标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has launched a comprehensive road safety initiative ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations, emphasizing collective responsibility in preventing traffic fatalities. This urgent appeal comes amidst concerning statistics revealing 106 road deaths recorded this year, representing a concerning figure compared to the same period in 2024.

Transport Minister Eli Zakour personally underscored the critical nature of road safety during this period, emphasizing that vigilance must be every road user’s “highest, non-negotiable priority.” His statement carried particular significance as it followed his recent safety assessment tour along the Solomon Hochoy Highway near the Corinth Overpass—a site where 32-year-old Arvin Williams tragically lost his life in a traffic accident just three days prior to the minister’s inspection.

The ministry’s detailed advisory outlines specific safety protocols for all road users. Motorists are instructed to strictly obey traffic signals, exercise extreme caution at pedestrian crossings and intersections, and completely avoid distracted driving practices. Public transportation operators received particular emphasis on responsible driving along the Priority Bus Route and exclusive use of designated passenger drop-off zones.

Pedestrians are advised to utilize available walkovers and marked crossings while maintaining full attention when navigating roadways. Cyclists and motorcyclists must wear protective helmets and ensure their visibility to other vehicles. These measures align with recently passed legislation in the Finance Bill (2025) that introduces stricter penalties for drunk driving, higher fines for permit violations, and enhanced consequences for reckless driving and insurance fraud.

The ministry’s overarching message emphasizes that heavier holiday traffic requires intensified safety consciousness from every citizen to prevent avoidable tragedies and preserve the joyful spirit of the season.

In a significant legal development, the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago has authorized retired city assessor Heidi Henry to pursue judicial review proceedings against the San Fernando City Corporation over its failure to properly calculate her pension and gratuity entitlements.

Justice Frank Seepersad granted leave for Henry to challenge what her legal team characterizes as the corporation’s unlawful disregard of a 2020 High Court ruling that established her right to equal treatment with her counterpart at the Port of Spain City Corporation. The court had previously determined she should receive pension and gratuity calculations based on salary range 59D.

The controversy stems from the corporation’s alleged failure to implement Justice Kevin Ramcharan’s April 2020 decision, which found Henry’s right to equality of treatment by a public authority had been violated. Despite this judicial mandate, the corporation reportedly calculated her benefits at the lower salary range 41E.

Henry, who dedicated 39 years of service to the corporation before retiring in June 2023, asserts that the organization was fully aware of its obligations long before her retirement. Upon leaving her position, she received only a reduced interim pension of $3,500 without her gratuity payment.

Legal correspondence from March 2024 indicated the corporation was quantifying and auditing her benefits, but subsequent communications revealed the maintained position of calculating at the lower salary range. Henry’s legal representatives argue this constitutes a direct violation of court orders and breaches principles of procedural fairness.

The case, which will next be heard on February 9, 2026, seeks orders compelling the corporation to recalculate and pay all owed amounts according to the correct salary classification. Attorneys Kingsley Walesby and Sunil Gopaul Gosine are representing Henry in this matter that highlights ongoing challenges in public sector pension administration.

PORT OF SPAIN – The Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) general secretary Shirlane Hendrickson delivered an emotionally charged eulogy for her late mother Wilma Hendrickson, who passed away at age 88 on December 12. The memorial service, conducted at Holy Rosary Catholic Church on December 19, gathered family members, close friends, and community figures to commemorate a woman widely regarded as a foundational pillar of strength and selflessness.

Shirlane Hendrickson honored her mother as “the quiet riot”—a relentless motivator, spiritual anchor, and unwavering supporter throughout life’s most challenging moments. Blending spoken tributes with melodic intonations, her performance reflected Wilma’s vibrant character and profound spiritual dedication.

She emphasized the core values Wilma instilled in her five children, including Diane “Lady Wonder” Hendrickson: the relentless pursuit of education, dignity, and personal dreams. Despite some family members residing abroad, Wilma’s nurturing presence remained a constant, transcending geographic boundaries through regular communication and emotional support.

Beyond her immediate family, Wilma was remembered as a trusted confidante and cultural guardian within communities from Williamsville to Chafford Courts. She was deeply committed to preserving local traditions while building lasting relationships grounded in mutual respect and kindness.

Her 52-year marriage to veteran calypsonian Anthony “All Rounder” Hendrickson stood as a testament to collaborative creativity and shared faith. Wilma co-wrote songs and supported her husband’s musical career, embodying a partnership that blended artistic endeavor with familial devotion.

Anthony Hendrickson, reflecting on their life together, encouraged attendees to “walk on your own to God,” underscoring themes of perseverance, humility, and spiritual integrity. He recalled their marriage in 1960, spiritual awakening in 1985, and the enduring lessons of generosity Wilma imparted to all who knew her.

The service concluded with burial rites at Western Cemetery in St James, leaving a community united in gratitude for a life lived with purpose, love, and unwavering faith.

A solemn prayer service was held on December 22, 2025, at the La Romaine home of missing oil rig worker Pete Phillip, marking one year since his disappearance in a catastrophic rig collapse. The intimate gathering brought together immediate family members to commemorate the tragedy that presumably claimed Phillip’s life.

The incident occurred in the early hours of December 22, 2024, when Well Services Ltd Rig 110 in the East Soldado Field suffered a partial structural failure during drilling operations. Among the 75 employees aboard, Phillip was the sole individual unaccounted for following the collapse. Despite extensive search and recovery efforts mounted immediately after the accident, his remains have yet to be recovered.

Preparations for the memorial service were underway at the family home, where Phillip’s mother Patricia and sister Pauline coordinated meals for close relatives. As devout Pentecostals, the family made a collective decision to hold the prayer meeting despite the absence of a body or formal funeral proceedings.

Pauline explained the family’s perspective: “We decided we had to mark the one-year anniversary. At least we can still put him to rest spiritually until we can recover his remains—whatever bones might be left.”

Patricia Phillip, struggling with emotion, recalled receiving the devastating news while visiting her sister in New York. She immediately caught one of the first flights home, spending Christmas in Point Fortin during rescue operations, praying for her son’s safe return.

The family continues to endure significant anxiety as recovery efforts remain stalled due to safety concerns regarding the unstable rig structure. Well Services Ltd has indicated they have a general idea of Phillip’s location within the wreckage but require specialized equipment from abroad to stabilize the structure before proceeding with recovery.

A November 12 company release announced that a US-based contractor had arrived to undertake stabilization work and remove hazardous materials. The recovery of Phillip’s remains will commence once this initial phase is completed, though no specific timeline has been provided. The company has obtained necessary approvals from multiple regulatory agencies including the Environmental Management Agency and the Ministry of Energy.

Family members have expressed frustration with the pace of recovery operations. Pauline stated, “I find they’re moving too slow. If this involved some minister or important person, they would have acted more quickly.” Patricia echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the response would have been different “if it was some big man, some big pappy.”

Communication issues have compounded the family’s distress. The company has primarily engaged with Phillip’s wife, Candacy, as next of kin, leaving other family members feeling excluded from critical updates. “We just have to wait for whatever message we get from them,” Pauline lamented.

Despite these frustrations, the family acknowledges the company’s support for Candacy and Phillip’s five children, including an 18-year-old son from a previous relationship. The company has provided educational support, weekly stipends, and home improvements for the family.

Candacy, who was pregnant at the time of the accident, gave birth to Javon Pete Phillip in February—a son who will never know his father. The family now hopes recovery efforts might be completed before what would have been Phillip’s birthday on January 17.

A disturbing revelation has emerged from Trinidad and Tobago’s Teaching Service Commission (TSC) 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a critical failure in addressing sexual misconduct within the education system. The document discloses 16 separate allegations categorized as ‘sexual abuse’ against educators, representing a profound institutional crisis that demands immediate attention.

According to the report’s findings, five teachers collectively face 13 substantiated allegations, with one individual alone accounting for five separate accusations of professional misconduct. These cases have remained unresolved for over a year, creating an untenable situation for both the accused educators and the vulnerable students who courageously came forward.

The TSC acknowledges the gravity of these allegations, stating it ‘continues to give increased attention to those disciplinary matters involving the abuse of children including physical and sexual abuse.’ However, this commitment rings hollow given the systemic delays plaguing the process. The commission cites multiple obstacles including sluggish court proceedings and extensive waiting periods before disciplinary tribunals as primary contributors to the backlog.

Judicial scrutiny has intensified regarding the TSC’s operational effectiveness. In August 2024, Justice Frank Seepersad openly questioned whether the commission possesses the capability to efficiently manage teacher hiring, promotion, and disciplinary actions. This judicial concern reflects broader institutional failures, as the TSC has repeatedly faced legal challenges over inordinate delays in addressing appointments and promotion appeals.

The justice system itself shares responsibility for this crisis. Astonishingly, zero court matters from the TSC reached the Judiciary in 2024, with fourteen cases remaining unheard and outstanding by year’s end. This paralysis affects all parties awaiting resolution, from minor administrative matters to serious abuse allegations.

Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath has committed to modernizing policies and improving operational efficiency. However, stakeholders emphasize that practical guidance to schools and meaningful collaboration with the commission must become immediate priorities. Established in 1962 to oversee teacher appointments, transfers, promotions, and disciplinary controls, the TSC cannot fulfill its mandate when crippled by bureaucratic inertia and judicial delays that compromise child safety and educator integrity.

In a landmark ruling addressing prison conditions, High Court Justice Carol Gobin has delivered a stern condemnation of excessive force used by correctional officers at Trinidad’s Golden Grove Prison. The court found that officers employed unjustifiable brutality against inmate Kurt Christopher Bridgelal during a 2015 incident, resulting in severe physical injuries.

The judicial determination followed a detailed examination of events occurring on July 4, 2015, during a facility-wide lockdown and search operation. While acknowledging that Bridgelal initiated hostilities by discharging the contents of a slop pail from his cell—some of which struck an officer—Justice Gobin emphasized that the retaliatory measures far exceeded reasonable boundaries. The responding officer engaged in a degrading escalation by throwing three additional pails containing human waste into Bridgelal’s cell.

Furthermore, the court established that when officers subsequently extracted Bridgelal from his confinement, they employed physical force that dramatically surpassed what was necessary for maintaining institutional security. This confrontation resulted in Bridgelal sustaining multiple serious injuries, including complex fractures to both tibia and fibula bones in his right leg. The injuries necessitated extensive hospital treatment and prolonged immobilization in a cast.

During July proceedings, the State mounted a defense claiming that any force applied was proportionate and that Bridgelal’s injuries resulted from an accidental fall while resisting officers. Justice Gobin systematically rejected these assertions, finding the State fully liable for its employees’ actions under the principles of institutional responsibility.

The final judgment orders the State to pay $115,000 in general damages compensating for physical and psychological trauma, plus an additional $35,000 in exemplary damages intended to deter similar conduct in the future. The court also mandated accrued interest payments covering the period from the incident date through December 18.

Legal representation for Bridgelal was provided by attorneys Amit Mahabir, Bernadette Arneaud, and Joseph Sookoo, who successfully established claims of assault, battery, and negligence against prison authorities. The decision establishes significant precedent regarding acceptable force standards within Trinidad’s correctional system.