gazettE .

CLEAN-UP CONVICTS

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says the Government will reintroduce hard labour for convicted offenders by sending eligible prisoners on public clean-up work as part of their sentences. Prison Officers’ Association president Gerard Gordon called the idea positive but said strict medical, security and risk checks, plus trained supervision, are needed to protect the public.

By Alexander Bruzual

Retrieved 19 minutes ago

Hilton gives Govt deadline

Hilton Trinidad says it may have to stop operating the Port of Spain hotel after September 18 if it cannot reach a new long-term lease with the Government, putting more than 250 jobs at risk. The Communication Workers’ Union is demanding clarity on workers’ rights and severance, while eTecK says negotiations are still active and no closure decision has been made.

By Melissa Maynard

Retrieved 19 minutes ago

Complain about drug blocks

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended plans for 30 joint army-police posts across Trinidad and Tobago after Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles called them an unfunded, knee-jerk move. Persad-Bissessar accused the PNM of ignoring crime and drug blocks in its strongholds, while backing the security services as crime concerns rise.

By Anna Ramdass

Retrieved 19 minutes ago

Mayor’s pothole plea

Diego Martin Mayor Akeliah Glasgow-Warner went viral after urging Works Minister Jearlean John to fix potholes and damaged roads in the borough, especially along the Diego Martin Highway. John rejected the criticism as unfair, saying the problems stem from years of neglected infrastructure and leaks, and that repairs are set to begin in Diego Martin today.

By Kim Boodram

Retrieved 19 minutes ago

Trending topics

South residents welcome joint security posts

Residents and business owners in several crime-hit communities are welcoming the Government’s plan to set up 30 joint police-army security posts, saying a stronger visible presence could deter crime and restore confidence. The posts, to be placed at key locations such as Tarouba, Grand Bazaar, Couva, Williamsville and Golconda, will be judged on whether they reduce home invasions, drug and gun movement, and fear in daily life.

By KEVON FELMINE

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

9,100 apply to join TTPS as recruitment drive advances

The TTPS has received 9,100 applications in its latest recruitment drive and is now verifying qualifications and documents before candidates move to an online exam and further assessments. Officials say many applicants already have diplomas and degrees, which could strengthen specialist units, as the service looks to fill roles and offer stable employment in Trinidad and Tobago.

By KEVON FELMINE

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

16 years for role in fatal Tacarigua mini mart robbery

A St Augustine man, Alex “Redman” Jobe, was sentenced to 16 years and nine months in prison for his role in the 2017 killing of Tacarigua businessman Ricardo Calvin Francis during a botched robbery. After a plea deal, the High Court imposed concurrent sentences that, with remand time and a 40% discount for an early guilty plea, leave him about nine years and three months to serve.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Court upholds ministry’s refusal to reveal teacher’s accuser

A Court of Appeal has dismissed a secondary school teacher’s bid to force the Ministry of Education to reveal the identity of the person who reported alleged misconduct involving a Form Two student. The judges said protecting confidential informants and child safety outweighed disclosure, and the teacher had enough details to defend himself; he must also pay $61,425 in costs.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Bharath: PM’s language ‘unbecoming’ of office

Former UNC minister Vasant Bharath and Opposition MP Stuart Young criticised Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar over the Emancipation Day “stinking c***ie” controversy, saying her remarks were divisive and distracting from national concerns. Bharath warned the rhetoric could deepen ethnic tension, while Young urged the government to focus on unemployment, rising costs, plant closures and other economic pressures.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Finance

Scotland launches learning-focused summer camp for children

More than 200 children applied for Port-of-Spain South MP Keith Scotland’s summer camp, where 25 participants as young as three began activities including tie-dye, AI, problem-solving and art at his Piccadilly Street office. Scotland said the programme aims to build creativity, keep children safely engaged during the holiday period and give parents some relief.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

ESCTT: PM was misled over Emancipation Day incident

The Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago says Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin was not endangered during the Emancipation Day incident and that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar may have been misinformed about what happened. The committee said the dispute has overshadowed the meaning of Emancipation, while TATT reminded broadcasters they can be held responsible for airing offensive language.

By Dareece Polo

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Get the most relevant headlines, directly in your inbox.

It's free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

DCP Benjamin defends security posts as crime-fighting tools

Deputy Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin says Trinidad and Tobago’s planned 30 police-army posts were agreed with the Homeland Security Ministry and will boost police visibility, faster response, and community access without overburdening officers, since Defence Force members will help staff them. The plan is being backed by some police officials, but former top cop Gary Griffith and others call it a backward step and question its logistics.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Alexander: Anti-crime plan includes elements of ZOSO

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander said the government’s plan for 30 joint police-army posts across Trinidad and Tobago is part of a wider anti-crime strategy to increase law enforcement visibility and help communities feel safer. He said the effort builds on aspects of the proposed Zones of Special Operations framework, as the government tries to sustain recent crime reductions and avoid complacency.

By KAY-MARIE FLETCHER

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Alleged 6 Gang leader among five named in latest PDOs

Trinidad and Tobago authorities have issued new Preventive Detention Orders for five alleged gang figures, including Shakyl O’Neil, whom they say leads the 6 Gang and ordered retaliatory shootings after a February killing. The orders also target alleged members of the Grim 7, Barry Maraj, Dickson Street and Nine gangs, citing murders, robberies, firearms and drug activity.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Sturge rejects ZOSO claims as experts weigh police-army posts

Defence Minister Wayne Sturge has rejected Opposition claims that 30 planned joint police-army posts across Trinidad and Tobago are a return of ZOSO, saying the rollout is meant to increase visibility, deterrence and rapid response under the State of Emergency. Security experts and former commissioner Clive Dottin backed the move, but one criminologist warned it should not replace a broader, data-driven crime strategy.

By Jesse Ramdeo

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Kamla, Beckles clash over joint police-army posts

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles are clashing over the Government’s plan to set up 30 joint TTPS-TTDF posts across Trinidad and Tobago over the next four months. Beckles questions the legality, funding and effectiveness of the measure, while Persad-Bissessar says the PNM is resisting efforts to confront drug blocks and serious crime.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Back to hard labour: Convicted inmates to clean up public spaces

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says the government will bring back a programme using convicts sentenced to hard labour for public clean-up work as part of crime prevention and rehabilitation. The Prison Service says it can support the plan, but the prison officers’ association says any expansion outside prison must be carefully assessed for safety, staffing and equipment.

By KAY-MARIE FLETCHER

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Hilton warns of Sept 18 exit as lease agreement yet to be finalised

More than 300 workers at Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre face uncertainty as Hilton warned it may stop operating the hotel on September 18 unless a new deal is reached with state-owned eTecK. Hilton says its lease is expiring, while eTecK says talks are still active and no decision has been made to permanently end the hotel’s operations. The Communications Workers’ Union is demanding clarity on retrenchment, severance and whether employees’ jobs and benefits will be protected.

By Andrea Perez-Sobers

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Jamaica marks ‘Emancipendence’ with thanksgiving service in Trinidad

Jamaica’s High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago marked 188 years of Emancipation and 63 years of Independence with a thanksgiving service in Maraval, also celebrating 63 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. High Commissioner Natalie Campbell-Rodriques said the observance highlighted Jamaican resilience and thanked Trinidad and Tobago for its support after Hurricane Melissa.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 9 hours ago

Insurer loses appeal in $1.4M premium dispute

The Court of Appeal has dismissed New India Assurance’s bid to overturn a default judgment against Kinetika Consultants directors Randy and Chanardaye Ramadharsingh over nearly $1.4 million in unpaid insurance premiums. The judges said the dispute should go to trial, where evidence will test claims that New India accepted Kinetika’s ad hoc business practices.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 9 hours ago

Finance

Suspected Marijuana, Cellphone Seized At Golden Grove Prison

Officers at Golden Grove Prison seized about 657 grammes of suspected marijuana, a cellphone and a charger during routine duties in Estate 2 on Tuesday morning. The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service said the items were found in a package, handed to police for forensic testing, and the investigation is continuing.

By TTT News

Retrieved about 10 hours ago

Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan Leads Successful Challenge In High-Profile Dominica Case

Dominica’s High Court ruled that President Sylvanie Burton acted unconstitutionally when she ignored the support of four Opposition Senators in deciding who should become Leader of the Opposition after Jesma Paul-Victor resigned in June 2024. The decision, won by former Opposition Leader Lennox Linton and argued by Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, clarifies that Opposition Senators must be counted in that process.

By Sunil Lalla

Retrieved about 10 hours ago

PM Defends Joint Army-Police Posts, Accuses PNM Of Undermining Security Efforts

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar accused the PNM of hypocrisy after it criticised her plan to set up 30 joint army-police posts nationwide over the next four months. She said the posts are meant to strengthen security, especially in crime-hit communities, and form part of the government’s wider crime-fighting strategy. Twenty-four locations have already been identified.

By TTT News

Retrieved about 11 hours ago

T&T Duo Wins Award At 2026 World Cosplay Championship

Trinidad and Tobago’s Panterona Medorda and Maricia won the “Best Sound In Performance” award at the 2026 World Cosplay Championship in Nagoya, Japan, standing out among competitors from a record 42 countries. Their success at the World Cosplay Summit highlights the growing talent of T&T’s cosplay community on an international stage.

By TTT News

Retrieved about 11 hours ago

Gun, ammunition and cannabis seized in Valencia anti-crime exercise

Police in Valencia seized a firearm, two rounds of .45-calibre ammunition and about 500 grammes of cannabis during an intelligence-led anti-crime exercise on Monday night. Officers found the items in a shed near Pilot Farm Road, and no arrests were reported as investigations continue into the hidden weapons and drugs.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 11 hours ago

Linton wins constitutional case over Dominica Opposition Leader post

Lennox Linton has won a constitutional challenge in Dominica after the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled President Sylvanie Burton could not leave the Office of Opposition Leader vacant for 18 months. Justice Zainab Jawara-Alami said the Constitution required Burton to appoint someone and to consider the views of the four opposition senators, strengthening the role of the opposition in Dominica’s democracy.

By Derek Achong

Retrieved about 11 hours ago

POA urges caution on use of prisoners for CEPEP-type labour

The Prison Officers’ Association is urging caution over Government plans to use inmates sentenced to hard labour for public maintenance under the National Programme for the Upkeep of Public Spaces, saying proper security, staffing and resources must be in place first. The group says carefully screened inmates can benefit from rehabilitation, but overcrowding and weak communications could put officers, prisoners and the public at risk.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 11 hours ago

e Teck Confirms Hilton Trinidad Negotiations In Final Stages

Negotiations between the Government and Hilton International Trinidad Limited over the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre are still active and in their final stages, with no decision to permanently close the hotel, eTeck said. The company also said Hilton’s employees are not eTeck staff, and Hilton remains responsible for its employment obligations.

By TTT News

Retrieved about 11 hours ago

Homeland Security Minister Proposes Using Convicted Prisoners In National Clean-Up Drive

Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander says prisoners sentenced to hard labour could be reintroduced into community clean-up work across Trinidad and Tobago. He says the move would make hard labour meaningful again, while helping rehabilitation, reintegration and public perception of offenders.

By Terry-Ann Browne-Campbell

Retrieved about 12 hours ago

Prison Officers Seize Contraband Concealed In Apples, One Arrested

Police detained one person after prison officers intercepted an attempt to smuggle contraband into Golden Grove Prison during a routine visitor screening on Monday afternoon. Officers found 54 cigarettes, four packs of wrapping paper and about 53 grammes of suspected marijuana hidden inside seven apples, and investigations are continuing.

By TTT News

Retrieved about 12 hours ago

Get the most relevant headlines, directly in your inbox.

It's free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Ramesh Maharaj, SC

Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, was honoured by the Assembly of Southern Lawyers as he enters his 60th year in legal practice. The tribute highlighted his landmark contempt case, his long record in criminal defence and constitutional litigation, and his brief stint as attorney general. It also noted his impact on Trinidad and Tobago’s legal profession and public life.

By Guardian

Retrieved about 13 hours ago

'This is 1970s policing'—Griffith on Government plan

Former police commissioner Gary Griffith has criticised the Government’s plan for 30 joint army-police posts, saying it is an outdated, static approach that will not reduce crime or improve emergency response. He urged investment in a modern 999 command-and-control system, GPS-monitored patrols and faster mobile units, arguing Trinidad and Tobago needs more responsive policing, not more buildings.

By Alexander Bruzual

Retrieved about 13 hours ago

Two Arrested Following Intelligence-Led Operation In Arouca

TTPS officers recovered a stolen black Toyota Aqua in Windy Hill, Arouca, after an intelligence-led operation on August 3. Two men were arrested as investigators probe claims that the car was being dismantled for parts, while a third suspect remains at large.

By TTT News

Retrieved about 13 hours ago

Prison Officers’ Association Responds To Inmate Work Proposal : Current Deficiencies Must Be Addressed First

The Prison Officers’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago said it supports inmate work programmes for rehabilitation, but warned that any plan to send convicted inmates into public spaces must include strict screening, trained supervision and reliable communication equipment. It also said overcrowding, staffing shortages and delays in the justice system must be fixed first to protect officers and the public.

By TTT News

Retrieved about 13 hours ago