标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The MV Logos Hope, renowned as the globe’s largest floating book exhibition, has made its seasonal berth at Scarborough Harbour, Tobago, marking a significant cultural event for the Caribbean region. The vessel, which commenced its stay on December 19, will remain accessible to the public until January 2 before transitioning to Port of Spain for a month-long engagement from January 3 through February 3.

Operated through a collaborative initiative between international charitable organization GBA Ships and Operation Mobilisation, this unique maritime bookstore boasts an extensive collection exceeding 5,000 literary works. The inventory encompasses diverse genres including children’s literature, fiction, non-fiction, academic references, and educational materials, with a notable representation of publications featuring Christian themes.

The floating cultural center is maintained by an international volunteer crew representing approximately 60 nationalities, creating a multicultural environment for visitors. During its Tobago deployment, the ship welcomes guests daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with final admissions concluding at 9:00 PM. The facility will observe temporary closures on December 25 and January 1 in recognition of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day celebrations.

Admission pricing is structured at $5 for general entry, while complimentary access is granted to children under twelve years of age and senior citizens aged sixty-five and above. All visitors must present valid tickets for entry, with minors requiring adult supervision. The vessel accommodates both cash and electronic payment methods, and prospective visitors have the option to reserve specific time slots through advanced online booking systems.

This visit marks a continuation of the ship’s engagement with the region, following its previous port call in Tobago during 2024. The Logos Hope has established itself as a recurring educational and cultural attraction throughout Trinidad and Tobago, offering unique literary access before proceeding with its international voyage itinerary.

A comprehensive underwater recovery operation continues to search for the remains of Pete Phillip, a 45-year-old Well Services Ltd employee presumed dead following the partial collapse of Rig 110 in the East Soldado Field of the Gulf of Paria in December 2024. Despite four separate diving expeditions conducted last week, search teams have yet to locate any trace of the missing worker.

The prolonged recovery process has left Phillip’s family in emotional limbo as they approach the one-year anniversary of the tragedy. His widow, Candacy, received official updates from Well Services Petroleum Company Ltd confirming the unsuccessful search efforts. The family recently held a memorial service at their La Romaine residence to commemorate the anniversary while maintaining hope for eventual closure.

The complex salvage operation has progressed through multiple phases, with initial stabilization work only commencing in November due to delayed equipment arrival from a U.S.-based contractor and necessary approvals from regulatory bodies including the Environmental Management Agency and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries. Company representatives indicate the search will continue intensively once the damaged rig structure is fully lifted from the water.

Phillip’s legacy includes his five children, youngest among them Javon, born two months after the accident and given the middle name ‘Pete’ in honor of his father. While the family attempts to move forward with life, including celebrating Christmas together, relatives have expressed profound dissatisfaction with the pace of the recovery process, noting that bureaucratic delays have prolonged their anguish.

A prominent women’s rights advocate has expressed profound dismay over PriceSmart’s female cashiers being compelled to seek Industrial Court intervention regarding their employers’ refusal to provide seating accommodations. Hazel Thompson-Ahye, in a compelling editorial letter, revealed that the hearing for this workplace dispute has been scheduled for March 2026—a timeline she considers unacceptably delayed for addressing what she characterizes as a fundamental dignity issue.

The controversy underscores deeper societal insensitivities toward women’s needs in the workplace, according to Thompson-Ahye. She draws parallels to a previous successful advocacy effort where she and other women secured seating for cashiers at Massy Group during an annual general meeting. This earlier victory demonstrated corporate responsiveness to humane working conditions when properly confronted.

Thompson-Ahye’s personal history with Massy Group informs her perspective. She recounts how the company supported her family after her father’s blindness at age 47, continuing his salary until all children completed their education and found employment—a testament to corporate compassion she believes should extend to all workers.

The letter further details her persistent advocacy for gender representation, including challenging the absence of women on Neal and Massy’s board. While eventually successful, the process revealed entrenched resistance masked as opposition to ‘tokenism.’

Thompson-Ahye concludes with an urgent appeal to PriceSmart management, particularly during this season of goodwill, to provide seating immediately rather than awaiting court proceedings. She calls upon fellow advocates to join her in demanding dignified working conditions for female cashiers, emphasizing that physiological differences require accommodation without compromising equality.

A devastating fire on December 26th completely destroyed both the residence and business of a Princes Town family, leaving them without home or livelihood just after Christmas. The incident occurred at the St Julien Road property where 49-year-old Brian Chadee lived with his wife and daughter.

Fortunately, all family members were away from the premises when the blaze ignited, alerted by a neighbor who spotted smoke from a nearby hill. Chadee recounted rushing to the scene only to find his woodworking workshop already engulfed in flames. Despite attempts to control the fire using a garden hose, inadequate water pressure hampered his efforts.

Neighbors quickly organized a bucket brigade in a collective attempt to contain the spreading fire until professional firefighters arrived. Unfortunately, the flames had already reached the main house by the time emergency services intervened.

The property held significant sentimental and financial value for the family. Chadee had inherited the home from his grandmother decades earlier and had substantially refurbished the structure over the years. The adjacent workshop represented a $200,000 investment in specialized tools and materials used for the family’s furniture-making business, which served as their primary source of income.

The complete destruction has left the family facing immense challenges. ‘We have no tools, we have nothing. We have no material, nothing,’ Chadee expressed regarding their business prospects. Currently staying with nearby friends, the family acknowledges the temporary nature of this arrangement.

While the Princes Town Regional Corporation’s Disaster Management Unit has provided initial assistance including mattresses, and the local councilor has visited, the family remains open to community support as they await the fire service’s official investigation results before beginning rebuilding efforts.

The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has significantly enhanced its operational capabilities through a substantial donation from the US Embassy, featuring two refurbished specialized vans and construction materials for a new whelping facility. The official handover ceremony occurred on December 17 at the Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Centre in Golden Grove, Arouca, where dignitaries witnessed demonstration exercises by the canine unit.

The refurbished vehicles, purpose-built for the Prison Service’s canine division, and the newly established whelping station represent a strategic investment in institutional security and breeding infrastructure. The breeding facility now enables the unit to maintain and expand its canine population in a controlled, secure environment.

In addition to the transportation and breeding infrastructure, the embassy contributed operational equipment including a mist blower, brush cutter, pressure washer, washable dog pads, and enrichment toys for the animals.

The ceremony attracted high-ranking officials from both nations, featuring Commissioner of Prisons Carlos Corraspe, Deputy Commissioners Hayden Forde, Curtis Guy, and Elvin Scanterbury, alongside US Embassy representatives Chief of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kelley Whitson, Saleem Boochoon, and Nathan Johnson. Debbie Jacob, a Newsday columnist and longstanding supporter of prison services, also attended the event.

Commissioner Corraspe highlighted the significance of bilateral cooperation, stating: “Today marks a celebration of the relationship between the US Embassy and the TT Prison Service. The Canine Unit represents one of our exemplary divisions, and the US Embassy has made substantial contributions to its development.” Addressing unit officers, Corraspe emphasized their “critical role in national security” and their responsibility for safeguarding both the prison system and broader community.

Whitson expressed strong interest in deepening institutional ties and anticipated ongoing collaboration between the two entities. The partnership reflects mutual dedication to capacity building, rehabilitation initiatives, and public safety enhancement, reinforcing a cooperative framework built upon mutual respect and sustained diplomatic engagement.

A significant cultural conflict has emerged between Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra and the National Gas Company (NGC) following the state-owned energy corporation’s decision to withdraw corporate sponsorship from youth-focused, sporting, and cultural organizations. The dispute centers on NGC’s substantial reduction in funding allocations for 2025, particularly affecting steelband groups including Couva Joylanders, La Brea Nightingales, and Tobago’s Steel Xplosion.\n\nThe controversy intensified following comments by NGC Chairman Gerald Ramdeen, who asserted that the company is \”not here to be a Ministry of Culture or Sport\” and emphasized that \”NGC is not a charity.\” The Couva Joylanders Orchestra responded directly to these statements through a detailed Facebook post, challenging Ramdeen’s perspective on corporate social responsibility.\n\nThe orchestra presented a compelling counter-argument, stating that corporate sponsorship represents more than mere financial assistance. They emphasized that panyards function as critical community spaces—serving as safe havens, educational environments, and centers for cultivating discipline and creativity. The funding withdrawal, they argued, negatively impacts not only musical groups but also local economies, affecting tailors, transportation providers, food vendors, and artisans who depend on carnival and steelpan activities.\n\nAt a time when steelpan music is gaining international recognition, the orchestra warned that reduced corporate support could hinder cultural momentum and diminish Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism potential. They expressed particular concern about the timing, noting that the cuts coincide with growing global appreciation for the art form.\n\nThe band directly addressed Ramdeen’s comments, stating: \”Respectfully, sir, your framing makes NGC sound detached from the communities it serves. A state enterprise should reflect national priorities, not just shareholder returns.\”\n\nRamdeen defended the corporate decision, referencing $1.6 billion in profits that allegedly concealed $1 billion in losses from previous management. He committed to continuing NGC’s corporate social responsibility initiatives but emphasized doing so \”in a prudent and frugal manner, with decisions guided by the best interests of the company and the country.\”\n\nThe funding termination letters invoked contractual clauses allowing the company to \”terminate for convenience,\” a move that Pan Trinbago president Beverly Ramsey-Moore described as \”a devastating blow\” to the cultural community.\n\nOpposition MP Stuart Young characterized the withdrawal as \”an assault on our culture,\” highlighting the vital role panyards play as safe spaces in communities affected by crime. This controversy echoes similar concerns raised earlier this year when Heritage Petroleum reduced support for San Fernando’s Skiffle Bunch and Siparia Deltones.\n\nThe Joylanders concluded their statement by emphasizing the profound significance of steelpan culture: \”This debate isn’t abstract. It touches directly on the lifeblood of our orchestra and the wider steelpan family… Sponsorship here is about sustaining a legacy, empowering youth, and projecting TT’s identity to the world.\”

PORT OF SPAIN – A notable resurgence in public confidence toward Trinidad and Tobago’s police force appears to be emerging, driven by substantial reductions in serious criminal activities and enhanced community engagement programs. The current upward trend marks a significant departure from the mere eight percent trust level recorded in the 2022 Police Service Commission survey.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Suzette Martin reported on December 27 that numerous citizens expressed appreciation for police efforts during the recently concluded 12 Days of Christmas and Inter-Agency Christmas Caravan initiatives. According to Martin, both vendors and shoppers conveyed unprecedented feelings of security while conducting holiday purchases, with markedly fewer incidents of pickpocketing and robbery compared to previous years.

These community programs form part of the broader Operation Festive Shield strategy – an acronym representing Safety, High Visibility, Intelligence-Led Policing, Engagement, Law Enforcement and Deterrence. The comprehensive initiative commenced on December 15 and will extend through the Carnival season, concluding on February 23.

The operational success derives from multi-agency collaboration involving police, Fire Services, Defence Force, Prison Service, municipal police, and licensing department personnel. Officers disseminated safety awareness information while conducting goodwill activities nationwide, including hamper distributions, award ceremonies, and community beautification projects.

Statistical evidence supports the improved public sentiment. Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro revealed in November that homicide rates decreased by 42 percent, violent crimes dropped by 19 percent, and other serious offenses declined by 11 percent compared to the previous year. These improvements are largely attributed to the detention of 85 individuals during the state of emergency and implementation of intelligence-driven policing strategies.

DCP Administration Junior Benjamin emphasized the service’s year-long commitment to community safety, noting that every division contributed through various outreach programs. He confirmed that administrative, intelligence, and investigations personnel maintained high visibility in streets, malls, and public spaces throughout the holiday season.

The police force anticipates building upon this success throughout the upcoming Carnival celebrations and into 2026, with continued focus on evidence-based approaches and community partnership models.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has issued a formal public alert regarding the stringent enforcement of newly proclaimed fireworks legislation. Under the Summary Offences (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025 and accompanying Fireworks Regulations 2025, discharging fireworks without an official permit from the Commissioner of Police constitutes a punishable offense, with limited exceptions.

The legislation specifies precise time windows during which fireworks may be legally used: exclusively on designated public holidays from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and during the New Year’s Eve transition period from 11:30 PM on December 31 to 12:30 AM on January 1. Beyond these stipulated times, any fireworks usage mandates prior police authorization.

Effective December 19, 2025, individuals violating these provisions face immediate fines of $450 via ticketing system. The regulations further establish protective buffer zones, prohibiting fireworks discharge within a half-mile radius of sensitive locations including all public and private hospitals, airports, zoological facilities, registered animal shelters, livestock farms, forest reserves, and national parks.

Police authorities emphasized that irresponsible fireworks usage jeopardizes public safety, risks property damage, causes community disturbances, and creates particular distress for children, elderly residents, vulnerable populations, and domestic animals. The TTPS has committed to conducting targeted patrol operations to identify violations, with warnings and enforcement actions to be implemented accordingly.

The enforcement announcement follows observed public activities during traditional Boxing Day sales events, where fireworks retailers like Macoya’s Fireone Fireworks experienced high customer turnout, underscoring the timely nature of this regulatory clarification.