Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi has issued a stark warning about the potential economic consequences of the Trinidad and Tobago (TT) government’s failure to effectively manage escalating tensions with Venezuela. Speaking during the Senate budget debate on October 28, Al-Rawi highlighted recent statements by Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez, who announced plans to propose the termination of the energy cooperation framework agreement between the two nations. Rodriguez also indicated that Venezuela would seek to suspend all bilateral gas agreements with TT. Al-Rawi emphasized that these developments could jeopardize critical energy projects, including the Loran Manatee field, which holds significant natural gas reserves. He stressed that 73% of the field’s resources belong to Venezuela, while TT retains 27%. Al-Rawi cautioned that without access to these resources, TT’s energy sector investments could collapse, leading to severe economic repercussions. He urged the government to act swiftly and diplomatically to resolve the crisis and safeguard the nation’s economic stability. Additionally, Al-Rawi criticized budget cuts to key education and youth programs, questioning the government’s commitment to these sectors.
标签： Trinidad and Tobago
特立尼达和多巴哥
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Fatima, ‘Saints’ among schools into RBC Royal Slam semis
The RBC Royal Slam College tournament has reached its climactic stage, with Fatima College, Presentation College (San Fernando), Queen’s Royal College, and St Mary’s College securing their spots in the final four. The group phase concluded on October 26 at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sporting Arena in Tacarigua, setting the stage for an intense semifinal showdown.
In Group A, Fatima College demonstrated their supremacy with a commanding 112-67 victory over Queen’s Royal College (QRC), clinching the top spot. The trio of Williams Francis, Zachary Julien, and Idriis Martin spearheaded the win. Francis delivered a stellar triple-double performance with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 steals, while Julien contributed 29 points, six rebounds, and five steals. Martin added 23 points and eight steals to the tally. Despite a valiant effort from QRC’s captain Talib Daniel, who scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Fatima’s dominance was undeniable.
Holy Cross College secured third place in Group A with a 71-36 win over St Francis Boys’ College, led by Zion Redwood’s 17 points, eight rebounds, and six steals. However, Holy Cross had previously suffered a heavy defeat against QRC, where Daniel’s 35 points and 13 rebounds propelled QRC to an 85-56 victory.
In Group B, St Mary’s College emerged victorious with a 96-83 win over St Anthony’s College. Nkobi Ince shone with 35 points, eight rebounds, and six steals, while Zane Peters added 31 points to secure the Saints’ semifinal berth. Despite strong performances from St Anthony’s Amir Balgobin (33 points, eight rebounds) and Jahiem McLeod (29 points), they fell short against their northern rivals.
The semifinals are set for November 8, with St Mary’s facing QRC and Fatima taking on Presentation College. The tournament’s final will be held on November 9, with all matches taking place at the Tacarigua venue.
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Ex-PNM welfare officer among 48 TPP nominees
La Toya Horsford, a former welfare officer of the PNM Tobago Council, has emerged as one of 48 nominees vying to represent the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) in the forthcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections. Horsford, who stepped down from the PNM in June, is contending for the Mason Hall/Moriah electoral district, a seat currently held by Ian Pollard, Secretary of the Division of Settlements, Public Utilities and Rural Development. She faces competition from three other nominees: Allan Stewart, director of the Tobago Emergency Management Agency and a newcomer to the electoral race, and Bevon Dennis, former chairman of the Innovative Democratic Alliance. The list of nominees was disclosed by THA Chief Secretary and TPP political leader Farley Augustine during the Tobago Updates morning show on October 29. Augustine, who represents the Parlatuvier/Speyside/L’Anse Fourmi district, is the sole nominee for his seat. Other uncontested nominees include Deputy Chief Secretary Dr. Faith Brebnor (Belle Garden/Glamorgan), Secretary Nathisha Charles-Pantin (Bagatelle/Bacolet), and Secretary Wane Clarke (Lambeau/Lowlands). The TPP currently dominates the THA, holding 13 of the 15 seats, with Watson Duke of the Progressive Democratic Patriots representing Roxborough/Argyle and Minority Leader Kelvon Morris serving Darrel Spring/Whim.
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Zonal winners start SSFL Boys’ ‘Big 5’ journey
The 2025 First Citizens Boys’ Big 5 championship division playoffs commenced on October 29, marking the start of an intense battle for promotion among four Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division hopefuls. The five zonal winners—Hillview College (east), Mucurapo West Secondary (north), Palo Seco Secondary (south), Presentation College Chaguanas (central), and Speyside Secondary (Tobago)—are vying for a spot in the 2026 premier division season. Speyside enjoyed a bye on the first matchday, while the other teams took to the field. Presentation College Chaguanas hosted Hillview, and Mucurapo faced Palo Seco, with both matches kicking off at 3:30 PM. The competition will continue on November 1, when Speyside makes its debut by hosting Presentation in Tobago, and Mucurapo takes on the undefeated Hillview. Mucurapo narrowly clinched the north zone title by a single point, while Presentation dominated the central zone, finishing five points ahead of Chaguanas North Secondary. However, Presentation faced a tense wait as the league’s appeals committee dismissed Chaguanas North’s appeal regarding an abandoned match on September 22. The disciplinary committee awarded Presentation a 3-0 win due to poor field preparation by Chaguanas North, a decision upheld by the appeals committee on October 24. Palo Seco also benefited from a similar ruling, securing three points for an abandoned match against Rio Claro West Secondary. Palo Seco topped the south zone with 22 points, while Hillview and Speyside dominated their respective zones with commanding performances. The top three teams in the Big 5 competition will earn promotion to the 2026 premier division.
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Jamaica in ‘really difficult’ position after Hurricane Melissa
Jamaica is grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful hurricane ever to strike the island, which unleashed winds of up to 280 kph on October 28. The storm caused catastrophic flooding and widespread infrastructural damage, leaving residents and authorities in shock. Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s Minister for Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, addressed the nation on October 29, describing the past 24 hours as exceptionally challenging. She shared harrowing images of the devastation, stating, ‘It looks really, really difficult in many parts of Jamaica. The images we are getting are really very devastating.’ Despite the grim situation, Dr. Dixon expressed optimism about the country’s resilience, emphasizing, ‘We are a strong people and we will get through it together.’ Recovery and assessment efforts are now in full swing as the nation begins to rebuild. Meanwhile, Hurricane Melissa has moved on to Cuba, where it continues to wreak havoc, and is expected to impact Bermuda later this week.
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Judge rules detention of 2 men in Maloney robbery probe was lawful
In a recent ruling, Justice Frank Seepersad dismissed a false imprisonment lawsuit filed by two men who claimed they were wrongfully detained by police during a 2021 robbery investigation in Maloney, Trinidad. Kenya Pitman of San Juan and Michael Joseph of Barataria argued that their four-to-five-hour detention was unjustified. However, the court found the police’s actions reasonable given the circumstances of the investigation. Justice Seepersad emphasized that the officers acted with commendable speed and diligence based on the information available at the time. While acknowledging the discomfort endured by the claimants, the judge highlighted the broader societal context of crime and the public’s expectations of law enforcement. The court ruled that the officers had “reasonable and probable cause” to detain the men and deemed the lawsuit “devoid of merit.” However, neither party was ordered to pay the other’s legal costs. The case was represented by Tricia Ramlogan for the State and Christophe Rodriguez and Randy Tikah for the claimants.
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Brasso Village man charged with double murder
A 34-year-old laborer from Brasso Village, Clevon Alexander, has been formally charged with the murders of two young individuals, Ricky Joseph, 20, and Darias Shadrack, a 16-year-old student from Tabaquite Secondary. The charges also include wounding with intent against two additional victims, as well as illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Alexander appeared before Master Whitney Franklin at the South Criminal Court C on October 27, following his arrest on October 22. The tragic incident occurred on October 15, when Joseph, Shadrack, and two others were ambushed in a wooden structure in the Brasso district. Multiple gunshots were reported, resulting in fatal injuries to Joseph at the scene and Shadrack two days later. The other two victims were rushed to the Chaguanas Health Facility for treatment. The charges were filed on October 24 by W/Cpl Dyer-Baptiste, based on advice from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal. The case, supervised by Supt Steve Persad and ASP Maharaj of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI) Region Three, is set for a sufficiency hearing on September 18, 2026.
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Joshua Davis stars for Mohan XI in Red Force trial match win
Off-spinner Joshua Davis delivered a standout performance during a Red Force trial match at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva on October 26, earning Man of the Match honors and catching the attention of head coach Rayad Emrit and chairman of selectors Rajendra Mangalie. Davis’ spell of four for 25 was instrumental in securing a ten-run victory for the Vikash Mohan XI over the Terrance Hinds XI, marking their second consecutive win in the trial series. The matches are part of the preparation for the upcoming 2025 CG United Super50 competition, set to take place in Trinidad from November 19 to 29. Davis claimed key wickets, including those of Yannic Cariah, Crystian Thurton, Terrance Hinds, and Jason Mohammed, disrupting the Hinds XI’s chase of a modest 213-run target. Despite a late surge from the Hinds XI, the Mohan XI held their nerve to clinch the win. Earlier, captain Vikash Mohan led the batting effort with a solid 59, supported by Jyd Goolie’s patient 46, as the Mohan XI posted 212 for eight. The Hinds XI’s Shatrughan Rambaran top-scored with 40, but their innings faltered under pressure. Another trial match was scheduled for October 28 as the teams continue their preparations.
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Vigil for regional peace in Port of Spain on November 9
In response to escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, eight local organizations in Trinidad and Tobago are set to host a peace vigil at Woodford Square, Port of Spain, on November 9. The event, scheduled to begin at 5 pm, aims to address growing concerns among citizens regarding the increasing US military presence in the southern Caribbean. Organizers emphasized the potential for conflict to disrupt the region, citing the possibility of war and its devastating consequences on human lives, infrastructure, and economic stability. Among the participating groups are the Concerned Muslims of TT, the Emancipation Support Committee, and the Movement for Social Justice. The organizers highlighted the potential for mass migration from Venezuela to neighboring countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, which could severely impact local businesses, investor confidence, and trade. They also expressed concerns about the disruption of tourism, particularly during carnival season, and the livelihoods of fisherfolk already facing challenges. The vigil is not a political initiative but a call for peace, urging the Caribbean to remain a Zone of Peace. The organizers noted the significant increase in US military assets in the region, including destroyers, a nuclear submarine, and B52 Bombers, with over 10,000 military personnel now stationed nearby. They also pointed to the rhetoric from US officials, including statements about targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Venezuela’s preparations for potential conflict, including military exercises and the acquisition of anti-aircraft missiles from Russia. The vigil aims to unite like-minded individuals and groups in advocating for peace and stability in the region.
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Ramdoo, Cooper, Govia star in Red Force trial match
The TT Red Force coaching staff, led by Rayad Emrit, faces a challenging task in finalizing their squad for the upcoming CG United Super50 tournament following an intense trial match at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, on October 28. The match, which showcased exceptional performances from multiple players, ended in a nail-biting finish with the Bryan Charles XI edging out the Vikash Mohan XI by a mere one run.