标签： Trinidad and Tobago

In a landmark sentencing at the San Fernando High Court, Justice Mauricia Joseph-Patrick has imposed a combined 29-year prison term on a Princes Town couple for the 2020 murder of the woman’s former abusive partner. Dwayne Baldeo and Renee Mohammed received individualized sentences following their guilty pleas under a felony murder agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The case centered on the brutal killing of Christopher Hosein, a 45-year-old businessman and former fire service officer, whose charred remains were discovered on October 28, 2020, in the Ste Madeleine police district. The victim was found bound with a yellow rope around his neck, hands secured, and eyes covered with duct tape beside his burned Kia Sorento vehicle on a gravel road off M1 Tasker Road.

Police investigation rapidly identified the perpetrators through comprehensive CCTV evidence, witness testimonies, and forensic analysis linking both defendants to Hosein’s apartment. Authorities intercepted Baldeo’s white Toyota Fielder wagon later that day, recovering personal items belonging to the deceased. Post-mortem examination revealed Hosein succumbed to multiple causes including asphyxiation, soot inhalation, severe burns, and blunt force cranial trauma.

Justice Joseph-Patrick established a baseline imprisonment term of 33 years for both defendants before applying individualized adjustments. Baldeo received a three-year reduction for satisfactory conduct during incarceration and an additional ten-year deduction for his guilty plea, culminating in a final sentence of slightly over 15 years after accounting for nearly five years already served on remand. He was represented by senior counsel Rajiv Persad and attorney Ajesh Summesar.

Mohammed received comparable sentencing considerations with a three-year reduction demonstrating remorse and positive prison behavior, supplemented by an additional year acknowledging her personal history and youthful indiscretion at age 23 during the offense. With a further nine-year, eight-month deduction for her guilty plea and credit for time served, she will serve just over 14 years imprisonment. Legal representation was provided by Public Defenders’ Department attorneys Michelle Ali and Kameika Peters.

The court reviewed Mohammed’s affidavit detailing a traumatic background including childhood sexual abuse and a volatile relationship with Hosein that allegedly involved continued abuse during her recovery from previous injuries sustained in an assault by Baldeo. Mohammed acknowledged her role in planning the confrontation but maintained she never anticipated the fatal outcome, describing her five years in custody as “a nightmare” while expressing profound remorse for her actions.

Multiple educational institutions from northern Trinidad have officially withdrawn from the prestigious 2026 National Schools’ Panorama competition following what they describe as insufficient notice regarding the event’s relocation to Skinner Park in San Fernando. According to insider reports obtained by Newsday, approximately eight to ten schools have opted out of the musical championship.

The core issue, as explained by several anonymous musical directors and educators, revolves not around opposition to the southern venue itself, but rather the impractical timeframe for logistical preparation. The competition’s unexpected shift from its traditional home at Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain to Skinner Park—coupled with its scheduling on Monday, January 19, 2026—has created insurmountable challenges for participating schools.

One musical director revealed that initial rumors about the venue change emerged approximately one month prior, but official confirmation from the Ministry of Education—which coordinates the event with Pan Trinbago’s assistance—remained ambiguous until recently. “When we did receive confirmation,” the director stated, “we were instructed to register despite our concerns, creating the false impression that northern schools accepted the southern venue without objection.”

The financial implications of the relocation have proven particularly burdensome. While the Ministry offered TT$3,000 in transportation assistance, directors estimate actual costs for traveling to San Fernando could reach TT$17,000—nearly double the TT$9,000 typically required for attending the Port of Spain event. This substantial increase renders participation economically unviable for many institutions, especially considering the competition’s top prize of TT$35,000 and overall preparation costs that can exceed TT$100,000.

Notable withdrawals include Bishop Anstey High School Port of Spain, Queen’s Royal College, and the 2025 champions Bishop Anstey East. Educators emphasize that with proper advance notice—ideally a full year—and adequate financial support, they would welcome the opportunity to bring the cultural event to Skinner Park. The current combination of short notice, inadequate funding, and problematic weekday scheduling has unfortunately made participation impossible for several northern schools.

Despite multiple attempts to contact Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath for comment, including WhatsApp messages and phone calls on December 22-23, Newsday received no immediate response from the Ministry regarding these concerns.

Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural community has erupted in protest following the government’s controversial decision to postpone the implementation of the new national coat of arms featuring the steelpan until January 2031. The move, authorized through Legal Notice No. 468, has drawn fierce criticism from cultural organizations and political opponents who decry it as a betrayal of national pride and cultural progress.

Pan Trinbago, the international governing body for the steelpan, expressed profound disappointment with the five-year extension granted for continued use of the previous emblem displaying three ships. President Beverley Ramsey-Moore characterized the delay as contradictory to the spirit of unity demonstrated when Parliament unanimously approved the symbolic change earlier this year. “We are deeply disappointed,” Ramsey-Moore stated. “Both government and opposition stood shoulder to shoulder in full support of the amendment.”

The organization emphasized that the steelpan represents more than mere symbolism—it embodies national resilience, cultural identity, and serves as a global industry. Ramsey-Moore stressed that deferring implementation until 2031 undermines cultural progress and diminishes the instrument’s significance to national identity, noting that the decision sends an unfortunate message to citizens who celebrated this long-awaited moment of national pride.

Opposition leaders have condemned the timing and secrecy surrounding the decision. Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales questioned why the government published the legal notice quietly during Christmas preparations, asking pointedly: “Why did the national instrument offend this country’s leadership so deeply?” He described the action as a “blatant attack on a cultural symbol of our national community.”

Former government officials including ex-Prime Minister Keith Rowley and former Energy Minister Stuart Young joined the criticism, with Young accusing the current administration of acting without transparency and demonstrating “extremist hatred and dark revenge” toward cultural symbols. Young connected the emblem delay to a broader pattern of hostility toward pan culture since May 2025, including sponsorship withdrawals from steelbands nationwide.

The controversy extends to financial considerations, with questions raised about potential savings from the deferral and costs associated with updating national currency. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo defended the decision as “a simple matter of common sense,” noting that both emblems have been in use since approval and that the extension merely sets a definite transition deadline. However, the minister did not provide cost estimates for updating currency designs.

The sponsorship aspect gained particular attention following September incidents where state-owned National Gas Company (NGC) terminated support for multiple steelbands, citing contract re-evaluations. Termination letters gave bands just seven days’ notice, fueling perceptions of systematic cultural marginalization.

Former Culture Minister Randall Mitchell summarized the growing concern: “The steelpan and the steelpan movement are under attack by the Kamla Persad-Bissessar government.” Mitchell highlighted the historical significance of replacing Columbus’s ships—symbols of colonial brutality—with the indigenous steelpan, making the delay particularly symbolic.

The government maintains that the phased approach prevents waste by replacing items only as needed, similar to how existing passports remain valid until renewal. Yet critics argue the decision reflects deeper issues regarding cultural prioritization and transparent governance, with the Christmas timing and lack of public consultation intensifying suspicions of political motivation.

The Piparo mud volcano in Trinidad erupted unexpectedly on December 24th, triggering immediate emergency response protocols. According to confirmed reports, the volcanic activity occurred without warning, prompting the Disaster Management Unit of the Couva/Tabaquite Regional Corporation to dispatch assessment teams to the site.

The eruption marks another significant event in the geological history of the region, where mud volcano activity has periodically affected local communities. These natural phenomena occur when underground layers of pressurized mud and gases force their way to the surface, creating distinctive cone-shaped formations and occasionally discharging substantial quantities of sediment.

Emergency management authorities are currently evaluating the situation’s severity and potential impact on surrounding areas. While mud volcanoes typically don’t produce lava flows like traditional volcanoes, they can still pose substantial risks including ground instability, gas emissions, and potential damage to infrastructure.

Local residents have been advised to remain alert for official updates as the situation develops. The Disaster Management Unit is expected to provide detailed assessments regarding evacuation protocols or safety measures should they become necessary. Historical data indicates that previous eruptions in the area have required temporary relocations and mitigation efforts to protect nearby populations.

The timing of the eruption during the holiday season adds complexity to response efforts, though authorities have confirmed that emergency services remain fully operational. Scientists and geologists specializing in volcanic activity are monitoring the site for further developments.