Carib Scope

标签： Trinidad and Tobago

特立尼达和多巴哥

  • Headless, mutilated body found

    Headless, mutilated body found

    A week-long search for a missing community member in the quiet coastal community of Icacos took a tragic turn on Thursday, when a multi-agency search team recovered a dismembered body from the area’s dense wetland swamps. The search operation, which brought together volunteer hunters and specialized police units, was launched after 50-year-old Indar Rampersad, a local coconut picker who had lived alone in the area for years, was reported vanished after neighbors had not seen him for nearly seven days.

    The grim discovery was the result of coordinated efforts between the volunteer Hunters Search and Rescue Team, headed by veteran search coordinator Vallence Rambharat, and three specialized police divisions: the police Air Support Unit, the South Western Division Task Force, and local Cedros Police officers. According to official police briefings, the recovered body was found with its head severed from the torso. The victim was found shirtless and barefoot, and the corpse had been deliberately concealed under a layer of freshly cut grass before being located by searchers.

    Shortly after the body was located at approximately 2:00 p.m. local time, Rambharat confirmed the find in a public social media post timestamped 2:03 p.m., noting that the body was uncovered during the active search for Rampersad. Law enforcement officials moved quickly to contact Rampersad’s next of kin following the discovery, and are now working with family members to complete a formal positive identification of the remains.

    When reached for comment by local outlet the Express Thursday evening, an anonymous member of Rampersad’s family shared new details about the missing man’s life in Icacos. The relative confirmed that Rampersad was officially reported missing to police Monday evening, after local residents grew concerned when he failed to appear at his regular coconut selling route. A well-known figure in the small community, Rampersad made his living harvesting coconuts that local buyers would purchase to process into coconut oil, and neighbors began asking after him when he stopped showing up to sell his stock.

    The relative explained that Rampersad lived a solitary life, residing alone in an abandoned property near the local district health centre. He never married and had no children, and was the only person currently reported missing from the Icacos community. He also shared identifying markers that will help investigators confirm whether the body found is that of Rampersad: the missing man has no tattoos, lacks an official birth certificate, and lost one of his fingers in a decades-old boat accident, when the digit was crushed and severed during a work outing.

    Commenting on the details of the discovery, the relative noted that the black long pants and black belt found on the body matched clothing that Rampersad regularly wore. Echoing the police description of the scene, he added that the location of the find was a remote Icacos swamp, and the concealment of the body under cut grass suggests foul play. “Somebody kill (the person) because they say the body cover down with grass,” the relative told the Express.

    As of Thursday evening, investigators from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region Three have taken over the case. Officials have not yet confirmed a potential motive for the killing, and many key details of the disappearance and death remain unconfirmed as the formal identification process and crime scene investigation move forward.

  • Bill to overhaul treatment of crime victims in Senate today

    Bill to overhaul treatment of crime victims in Senate today

    Trinidad and Tobago’s criminal justice system is poised for its most sweeping shift in how crime victims are treated, as Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj introduces a transformative, revolutionary Victims’ Rights Bill for its first reading in the national Senate on Monday.

    For decades, victims of crime across the twin-island nation have reported systemic neglect: left uninformed of investigation progress, sidelined during court proceedings, and forced to wait years for tangible justice. The new legislation directly addresses these longstanding grievances by codifying a full suite of formal rights for victims, upending a justice system that has historically centered the rights of the accused. The bill redefines victims as active, recognized stakeholders in the legal process rather than passive bystanders, expanding the definition of a victim to include not only people directly harmed by a crime, but also immediate family members and witnesses, regardless of whether an offender is ever identified or convicted.

    Key provisions of the landmark legislation mandate consistent, transparent communication from law enforcement and judicial bodies to victims. Police will be required to share regular updates on the status of investigations, while prosecutors must notify victims of all court developments: from initial charges and hearing schedules to case outcomes, appeals, bail decisions, and any protective conditions imposed on accused individuals. In high-stakes case decisions—including dropping charges, accepting plea bargains, or appealing sentences or acquittals—the Director of Public Prosecutions will be legally required to consult victims before finalizing a call. The bill also guarantees victims the right to attend court proceedings (barring specific judicial exceptions), formalizes the right to submit impact statements outlining the emotional, psychological and financial toll of a crime ahead of sentencing, and sets strict rules to minimize unnecessary contact between victims and accused persons to reduce intimidation and trauma.

    A core priority of the legislation is addressing the widespread problem of secondary victimization, where survivors experience additional harm through insensitive interactions with police, court staff and legal processes. The bill requires all authorities to treat victims with dignity, compassion and respect, with accommodations tailored to individual needs including language barriers, disabilities and age. It also places strict limits on the public disclosure of victims’ personal identifying information, mandates the timely return of personal property seized for investigations, and guarantees access to information on existing support services ranging from counseling to legal aid. Victims also retain the right to appoint a representative to act on their behalf if they are unable to advocate for themselves.

    On the compensation front, the bill consolidates existing fragmented support systems into a single, streamlined framework. It expands pathways for financial redress, allowing victims to pursue compensation directly from offenders through civil court claims, while opening access to state-funded compensation in cases where other mechanisms are not available. Currently, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board provides this support, having disbursed roughly $1.2 million to eligible victims to date; the new bill brings this existing program under its comprehensive umbrella, along with victim voice provisions from the existing Criminal Procedure Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement Act.

    To ensure accountability across all agencies that interact with victims, the legislation establishes a formal, multi-tiered complaints process. Victims can file grievances over inadequate treatment, seek remedies including formal apologies, explanations and corrective action, and escalate unresolved complaints to the national Ombudsman. The bill also requires mandatory training guidelines for all personnel working with victims—including police, prosecutors and support staff—to ensure consistent, sensitive and professional care, and mandates the Justice Minister submit a detailed public report to Parliament every two years, including data on complaints filed, services accessed, and overall program outcomes.

    In an interview ahead of the bill’s debut, Maharaj acknowledged that the existing justice system suffers from a critical, long-standing gap: victims are routinely sidelined rather than prioritized as key stakeholders. He described the legislation as revolutionary, noting that it will accelerate the delivery of justice by embedding accountability into every stage of the legal process. While Maharaj acknowledged the reform will face early teething challenges, as agencies align their processes with the new requirements, he said the government will roll out comprehensive awareness and training programs to bring all stakeholders on board. He added that the government is already working to address broader systemic issues slowing justice delivery, including a massive case backlog, by expanding capacity for the DPP’s office with additional prosecutors and increasing the number of public defenders.

  • Analysts call for Al-Rawi’s removal

    Analysts call for Al-Rawi’s removal

    A growing parliamentary controversy in Trinidad and Tobago has two leading political analysts publicly calling for major changes to the People’s National Movement (PNM) opposition bench in the Senate, centered on the fate of veteran Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi amid a formal privileges investigation.

    The controversy traces back to last Friday, when Senate President Wade Mark launched a Privileges Committee probe into Al-Rawi and first-term Opposition Senator Janelle John-Bates. The investigation was triggered by a motion filed by Government Minister David Nakhid, who accused the pair of improperly assisting former Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh draft a witness statement for the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), an act that allegedly constitutes interference with parliamentary committee work.

    Currently, Al-Rawi himself sits as a member of the Privileges Committee, which is chaired by Mark and also includes Attorney General John Jeremie, Government Senator Darrell Allahar, and Independent Senator Michael Simon de la Bastide, SC. Ahead of Wednesday’s scheduled Senate sitting, local newspaper the Express has confirmed that an announcement replacing Al-Rawi on the investigating committee is expected, a standard procedural step given that the probe centers on his own conduct. If the committee ultimately finds the two senators culpable of misconduct, it will submit a formal finding to the full Senate for a vote. Under current Senate Standing Orders, any suspension handed down has no fixed term, with the length determined entirely by a plenary resolution.

    Speaking to the Express, two independent political analysts have laid out stark differing but aligned calls for leadership action from PNM leader Pennelope Beckles, who has so far held off on a final decision regarding the pair’s future on the opposition bench.

    Dr. Winford James, a veteran political observer, argued that Al-Rawi, a former Attorney General and Senior Counsel, should be removed permanently from the PNM’s Senate delegation, while John-Bates—whom he described as a political neophyte—should be granted leniency and spared disciplinary action. James framed the ongoing probe as a symptom of growing tit-for-tat polarization between the ruling government and the PNM opposition, which has already levied accusations of bias against House Speaker Jagdeo Singh. He emphasized that as a veteran political and legal figure, Al-Rawi should have recognized the risk his actions posed to John-Bates’ fledgling career. “He has been around a long time and he’s a senior man in the party and in the law. And he should have known better and not imperilled the political career of Ms John-Bates,” James explained. “I’m not saying that she’s guilty or she’s not guilty of some indiscretion. But I think she should be given a second chance because she represents a younger generation in the PNM.” James added that disciplinary action against John-Bates would likely backfire politically for Beckles, while noting that Al-Rawi has already had repeated opportunities in senior political roles. He also pushed back against claims that Beckles’ delay in announcing a decision is a sign of political weakness, framing it instead as a cautious, deliberate approach. Beyond the core controversy, James also highlighted what he called a persistent pattern of sidelining Tobago-based PNM politicians, pointing to the exclusion of Melanie Roberts-Radgman, who was not put forward for a Senate seat by the PNM Tobago Council.

    In contrast, Dr. Maukesh Basdeo argued that retaining both Al-Rawi and John-Bates on the opposition bench is an untenable position for the PNM, pointing to documentary evidence that he says proves both are culpable. Basdeo noted that tracked changes embedded in Deyalsingh’s draft witness statement link most edits directly to Al-Rawi, a fact that was revealed during debate on the PAAC report, and that John-Bates has openly admitted her role in the process. Basdeo added that there is already a clear pattern of disruption stemming from the controversy: the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security has already refused to sit with John-Bates as a member, and senior Government Minister Jearlean John publicly stated last week that government representatives will not participate in committee work alongside Al-Rawi. “This sets a clear pattern now that the operations of the committee system in Parliament will be affected by the Leader of the Opposition’s delayed response on dealing with this matter,” Basdeo warned. He echoed the procedural justification for Al-Rawi’s immediate removal from the Privileges Committee, noting that it is only natural for the senator to step aside given that the investigation concerns his own conduct.

  • Fire damages Globe City Plaza

    Fire damages Globe City Plaza

    A large-scale fire broke out at the landmark Globe City Plaza commercial complex in Chase Village, Trinidad on Wednesday, triggering a multi-division emergency response from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) that kept the blaze contained to one section of the site but left millions of dollars in estimated damage and disrupted dozens of local businesses.

    The fire ignited just after 9 a.m. local time, starting in a wholesale store located on the eastern side of the sprawling compound, which sits adjacent to the Connector Road highway near the Chase Village overpass. The alarm brought dozens of firefighters from across South and Central Trinidad to the scene, with a total of 35 personnel, five fire tenders, and a specialized Bronco Skylift aerial firefighting unit deployed to tackle the flames, acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ansar Ali told reporters.

    By midday, crews had successfully stopped the blaze from spreading to adjacent structures, including a foam factory at the rear of the complex and businesses on the western wing. Ali confirmed that the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) provided full support for firefighting operations, with no water supply shortages reported during the response; local media observed at least four truckloads of water delivered to the site within a three-hour window.

    Even after containing the spread, Ali noted that crews would need several additional hours to fully extinguish the fire, as collapsed roofing left smoldering hot spots trapped under debris. Fire teams worked through the afternoon to clear rubble and douse remaining embers. As of Wednesday evening, no fatalities had been reported, though a full sweep of the damaged area was still underway to confirm no one was unaccounted for.

    A preliminary cause of the fire has not yet been determined, with the investigation assigned to the Central Division’s Fire Prevention Investigation team. The full cost of damage is also still being assessed, though Ali gave an early estimated building value of $4 million, with the total value of inventory and commercial contents still unknown.

    The multi-business complex, founded by local businessman RS Jaglal, hosts at least 15 separate commercial operations ranging from retail stores, a hardware outlet, and food service spots to medical clinics, a dental practice, a spa, photo studio, pet supply store, and security firm. A front strip also houses dozens of independent food vendors.

    While two-thirds of the complex was saved thanks to the TTFS response, the incident still disrupted operations across the entire site. One tenant, who requested anonymity, confirmed all power to the plaza was cut immediately after the blaze, leaving all unaffected businesses closed indefinitely with no clear timeline for service restoration. Seven businesses in the fire’s eastern path were confirmed destroyed.

    For some vendors, however, the outcome was far better than expected. The owner of JoJo Gyro, a front-lot food cart, told reporters he was alerted to the fire just 30 minutes after it broke out and rushed to the site, only to find his business completely unharmed. He praised the TTFS for its rapid, effective response, noting crews arrived on scene within an hour of the blaze starting. Local resident Nicholas Britto, who saw thick plumes of smoke rising from his nearby home in Carlsen Field, confirmed the intensity of the fire, saying large flames were visible above the complex as crews worked to bring them under control.

    The heavy smoke from the blaze also triggered major traffic disruptions across the area, prompting authorities to close the Chase Village overpass temporarily. Backups stretched along both northbound and southbound highway lanes as emergency vehicles and onlookers converged on the site. The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure issued an advisory urging motorists to use alternative routes between the overpass and Southern Main Road near Thompson Road for the duration of emergency operations.

    Jearlean John, Member of Parliament for Couva North and the country’s Works Minister, visited the scene Wednesday and expressed deep sorrow for the business owners affected. “I am told that seven businesses were destroyed this morning, which means the loss of property, income, and jobs. It is extremely sad when people sacrifice for their families, for their dreams to lose it all in this terrible and unfortunate event,” John said, adding that she planned to meet with affected workers and business owners to offer support. John noted that senior TTFS leaders commended responding firefighters for their commitment, courage, and dedication, highlighting that their fast action saved roughly two-thirds of the entire complex from damage. Complex owners declined to comment to reporters while emergency operations were ongoing.

  • $350M PAYOUT AT T&TEC

    $350M PAYOUT AT T&TEC

    A decades-long industrial dispute has reached a major milestone, as nearly $350 million in long-outstanding cost-of-living allowance (COLA) payments has been released to current and former workers of the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has confirmed. The announcement came during a press interaction at the recent launch of a new solar power system for Angostura Holdings Ltd’s bitters bottling facility in Laventille’s Angostura House.

    Padarath explained that the disbursement fulfills a commitment made by the Prime Minister several months prior to resolve backlogged COLA obligations covering the 2015 to 2025 period, noting that the process is currently moving forward as planned. He added that government officials have maintained consistent, open dialogue with the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), the primary representative body for T&TEC’s workforce, throughout the settlement process.

    “Over the last couple of months, we have paid out, I would say, close to $350 million in outstanding payments that were owed to T&TEC workers,” Padarath told reporters.

    The minister framed the COLA settlement as a core component of broader government efforts to stabilize industrial relations at the state-owned utility, clear long-standing unpaid obligations, and implement structural restructuring for the organization. Ongoing negotiations are already underway to address bargaining agreements for current and future contract periods, he confirmed, adding that T&TEC’s day-to-day operations remain fully stable amid the changes.

    “Morale is high in T&TEC. There are a lot of changes that are happening there, negotiations for the current period, and the outstanding ones will progress in the very near future. There is a good relationship with the OWTU, who is the majority trade union representative for T&TEC,” Padarath said. “We have seen significant improvements with respect to outstanding COLA and settlement of wages and so on. And therefore, we look towards the future.”

    Contacted for verification, OWTU Second Vice-President Reesa Ramlogan-Jodha confirmed that disbursements are proceeding under a structured phased plan that includes both active T&TEC employees and former workers, including retirees. The rollout began late last year for current staff, with payments continuing through the early months of 2026, she explained.

    “The payment would have been in one or two parts. Each part would have had tranches. So, in December 2025, January and February of 2026, active employees would have received what was outstanding,” Ramlogan-Jodha said.

    Following the completion of payments to current staff, focus has now shifted to former employees, with disbursements scheduled for May, June, and July of 2025. By the end of July, all outstanding COLA obligations will be fully settled, she confirmed.

    The COLA backlog is a decades-long industrial issue that has stretched back more than 10 years, Ramlogan-Jodha noted, explaining that the OWTU had repeatedly pushed previous T&TEC management teams to resolve the unpaid liability over the years. For much of that period, prior management administrations refused to even acknowledge that the payments were owed, a position that caused major delays in reaching any resolution.

    “The then management would not even acknowledge that there was a payment outstanding to workers and former workers who would have fallen within that period. As far as they were concerned, there was nothing owed,” she said.

    The turning point came following a change in government administration and a shift in T&TEC’s leadership, which brought a new, more collaborative approach to negotiations, Ramlogan-Jodha added. The new management team has been far more open to finding mutually acceptable solutions to outstanding worker issues.

    While the COLA backlog is nearing resolution, it represents only one part of a broader set of outstanding industrial issues between the OWTU and T&TEC. Negotiations over wage agreements for the 2015–2017 and 2018–2020 contract periods are still active, Ramlogan-Jodha noted, adding that the union has formally requested to restart discussions and multiple negotiating sessions have already been held. Though no final deal has been reached, both sides have committed to continuing bilateral talks to find common ground.

    For the 2015–2017 period, the Industrial Court previously issued a 0-0-0 wage ruling, which the OWTU appealed; the case is now back before the court. T&TEC has indicated it prefers to resolve both outstanding contract periods through direct negotiation, and if the parties can reach a voluntary agreement, the court case will be resolved accordingly, Ramlogan-Jodha said.

    She emphasized that the union remains optimistic about ongoing talks, citing the marked improvement in collaborative relations with the current T&TEC administration. Progress has also been made on other outstanding collective bargaining issues, including field worker placement and overall employment conditions, with incremental advances recorded since the end of last year.

  • Howai: We hear public frustration

    Howai: We hear public frustration

    A public and industry uproar over new banking fees rolled out by one of Trinidad and Tobago’s largest commercial lenders has pushed the national Central Bank to step in, launching direct talks with Republic Bank just weeks after the rate increases took effect on May 1. The policy change has drawn sharp criticism from business leaders, who warn it will exacerbate existing economic strains on small businesses and ordinary consumers alike.

    Central Bank Governor Larry Howai publicly acknowledged the widespread public frustration sparked by the fee adjustments in an official statement released this week, emphasizing that the regulator does not dismiss the intensity of public anger. “Over the years, we have closely monitored fees and charges of commercial banks, and the data on this remains publicly available on our website,” Howai noted, adding that the regulator’s role is far from passive. “Citizens deserve a financial system that works in their interest, and the Central Bank will continue to advocate for that.”

    The Central Bank clarified the boundaries of its regulatory authority under existing law: Section 44A(1) of the Central Bank Act only grants the institution power to set maximum and minimum caps for interest rates and fees related to loans, advances and other credit facilities. This mandate does not extend to everyday general service fees, including account maintenance charges, in-branch transaction costs and ATM withdrawal fees. For these services, the Central Bank enforces transparency, fair disclosure and consumer protection standards through its 2018 Market Conduct Guideline for licensed financial institutions, which all banks are required to follow.

    To address growing concerns over unjustified fee increases, particularly at a time when domestic commercial banks have posted robust annual profits, the Central Bank confirmed it has recently completed a wide-ranging survey of six of the country’s largest commercial banks. The survey was designed to map out banks’ internal philosophies, governance frameworks and operational practices surrounding fee setting. A final report compiling survey findings and actionable policy recommendations is currently being finalized, and will be shared with the entire banking industry for consultation and implementation once complete.

    Among the key consumer protection tools the regulator highlighted are basic low-cost banking accounts, which all commercial banks have been mandated to offer under the 2021 Simplified Due Diligence Guidelines. These accounts are tailored specifically to low-income individuals and micro-enterprises, requiring minimal documentation and charging reduced or no recurring fees. The Central Bank encouraged consumers and small business owners affected by the recent fee hikes to inquire about these accounts at their local branch. The institution also announced it is actively expanding consumer protection support by reviewing the mandate and scope of the Office of the Financial Services Ombudsman, while ramping up outreach through its National Financial Literacy Programme to help citizens understand their consumer rights and compare banking options effectively. It also urged the public to utilize its free, public online Comparative Schedule of Fees and Charges, hosted on its official website, to make informed banking decisions.

    While the Confederation of Regional Business Chambers (CRBC) welcomed the Central Bank’s intervention, the industry group argued that the regulator’s current actions fail to address the immediate financial harm already being felt by businesses and consumers following Republic Bank’s fee hike. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and everyday customers are already grappling with broad-based cost inflation and tight economic conditions, the CRBC noted, making the new bank fees far more than a minor inconvenience. “Increased banking fees directly affect the cost of doing business and the cost of living. For SMEs in particular, banking services are essential to daily operations, making these additional charges unavoidable and burdensome,” the group said in a statement.

    The CRBC made clear it opposes both the timing and the scale of the fee increases, calling for more decisive regulatory action to ensure bank fee structures remain fair, transparent, and aligned with the country’s current economic realities. The group is demanding full transparency from the banking sector to justify the new charges, as well as inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue between regulators, financial institutions and business representatives to work toward a solution. It also called for targeted relief measures to cushion the blow for SMEs and financially vulnerable consumers, noting that a well-functioning financial system must balance efficiency with equity.

    “The stability and growth of Trinidad and Tobago’s economy depend heavily on the resilience of its business community. Any action that increases the cost of doing business without corresponding value must be carefully reconsidered,” the CRBC said, adding that monitoring and direct engagement, while valuable, are not enough without stronger regulatory action and clear policy direction. CRBC chairman Vivek Charran went as far as to say the fee hike marked a departure from the bank’s long history of supporting small businesses. “This is not the Republic Bank I know and that has held the hand of SMEs for some three generations. This is a different bank,” Charran told local outlet the Express.

    Concerns over the fee increase first emerged on April 27, when multiple chamber of commerce leaders warned that small businesses would bear the brunt of the new charges after Republic Bank first announced the adjustments. At that time, the CRBC argued that the new fees would add overwhelming pressure to SMEs already struggling with high operating costs, limited foreign exchange access and slowing consumer spending. Multiple local industry leaders echoed that concern this week: Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce President Baldath Maharaj noted that most SMEs operate on extremely thin margins and cannot absorb the extra costs, meaning the fees will likely be passed directly to consumers through higher prices. Greater San Fernando Area Chamber of Commerce President Kiran Singh added that the size and timing of the hike are particularly concerning given the commercial banking sector’s strong profitability, which stands in stark contrast to the ongoing struggles of the small business sector. Tourism Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago President Lisa Shandilya noted that small tourism operators including guesthouses and independent tour guides are uniquely vulnerable to the new charges, as they rely heavily on regular digital banking transactions. Owners Dealers Association President Reval Chattergoon called the situation worrying, though not unexpected, amid national policy pushes to transition toward a cashless economy.

    As of this week, neither Republic Bank nor Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo have responded to requests for comment on the controversy. When it first announced the fee increases, Republic Bank stated the changes were “part of our ongoing review of our products and services.”

  • NP to THA: $50m to link fuel lines to new terminal

    NP to THA: $50m to link fuel lines to new terminal

    A major infrastructure oversight has emerged at Tobago’s newly constructed ANR Robinson International Airport terminal, with the National Petroleum Company Ltd (NP) confirming that connecting fuel lines from the existing airport site to the new terminal will carry a price tag of $50 million. THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine recently verified the cost estimate, shedding light on a critical gap in the terminal’s construction: the new building was completed without any on-site fuelling infrastructure at all. In an interview with local media outlet Express, Augustine detailed that discussions with NP several months ago yielded the $50 million projection, adding that the national energy firm is currently debating whether it will absorb the full cost of the project. For Augustine and the Tobago House of Assembly, the project is far more than a basic construction fix: the regional body wants the new terminal to meet modern, efficient, and competitive standards that match or exceed peer airports across the Caribbean and broader global aviation network. The oversight, Augustine explained, is not an unforeseen mistake. He recalled that former THA Infrastructure Secretary Trevor James first flagged the need for integrated fuelling infrastructure back in 2022, when the ruling PNM Cabinet held a gathering in Tobago at the prime minister’s official residence. Despite the early warning, Augustine said, the THA’s input was sidelined, and construction proceeded without including this critical utility. “But of course, as usual, in 2022 the THA was ignored, our thoughts were not considered at the time and the terminal was built without that critical infrastructure there,” Augustine stated. Even with the past disregard for local input, Augustine emphasized that the THA remains committed to collaborating with Trinidad and Tobago’s central government to get the terminal fully and efficiently operational. He framed the airport as a key economic asset for Tobago, rather than just a transit hub for passengers. “Airports in of themselves are potentials for generating income; we have to see the airport as such and not just as a hub for planes to land and pick up people, but as an income-generating facility,” he said. The issue has now gained traction at the national level: Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John acknowledged the problem in a Monday interview with Express, confirming that the project will require design adjustments to address the fuelling gap. John shared that she shares concerns over the terminal’s current lack of fuelling capacity, and has scheduled a meeting with relevant officials later this week to map out a path forward. The full proposal to resolve the issue will be presented to the national Cabinet for consideration next week.

  • Gang blamed for 24 home invasions

    Gang blamed for 24 home invasions

    In a sweeping anti-crime operation carried out last Saturday in central Trinidad, law enforcement officers shot and killed four men who investigators confirm were core members of a violent criminal cell that terrorized local communities through a weeks-long spree of coordinated home invasions. Two additional suspects connected to the ring, dubbed the “Tall Boots Crew” for their signature footwear during robberies, were taken into custody following the operation, as police continue a manhunt for other at-large members of the group.

    As of Wednesday, police have successfully identified three of the four deceased suspects: Mikhail Guiseppe of Waterhole, Cocorite; 30-year-old Davion Guiseppe of Lee Trace, North Cunupia; and Kevin John. Authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the fourth fatality, and have issued a public call for the man’s next of kin to come forward to claim his remains.

    Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation told local media that the gang carried out attacks across five central Trinidad communities: Cunupia, Chaguanas, Freeport, Las Lomas and Longdenville. The crew’s consistent modus operandi involved striking after midnight, when residents were asleep. Members cut through residential burglar proofing to gain entry to homes, then coerced terrified victims at gunpoint to disclose where valuables were stored and even reveal which neighboring homes held high-value assets. Before fleeing the scene, the gang would steal cash, jewelry, electronics, and alcohol, and often disposed of stolen mobile phones by flushing them down household toilets to eliminate evidence.

    Investigators confirmed this pattern of criminal activity matches three back-to-back home invasions that targeted families in central Trinidad just last Thursday, where the gang managed to evade responding officers and escape unscathed. Police suspect the group operated out of a hidden base located close to their target areas, which allowed them to carry out their coordinated string of robberies over multiple weeks without detection.

    Details of the post-operation arrests paint a clear picture of how the crackdown unfolded. One of the two captured suspects lives on Sampson Road, just a short distance from many of the gang’s crime scenes. The second arrested man, known by the alias “Three Pop”, was already listed as a high-priority person of interest for law enforcement prior to the operation. One of the captured suspects hid in dense woodland for several hours after the operation, contacting his family by cell phone to beg for legal representation so he could surrender without being harmed. He was ultimately taken into custody without any violence or injuries reported.

    In an official audio statement released Wednesday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Richard Smith noted that preliminary investigations tie the Tall Boots Crew to approximately 24 reported home invasion cases across Trinidad’s Central Division and surrounding neighboring areas. ACP Smith used the operation as an opportunity to issue a stark warning to individuals, particularly young people, who may be considering entering a life of crime.

    “There is no reward in criminality. The life of crime inevitably leads to negative consequences, loss of freedom, loss of opportunities, and in many instances, loss of life,” Smith said. “The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service urges you to make better choices and choose a path that contributes positively to your future and your community.”

    Smith emphasized that public partnership remains critical to the TTPS’s efforts to reduce crime and hold offenders accountable, calling on all residents to work with police to build safer, more secure communities across the country. “Public co-operation remains a critical component in our crime prevention and detection efforts. The TTPS reiterates its zero-tolerance approach to gang activity and organised crime,” he said.

    “We will utilise all available legal measures and resources to dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice. We will not allow a small group of individuals to disrupt the peace and security of law-abiding citizens,” Smith added. He urged residents to stay alert to suspicious activity in their neighborhoods, and to report any unusual behavior or unknown individuals to the nearest local police station or through the service’s dedicated confidential crime hotlines.

    Smith confirmed that the investigation into the Tall Boots Crew remains ongoing and is still at a sensitive stage, with multiple suspects still at large. He noted that investigators are following up on every credible lead connected to the gang’s network, and that additional public updates will be released as the case progresses.

  • Glitch causes hours-long delay at Licensing offices

    Glitch causes hours-long delay at Licensing offices

    A widespread service disruption hit driver licensing and vehicle transaction services across all Licensing Division offices in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, after a technical failure at the territory’s official data service provider knocked systems offline for nearly three hours. The outage began shortly before offices opened to the public at 8 a.m., triggering long waits, public frustration, and last-minute emergency outreach from transportation authorities.

    Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke confirmed to local outlet Express that he received an initial alert from the division’s Information and Communications Technology department at approximately 7:45 a.m. alerting him to the connectivity failure. By the time Clarke was notified of the issue, in-house ICT teams and external technical consultants from Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) had already launched an investigation into the root cause.

    Technical teams ultimately traced the outage to a failed firewall or hardware device hosted at the TSTT data centre, which cut off critical connectivity to a core cluster of operational servers. The failure directly impacted the division’s two highest-volume public services: driver’s licence renewals and all general vehicle-related transactions.

    Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour later confirmed in a statement to Express that the technical glitch had been fully resolved, with normal service restored across all national licensing locations by 11 a.m. Clarke added that teams had the issue fully fixed as early as 10:45 a.m.

    Authorities moved quickly to mitigate public disruption as soon as the outage was confirmed: by 8 a.m., the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation had published public alerts warning residents of expected delays, and on-site staff at all licensing offices were instructed to proactively notify walk-in visitors of the service interruption. By noon on the day of the outage, Clarke said most affected visitors had returned to complete their transactions after the restoration.

    When asked to estimate the total number of residents impacted by the outage, Clarke noted that an exact count was not available, as licence expiration dates are spread throughout the year, leading to naturally staggered daily visits to licensing offices. Still, many frustrated residents took to social media to share their negative experiences, with some reporting they had begun waiting in line as early as 4 a.m. to secure their appointments. Multiple members of the public criticized the Licensing Division for recurring technical issues that disproportionately impact customers, with one woman questioning whether staff would still adhere to standard 11 a.m. lunch schedules despite the backlog of waiting visitors.

  • NGC denies sponsorship of Air Supply concert

    NGC denies sponsorship of Air Supply concert

    A state-owned energy firm in Trinidad and Tobago is pushing back against widespread false online claims that it financially backed the recent Air Supply 50th anniversary concert held at Port of Spain’s iconic Queen’s Park Oval. The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (NGC) issued an official public statement on Wednesday clarifying its lack of involvement in the high-profile soft rock show, which took place on May 2 and drew a crowd that included Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

    The misunderstanding, NGC explains, traces back to a long-expired commercial partnership with the venue’s operator, the Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC). For more than 12 years, NGC maintained an agreement with QPCC that saw the energy company fund the purchase and installation of a large digital replay screen at the cricket ground. In exchange for this investment, NGC secured long-term branding rights on the screen and access to a private corporate box for the venue’s events. This existing signage is what concert attendees spotted in event photos and videos, leading many to incorrectly assume the firm sponsored the Air Supply performance.

    Crucially, NGC confirmed that this 12-year arrangement was formally terminated by the company back in September 2025, months before the concert was held. The energy firm noted that the expired agreement has no connection whatsoever to any independent events hosted at the Queen’s Park Oval after the termination date. Currently, NGC is in the process of coordinating the full removal of its branded signage and graphics from the venue to prevent similar misinformation from spreading in the future.

    In its statement, the company expressed clear concern over the circulation of this misleading content across major social media platforms. It strongly rejected all narratives linking NGC to the concert, whether the false claims stemmed from innocent misinterpretation of visible branding or intentional misrepresentation of the firm’s activities.

    “Our brand and our reputation are among our most critical assets, and they cannot be misrepresented to the public,” the company emphasized in the release. NGC closed its statement by reaffirming its long-standing commitment to transparency, corporate accountability, and responsible business practices across all of its partnerships and public engagements, urging the public to disregard any untrue claims of its involvement in the May 2 concert.