标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) has issued a strong condemnation of all sexual misconduct by educators against students, emphasizing that schools must remain secure environments for children. This declaration came in response to disturbing findings published in the 2024 Teaching Service Commission (TSC) annual report, which documented 16 separate allegations involving five different teachers across the nation’s educational system.

According to the TSC report, which prompted Newsday’s December 18 investigation titled “Probe into touchy teachers,” the allegations reveal a troubling pattern of misconduct. One primary school teacher faced five distinct abuse allegations, while another primary educator was accused in two separate cases, and a third faced one allegation of sexual misconduct. At the secondary level, one teacher was implicated in a single case, while another secondary educator confronted four separate misconduct matters. The report did not clarify whether multiple allegations against individual teachers involved repeated abuse of single victims or multiple victims.

TTUTA President Crystal Ashe articulated the union’s position, stating, “Our schools are and should always be safe zones for all who occupy them, including students.” While acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations, the teachers’ association refrained from commenting on specific cases currently under review by the TSC. The union emphasized its confidence in existing legal mechanisms and the collaborative efforts between the Teaching Service Commission and the Ministry of Education to properly address such incidents.

The association has urged all TSC members to strictly comply with legal requirements, particularly emphasizing the thorough and timely reporting of all sexual misconduct cases. “Our students are our future leaders,” the statement concluded, “and we all should work together to keep them safe.” Notably, none of the five accused teachers have faced criminal proceedings to date, with all matters remaining within the TSC’s administrative jurisdiction.

A Laventille family’s hopes for a Christmas reunion were shattered when search teams recovered the body of 25-year-old MTS Security officer Jamal Brandon Jessop from a swampy area near the WASA facility at Beetham Gardens on December 22. The discovery concluded an intensive two-day search operation involving multiple law enforcement and rescue organizations.

Jessop, described as a muscular black male standing approximately six feet tall with a bald head and distinctive goatee, was reported missing by his mother Sherry-Ann Jessop on December 20. According to police reports, the young security officer had last been seen at the family home in Eastern Quarry, Laventille, where he shared lunch before departing unexpectedly—behavior his mother noted was highly uncharacteristic.

The search gained urgency when Sherry-Ann received disturbing information on December 21 suggesting her son had been fatally shot during an altercation in Beetham Gardens. The tipsters, whose identities she protected citing safety concerns, indicated the incident occurred between 2 am and 6 am, with Jessop’s body allegedly discarded in either the Sea Lots swamp or near the WASA pump station along the Beetham Highway.

Vallence Rambharat of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team coordinated with police to comb the challenging terrain, though initial efforts were suspended due to poor lighting and dense vegetation. The operation resumed at dawn on December 22 with support from the Police K9 Unit, Air Support, and multiple divisions, ultimately leading to the grim discovery beneath a bridge where spent shell casings were reportedly found nearby.

Social media footage captured the heartrending scene as Jessop’s mother and relatives gathered while recovery teams worked. The deceased, who had been receiving outpatient mental health treatment at St Ann’s Hospital, was identified by his chest tattoo bearing the surname “Jessop.”

The Anti-Kidnapping and Homicide Bureau has assumed investigation into the case. In separate but geographically proximate incidents, police are investigating another suspected homicide in Beetham Gardens where an unidentified African male was found shot execution-style, plus a shooting in Morvant that left a 21-year-old man wounded but stable at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

The Inshan Ali Promenade in Couva became a vibrant hub of seasonal joy on December 19th as the Couva Police Station Community Council (CPSCC) hosted its Christmas on the Promenade celebration. This heartwarming event successfully united approximately 300 residents from Couva and surrounding neighborhoods for an evening dedicated to festive harmony, cultural performances, and community bonding.

Embracing the council’s foundational theme of ‘one district, one family,’ the festivities featured an array of engaging activities. Approximately 130 children experienced the magic of Christmas firsthand, receiving personalized gifts that sparked widespread delight. The program showcased inspirational addresses from police leadership, including Council Chairman Inspector Khan of the Couva Police Station.

Cultural enrichment formed the cornerstone of the evening with captivating performances by Levantamientos Parang Group, the Couva Anglican Primary School Steel Orchestra, and the Dow Village Dance Group. Young talents including Ella Isaac, Siarah Mohammed, and Brandon Khan delivered memorable musical presentations, while DJ Zion Child provided rhythmic entertainment. The event was skillfully hosted by CPSCC President Bishop Ezekiel Clarke, who also debuted his original community anthem titled ‘Peace and Love.’

This successful initiative originated from Bishop Clarke’s visionary leadership and was executed by the council’s event planning committee under Vice President Miguel Charles. The celebration represented a significant expansion of the CPSCC’s ongoing outreach programs throughout the central region.

The council extended profound gratitude to its sponsors and community partners whose support was instrumental to the event’s success, including R&R Trading, Couva Glass, Kayvanic Logistics, NB Environmental Services, and the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation.

In a significant stride toward judicial modernization, Trinidad and Tobago’s Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj conducted an inspection of the newly established Virtual Access Court Centres (VACC) at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain on December 22. The visit served as a critical assessment of the nation’s progress in expanding public accessibility to court services through technological innovation.

Minister Maharaj was accompanied by key ministry officials including Acting Permanent Secretary Trudy Lewis, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary Fran Chaitoo-Jacob, Senior Project Manager Nicholas Suban, and Dr. Louis Percival Anthony Nurse. The delegation received a comprehensive briefing from Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, Court Executive Administrator Jamie Philbert, and Acting High Court Registrar Kimberly Prescott.

This collaborative initiative represents an inter-agency approach to addressing operational challenges within the judicial system. The newly constructed centers are specifically designed to provide a secure and accessible alternative to police stations for conducting virtual court proceedings, thereby alleviating the previous strain on law enforcement resources.

The development of these specialized centers emerged from concerns raised in May 2025 regarding the impracticality of hosting virtual hearings within police facilities. In response, Minister Maharaj established a working group in July 2025 to comprehensively review virtual hearing procedures. The judiciary subsequently created this dedicated facility at the Hall of Justice as a direct outcome of those deliberations.

Operational demonstrations during the visit showcased the technology’s capability to enable judicial officers to maintain complete control over proceedings, manage participant engagement, ensure proper conduct, and preserve the integrity of judicial processes in a virtual environment.

As part of the ministry’s broader digital transformation agenda, these centers will free up critical space at the Besson Street Police Station, allowing the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to reinvigorate essential crime-fighting operations, including identification parades. The initiative represents a strategic fusion of technology and justice aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness across the entire judicial system.

In a solemn operation marking the first anniversary of a devastating offshore accident, specialized divers have now accessed the waters beneath the partially collapsed Well Services Ltd Rig 110 to search for the remains of Pete Phillip. The tragic incident occurred on December 22, 2024, in the East Soldado Field, leaving Phillip unaccounted for among the 75 crew members present during the partial structural failure.

Phillip’s wife, Candacy, received official notification from the company on December 23, just one day after the anniversary. “I just wish that I get another call saying that something (remains) come up,” she emotionally told Newsday. “It’s a whole year and the family and I not seeing nothing. We can’t recover up to now. We just want a little closure.”

The recovery operation faced significant delays due to safety concerns regarding the rig’s structural instability, requiring specialized equipment to be sourced internationally. After obtaining all necessary approvals, a U.S.-based salvage company initiated a two-phase operation in November: first stabilizing the structure and removing hazardous materials, followed by the recovery of Phillip’s remains and eventual removal of the rig itself.

Company officials indicate that if initial dives prove unsuccessful, the search will continue once the entire structure is lifted from the water. Meanwhile, Phillip’s immediate family held a memorial service at their La Romaine home on the accident’s anniversary, seeking emotional closure despite the absence of physical remains.

Phillip’s sister Patricia explained the family’s perspective: “We decide we ain’t get to do the funeral and we have to do the one year, at least we can still put him at rest until we could get the last of the remains of the body… of the bones or whatever.” The emotional toll has been particularly heavy on Phillip’s five children, who continue to await resolution one year after their father’s disappearance.