still ongoing. The shortlisted locations, mapped from south to north across the division, are: the Couva Interchange near the NP gas station, Carlsen Field east of the main highway, Brentwood adjacent to a local gas station and east of the highway, Felicity in Chaguanas on the highway’s western flank, and the St Helena district in Caroni.

Three of the five proposed sites — Couva Interchange, Carlsen Field, and Felicity — were already included in the Prime Minister’s earlier announcement of a national plan to roll out 30 joint army-police posts nationwide, with six additional locations still to be finalized.

Bhagwandean explained that the five Central Division locations were chosen following a rigorous data-driven assessment. Selection criteria included an in-depth review of historical crime statistics, actionable intelligence collected through ongoing police operations, feedback from community engagement initiatives, and data shared by cross-agency partners. The division also incorporated guidance from the Police Service’s Crime and Problem Analysis Branch (CAPA) to validate its site choices.

A key factor in site selection was proximity to major transit corridors, particularly the region’s main highway. Bhagwandeen noted that positioning mobile security units at these strategic intersections would cut response times and improve officers’ ability to intercept criminal suspects moving through the area.

The proposal comes as the Central Division grapples with long-standing operational challenges: it covers a sprawling policing territory that includes nine distinct districts, requiring officers to respond to everything from minor infractions to serious violent crimes, and already faces strain on existing personnel and vehicle resources.

To address these constraints, the Police Service is implementing a flexible shared-resource model, where personnel, vehicles, and specialist units can be reallocated across station districts based on real-time crime trends, intelligence reports, and emerging threats. “We’ll put resources where the problem is, not simply where the resource is normally stationed,” Bhagwandeen explained of the new approach.

Despite the progress in site selection, critical details about the posts remain unresolved. Discussions about staffing and resource allocation are still ongoing with the Police Service’s executive leadership, and no final decisions have been made about how the 24-hour posts will be manned. Additional resources will be required both to operate the posts and to enable officers to respond to incidents dispatched from the new locations, but no finalized staffing data is available yet.

Bhagwandeen also confirmed that no timeline has been set for the deployment of the first post, and he could not share specific details about on-site facilities such as holding cells. Early plans indicate the posts will likely be constructed from prefabricated buildings, though their exact layout and size have not been confirmed. Once operational, the facilities will be open to the public, allowing community members to file reports and interact directly with officers on-site.

In a tense late-night operation that closes one high-profile homicide case but adds to growing police violence statistics in the country, an 18-year-old suspect wanted for the killing of a Trinidad and Tobago police officer was killed in a shootout with law enforcement at his girlfriend’s residential property in Matura Tuesday night.

Hassan “H-Man” Johnson was shot dead at a small two-bedroom concrete home located at the 7 3/4-mile marker along Main Road, Mora Trace, Matura. His death pushes the total number of people killed by police operations across Trinidad and Tobago to 21 so far this year, according to official law enforcement data.

Authorities launched the targeted manhunt after receiving credible intelligence shortly before 11 p.m. confirming Johnson had been hiding out at the property, after going off the grid following the July 28 murder of Police Constable Rommel Douglas. Johnson had avoided his own registered residence on Second Street in Printeryville, Arima, to evade capture for weeks.

A multi-unit tactical team assembled to execute the apprehension, drawing specialist officers from the Home Invasion Team, Special Investigations Unit, the Western and South-Western Division Gang Units, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations Team, supported by troops from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Law enforcement surrounded the property fully before moving in through an entryway on the building’s eastern side.

As armed officers entered the residence, police officials confirmed Johnson opened fire on the responding team. Officers immediately returned fire, striking Johnson multiple times. Two other civilians — a 19-year-old man and Johnson’s girlfriend — were inside the home during the exchange of gunfire but escaped the incident without physical injury.

Johnson was quickly rushed to the nearby Sangre Grande Hospital, where medical staff pronounced him dead at approximately 11:55 p.m. The two unharmed civilians were taken into police custody for questioning following the shootout.

Johnson was the primary suspect in the July 28 killing of Douglas, an officer assigned to the Four Roads Police Station. The fatal attack on the off-duty officer unfolded at around 11:05 p.m. that night, as Douglas sat in his parked vehicle at the intersection of Hydraulic Trace and Caroni South Bank Road in Kelly Village. A white Nissan Tiida pulled alongside Douglas’s car, carrying the alleged robbery crew that targeted the officer.

Police reports indicate the occupants of the Tiida attempted to rob Douglas, triggering a chaotic exchange of gunfire that left Douglas fatally wounded. One of the suspected accomplices, 19-year-old Adetola Ammon of Arima, was also killed during the encounter; law enforcement investigators believe Ammon was mistakenly shot by one of his co-conspirators during the attack.

Douglas was laid to rest on August 6, after a public funeral service held at the Morvant Central Community Centre on Cipriani Street in Morvant. During the memorial service, loved ones and colleagues remembered Douglas as a devoted family man who prioritized his relatives and held deep commitment to those close to him.