Amanda Smyth may have a winning combination was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction which has a photograph from her youth on the cover MIAMI – Sophia Rose Hinkson stated modeling at 10 years old Sophia Rose Hinkson has emerged as a beacon of inspiration to the many young Caribbean girls who would like get into the fashion world Hailing from Duncan Street in Port of Spain Sophia’s journey from a vibrant Caribbean neighborhood to international runways is a testament to her talent and the unwavering support of her grandparents Anthony and Marie Hinkson Sophia’s affinity for fashion and performance was evident from a young age participating in events like “The Grand Runway” fashion show at Grand Bazaar they connected her with renowned production designer and runway coach Richard Young who helped her refine her catwalk presence motivational speaker Michelle Borel assisted in enhancing Sophia’s public speaking skills Sophia’s dedication soon caught the attention of international designers. She was selected to model for Mila Hoffman Couture and Archie Brown at New York Fashion Week (NYFW), a significant milestone that showcased her versatility and poise on a global platform. Her performance at NYFW led to further opportunities, including modeling and an invitation to London and Milan Fashion Week 2025 Sophia’s collaboration with Catwalk Pros a Miami-based modeling agency known for nurturing young talent marked another pivotal point in her career she participated in the “Tierra Viento Fuego Agua 2025” fashion show where she modeled designs by the Jamaican celebrity designer Tanya Marie who has designed clothing for artists Lizo The event celebrated cultural fusion and sustainability in fashion aligning with Sophia’s values and offering her a platform to shine among industry elites While Sophia’s modeling achievements are impressive Her aspirations extend beyond modeling; she dreams of owning her own beauty line combining her love for fashion and entrepreneurship Sophia’s story resonates with many young individuals, especially those from underrepresented communities Her journey underscores the importance of passion As she walks international runways and inspires others Sophia Rose Hinkson shows the power of determination She believes in herself and the endless possibilities that come with it For more about Sophia’s journey and upcoming projects, visit her official website: sophiarosehinkson.com CMC – A High Court judge in Trinidad on Friday awarded more than $3 million in compensation to a brother and sister after ruling that their constitutional rights were violated when they were unlawfully detained in adult prison facilities while they were still minors “This court must register its disgust at the defendants’ conduct toward Brian and Sasha The defendant must be punished for such appalling conduct It is shocking that this appalling conduct was committed by the State which has a legal obligation to protect all minors,” Justice Margaret Mohammed said as she ordered the State to pay TT$1.85 million in compensatory and vindicatory damages to Brian Seepersad’s estate and TT$1.23 million to Sasha Seepersad The judge cited inhumane conditions and institutional negligence during their prolonged detention The judgment followed a 2021 ruling by the Privy Council which had upheld an appeal against the Court of Appeal’s refusal to grant constitutional relief The Privy Council found that the State violated the children’s right to protection of the law under Section 4(b) of the Constitution when they were remanded to the Youth Training Centre (YTC) and the Arouca Women’s Prison after being jointly charged with murder alongside two adults in January 2014 endured 818 days of unlawful detention in conditions the court described as “appalling and oppressive.” He died in March 2020 during a police operation after escaping from the YTC months earlier was awarded TT$850,000 in compensatory damages and TT$1 million in vindicatory damages on his behalf was held for 730 days in the Women’s Prison and later at St Jude’s Home for Girls She was subjected to routine strip searches and was denied the ability to practice her Muslim faith Justice Mohammed noted that Sasha “was robbed of her innocence” during her detention and awarded her TT$730,000 in compensatory damages and TT$500,000 in vindicatory damages The judge said the state had an obligation to provide proper facilities for minors presumed innocent until proven guilty but instead exposed both children to degrading and his innocence was “perverted and the trauma he suffered was immense.” Justice Mohammed described Sasha’s treatment as humiliating and dehumanising and that the children were not only unlawfully detained but were treated as if they had already been convicted The judge further condemned the State for misleading judicial authorities for nearly a decade regarding the true conditions of Brian’s detention and for failing to implement key recommendations from the Children’s Authority to support his mental and emotional recovery “The defendants did not make appropriate arrangements for Brian and Sasha upon detaining them,” the judge said adding that the authorities “intentionally and deliberately chose” to disregard reports on the suitability of the institutions and did nothing to address the conditions the siblings were kept in the defendants were aware that their actions were unlawful the period of Brian and Sasha’s unlawful detention was institutional inertia by the defendants as nothing was actively done to ensure that Brian and Sasha were housed in facilities that met the standards of a community residence “It was particularly disturbing as the period of unlawful detention for both Brian and Sasha was long “The court must register its disgust at the defendant’s conduct towards Brian and Sasha The defendants must be punished for such appalling conduct and the court must send a strong message in order to deter the defendants and or agents from repeating the conduct as was demonstrated in this action.” Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. 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Log in for full access to stabroeknews.com Only one active session is allowed per subscriber (Trinidad Express) Following the swearing-in of her new Cabinet Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that her government has already begun the work of revitalising Trinidad and Tobago by exploring new revenue streams Speaking at the ceremony held yesterday at President’s House in Port of Spain Persad-Bissessar said citizens would soon see campaign promises materialising She said Attorney General John Jeremie has been instructed to begin work on implementing Stand Your Ground and Home Invasion laws along with regulations to grant firearms to law-abiding citizens “These will not require too much money,” she said “My Finance Minister has been mandated to find out what is the state of the treasury before we can run off to… We don’t only talk the talk But I will know the status of the treasury on Monday.” The Prime Minister also announced that newly appointed Minister of Energy Roodal Moonilal will immediately begin exploring energy partnerships with Guyana and other Caribbean nations “I intend to send my Minister of Energy to Grenada I am told Grenada’s offshore field has more gas and oil than the Dragon Field so we can live and work together,” she said Persad-Bissessar pledged to work closely with the Tobago House of Assembly to ensure development and inclusion A FREE roundup of top news from Guyana you might otherwise miss The travel warning for Trinidad and Tobago is now "Level 3: Reconsider Travel." Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50 She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel Department of State mean?Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)Level 4 (Do Not Travel) Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Legislation was repealed in 2018 but Caribbean country’s supreme court last week recriminalised the act after appeal The privy council in London will soon be called upon to make the final decision on a court case to remove homophobic laws in Trinidad and Tobago The laws were repealed in 2018 in a high court judgment that struck from the statute book the “buggery law” that had criminalised consensual anal sex since an act passed in 1925 under British rule last week Trinidad’s supreme court upheld a government appeal against the ruling and recriminalised the act dealing a hammer blow to LGBTQ+ rights in the Caribbean country and prompting the UK Foreign Office to update its advice for LGBTQ+ travellers This week he said he would continue the fight before the privy council – Trinidad’s final court of appeal Central to his argument will be the controversial “savings clause” which former British empire jurisdictions such as Trinidad can revert to whenever a challenge is made to their constitution “This backwards step revolves around the savings clause which was designed as an instrument for the smooth transition of power upon independence in 1962 to protect the laws we had for hundreds of years That clause is now being used against democracy in our country,” said Jones Jones argues that because Trinidad and Tobago altered its sexual offences legislation three times – in 1976 when it became a republic and in 2000 – the law can no longer be classified as “saved” “Parliament is hiding its homophobic bigotry behind an archaic clause that serves no useful purpose in a modern democratic country.” The mood among Trinidad’s LGBTQ+ people is a far cry from their tears of joy on the steps of Port of Spain’s Hall of Justice seven years ago. Back then, the judge Devindra Rampersad delivered a poetic ruling that swept away nearly a century of discrimination enshrined in law “This is a case about the dignity of the person not the will of the majority or any religious view,” Rampersad said at the time “History has proven that the two do not always coincide.” every Trinidadian must be free “to make decisions as to whom he or she loves” the weighty 196-page report from which the appeal judge Nolan Bereaux read in overturning Jones v AG was clinical Buggery remains a crime in Trinidad and Tobago.” The judgment reverted to a familiar trope that the law is never actually enforced in practice “No one has been charged or punished … for engaging in consensual anal sex in the privacy of his or her home,” it said But LGBTQ+ activists say enforcement is not the point Jones’s victory was achieved on the grounds that the law denied him his human rights and right to privacy described last week’s ruling as a devastating setback and a betrayal by the justice system “It tells LGBTQ+ individuals their very existence remains subject to legal scrutiny that progress is fragile and that hard-won rights can be overturned,” Maraj said Patrick Lee Loy came out to his family at 30 we will not be free to express who we love” Although Trinidad is notoriously hedonistic – its exuberance plain to see at carnival where hundreds of thousands of straight, gay, lesbian and trans Trinidadians parade the streets wearing next to nothing – the undercurrent of religious piety and even extremism that runs through its Catholic Muslim and evangelical traditionalists heavily influences opinions on sexual freedom Whether it is safe to be gay in Trinidad is a complex question – more so than in Jamaica Away from the more liberal confines of the capital there are many communities where to be gay puts you in danger “I know a few gay men who were murdered,” said Loy the family did not push for an investigation in case it brought up too many ghosts “I have friends who only meet at their home Now that people feel the government will not protect its citizens Jones’s 2018 case triggered a wave of similar cases across the Commonwealth including in India where homosexuality was decriminalised just months after Trinidad A new progressive era appeared to have dawned in the global south the government immediately appealed against the decision – a move designed to reassure its religious which has taken seven years to be heard by the country’s highest court The ruling echoed sentiments in a similar case thrown out by Jamaica’s supreme court in 2023 that such matters were for parliament to decide If the privy council rules in favour of Trinidad’s government Jones says it is time to leave the institution which “can no longer be of useful service if hamstrung by the savings clause” highly relevant issue briefs and reports that break new ground with a focus on advancing debates by integrating foundational research and analysis with concrete 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economy utilizing state-of-the-art data visualization tools Kamla Persad-Bissessar will be the next prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago following parliamentary elections on April 28 The landslide victory for Persad-Bissessar and her United National Congress reflects the state that Trinidad and Tobago has found itself in over the past few years spikes in homicide numbers and gang violence and a dramatically changing geopolitical order all played their part on election day Persad-Bissessar returns to the role of prime minister having previously held the role between 2010 and 2015 but she has a tall mountain to climb this second time around and strengthening relations with the United States should be key features of Persad-Bissessar’s first one hundred days.  there are two areas Persad-Bissessar can focus on she can work to fast-track development of commercially viable natural gas fields through tax concessions and subsidies she can take steps to diversify the energy matrix by investing in renewables Trinidad and Tobago is primed to be a renewable energy leader in green hydrogen The country has a large electricity grid and population relative to its Caribbean neighbors meaning that investors can invest at scale in a country that already has a track record of developing power generation projects Persad-Bissessar will become prime minister as the international system is entering a new era Trinidad and Tobago should start by strengthening its relationship with the United States Trinidad and Tobago should seek out financial and technical assistance through the US Department of Defense and US Southern Command which will be essential to enhancing the country’s capacity to address gang activity and protect its ports from illegal arms inflows.  Persad-Bissessar should consider making Washington US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent trip to the Caribbean is a signal that the region is unlikely to be an afterthought for the United States Persad-Bissessar has a unique opportunity to capitalize on this attention and use a diplomatic visit to shore up support from the United States and present the country’s natural gas and renewable energy potential as investment destinations for US businesses.  and strong international partnerships are a must but these challenges cannot be tackled alone An all-hands-on-deck approach that includes working closely with the private sector and nongovernmental organizations can help Persad-Bissessar build a more secure and prosperous future for Trinidad and Tobago Wazim Mowla is the fellow and lead of the Caribbean Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center.  Dale Ramlakhan is a nonresident senior fellow at the Caribbean Initiative leader of the centrist United National Congress (UNC) celebrates with supporters after securing victory in the parliamentary election paving the way for her appointment as Trinidad and Tobago’s next prime minister Sign up to receive expert analysis from our community on the most important global issues © 2025 Atlantic CouncilAll rights reserved If refreshing the page doesn't resolve the issue you could try clearing the sites browser cache Countries & Areas Bureaus & Offices About Marco Rubio, Secretary of State The United States congratulates Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her election as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago We commend the people of Trinidad and Tobago for their continued commitment to democratic values and institutions demonstrated through the peaceful and orderly conduct of their free and fair national elections The United States and Trinidad and Tobago share a strong and enduring partnership rooted in deep historic ties and shared goals for prosperity and security We look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar and her administration to strengthen our collaboration on energy security We use cookies to make our website work better and improve your experience Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Tallahassee State College graduate Destinee Britto struggled to find where she would fit in during her accelerated academic journey after moving to the capital city But what started as the decision to grasp the opportunity of serving as class president in high school led to her drive to secure the student body president role at TSC which – as of May 1 – she calls her alma mater but it opened up so many new opportunities,” 18-year-old Britto told the Tallahassee Democrat it was overwhelming adjusting to a new school system and culture but I quickly found ways to get involved and make my voice heard especially through student leadership and service.”  TSC's 2024 graduation: TSC fall commencement to mark the college's first graduating class since its renaming where she plans to double major in sports management and political science But the road to Britto's latest achievement of graduating was not an easy one While she says life in the beautiful Trinidad and Tobago – a dual-island country in the Caribbean – allowed her to be “surrounded by a vibrant culture close-knit community and strong family ties,” she faced challenges such as starting high school at 11 years old in the home country “I was navigating a lot at a young age," Britto said I’m grateful for those early years because they gave me a strong foundation in resilience and drive." When Britto's family moved to Tallahassee in 2021, she took that resilience and drive with her when she attended Rickards High School and served as class president before graduating in 2023 and enrolling at TSC I knew that I needed a place that would be able to help me grow a place that was affordable and a place where I'd be close to my family,” Britto said Through Britto’s role as student body president she says she created more opportunities for incoming students to get involved by establishing several committees through SGA and creating a couple freshmen-only positions after hearing concerns from students who wanted to get more engaged being SGA president really just means it was in my court to hear student voices,” Britto said “It isn't just about having that title or being able to throw an event it's about doing what's best for the students.”  In addition, Britto is one of eight students in the country to have been selected in February as a 2025 DREAM Scholar where the program offers students an opportunity to develop leadership While Britto’s time at TSC consisted of several achievements and accomplishments she says her support system – which includes TSC’s Student Life Manager Deidra Green who is also the college’s SGA advisor – played a significant role in her success “I'm just extremely proud to have witnessed her reach her goal of not only being the SGA president, but being the first one of Tallahassee State College and doing such an amazing job to begin a legacy with our name change," Green said "A lot of her peers obviously look up to her but just seeing the culmination of all her hard work over the past two years has been amazing to witness." her career goal is to become a sports lawyer with a focus on immigration law "It's very sad to be leaving TSC because I know the opportunities that it has opened for me but I know it has also opened doors for me at Florida State,” Britto said “I'm very excited and look forward to seeing what I'm going to do over at FSU with the confidence that I have gained here.”  Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at tjean@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @tarahjean_ In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies.By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more Air Canada has returned to Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago “This station start-up marks not just a return but a renewal of our commitment to connecting Canadians with the vibrant culture and energy of Trinidad and Tobago,” wrote Ozan Demir Demir went on to thank the partners who made the restart possible: the Canadian High Commission His Excellency Michael Ryan Callan and the Swissport team.“We’re excited to welcome travellers once again between Canada and the Caribbean—more connections Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook Receive the best travel industry news every day Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 11:16:32 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); BP (BP, Financial) has granted a significant contract to SLB's OneSubsea joint venture and Subsea7 marking the beginning of the Ginger project located offshore Trinidad and Tobago and installation services for the development The initiative represents the first project to be undertaken under the global framework agreement between BP and the Subsea Integration Alliance Based on the consensus recommendation from 18 brokerage firms, BP PLC's (BP, Financial) average brokerage recommendation is currently 2.5 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript (Trinidad Guardian) Air Canada is officially back in the T&T market two years after suspending the Toronto-Port of Spain route indefinitely AC984 touched down at Piarco International just after one am on Saturday with 156 passengers onboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was still welcomed with the traditional water cannon salute Air Canada will fly between Canada and T&T three times weekly – adding over 4,000 seats to the market monthly Canada is this country’s second-largest source market accounting for over 35,000 visitors annually (not including the pandemic years) The aircraft’s arrival is the culmination of months of discussions with Air Canada Airports Authority (AATT) general manager Hayden Newton told a small group of officials and specially invited guests at Piarco International to welcome the airline that its return was a “strong vote of confidence in our twin island state” Air Canada is certainly a familiar brand in the T&T market it’s not the only one we may see at Piarco in the coming years In an exclusive interview with Guardian Media Newton revealed that ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has approached AATT about restarting operations in Trinidad – noteworthy because just a few weeks ago ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier exited the market Newton believes low-cost carriers have a space in the T&T market He said: “The low-cost experiment works as long as it fits into some of the uniqueness of our market And I think Spirit has understood that and they have come back to us to talk to us about coming later in 2025 or 2026” Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet is also considering service to both Piarco International and ANR Robinson International in 2026 WestJet has operated between Canada and Port of Spain in the past Several other carriers have expressed interest in adding T&T to their route maps but lack the Air Services Agreements (ASA) required to operate scheduled flights T&T signed several Air Services Agreements with countries such as Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates over the past few years Several other agreements are expected to be signed in the coming months and years – among them Colombia and Dominican Republic “Trinidad & Tobago has done some work in terms of ensuring that there’s an Air Services Agreement between Colombia and Trinidad and we have submitted the agreement back to Columbia for their response There are a few clauses that need to be adjusted and as long as that happens … we feel that one will come on soon.” A bilateral ASA between Colombia and T&T will open the door for Colombian carrier Avianca to operate in the T&T market The airline has already received permission from Aeronautica Civil (The Civil Aviation Authority of Colombia) to operate up to seven weekly flights between Port of Spain and Bogota It has also approached the Trinidad & Tobago Civil Aviation Authority for permission to fly here A touch of the Caribbean has come to downtown Acworth with the opening of a restaurant and bar devoted to tropical cuisine The aptly named Caribbean Vibes opened its doors in early April, taking over a space that formerly housed a craft cocktail bar. An April 9 ribbon cutting drew city officials  Owner and Trinidad native Susan Flynn is pleased at the response to date but says she’s still scrambling to fully flesh out her staff and pin down entertainment options but a number of dishes hail from Trinidad and ultimately derive from past Indian subcontinent migration to the country “I grew up in an old-fashioned Indian home,” she says “I had to start cooking at a very young age My mom started teaching me cooking at 13 or 14 years old.” Flynn says she emigrated to New York in 1995 and started several business ventures before selling them in 2019 and following her brother to metro Atlanta thinking about a healthy drink stand or a sports bar venture but ultimately settled on a restaurant to capitalize on the culinary skills learned at her mother’s knee “The jerk chicken and the oxtail stew is everywhere in the Caribbean and the curries and the roti are mostly Trinidadian,” she explains she says every few days they whip up something that’s not on the menu “and we put it out there just to see if people like it.” She says that so far all of their “extras” have found favor Her signature hot sauce has been a solid hit with customers regularly asking for extra portions to take home The spot is fairly modest inside with official records pegging it at around 11  hundred square feet along with a bar and a more generously sized deck in the back She plans to pack a lot of happenings into that space “because it’s a small restaurant,” but she says they’re looking at live music a DJ and comedy to engage their customer base As she puts it ,“Everybody else is doing bingo and trivia so I don’t want to do the same thing their hours have been fluid so as not to overwork a still-limited staff but she anticipates settling into a more permanent schedule with a 10:30 a.m She says the community has been supportive and her spot has had multiple repeat customers some of which have left five-star ratings on Google and praised both the food and the service and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Cobb County Courier’s Dog of the Day selected from the Cobb Animal Services Shelter website The following information on this potential family member… The Cobb County Courier’s Cat of the Day The following information on this potential family… Missouri University of Science and Technology and Islam H Missouri University of Science and Technology [This article first appeared in The Conversation republished with permission] Construction… republished with permission] Women make up more than 50% of the population republished with permission] The National Hurricane Center’s forecasts in 2024 were its most accurate on record remains the only woman to ever have led the twin-island Caribbean nation Voters in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) have ousted the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) party, electing the United National Congress’ (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar as prime minister of the twin-island Caribbean nation. The victory marks a remarkable comeback for Persad-Bissesar, 73, who previously served as prime minister from 2010-2015, and remains the only woman ever to have led the country. In her victory speech to crowds of cheering supporters late on Monday, Persad-Bissesar pledged to deliver on election promises. She said: “This victory is for the senior citizens to keep their pensions. This victory is for public servants to get their rightful salary increases. This victory is to reopen the children’s hospital ...This victory is to once again give laptops to our children. This victory is to create over 50,000 jobs. And so, the victory is yours.” Persad-Bissessar, a distinguished attorney, became the first woman to lead the UNC in 2010 . The UNC faced internal upheaval, high-profile resignations and a series of electoral defeats but Persad-Bissessar’s leadership has helped the party re-establish itself as a credible force, particularly among voters seeking change. Her speech came minutes after the PNM conceded defeat. Former prime minister and PNM party leader Keith Rowley said: “Tonight is not a good night for the PNM, but it might be a good night for Trinidad … Things have gone very well with the processes. The results are coming in now. And from what we have coming in … it is clear at this time that we have lost the election.” Read moreOutgoing prime minister Stuart Young added: “The electorate has spoken tonight, and we look forward to tomorrow morning, tomorrow morning you will see a strong PNM back on the road, back servicing the population of Trinidad and Tobago.” The Tobago People’s party also enjoyed unprecedented success, ousting at least one of the PNM incumbents in Tobago, according to preliminary figures. For the first time since Jack Warner’s Independent Liberal party (ILP) won Chaguanas West in 2013, the country will now have three political parties represented in the House of Representatives. The snap election, triggered after Rowley’s unprecedented resignation and the appointment of Young as prime minister, came amid a surge in the cost of living, Trump’s trade wars and soaring crime rates. During their campaign, the UNC promised a range of initiatives to tackle crime, including the creation of new ministries of defence and justice. Before the vote, Hamid Ghany, a political analyst at the University of the West Indies said that Trump’s relations with T&T may change with Persad-Bissessar as prime minister. Earlier this month, the US revoked two licenses it had granted in recent years for the development of offshore natural gas projects between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, dealing a blow to the country’s economic growth projections. “The closeness between PM Young and [Venezuela’s] Maduro’s regime will be on the Trump administration’s radar should the PNM win the election,” Ghany said. “It is quite possible that there may be a different response from the Trump administration should the UNC win the election, given the favourable disposition of Kamla Persad-Bissessar towards Trump,” he added. You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad- Trinidad & Tobago legions fast bowler Joshua James, was reported for a suspect bowling action during the ongoing West Indies Breakout League. James’ action was cited by match officials during the first two matches against Barbados Pelicans on April 25 and Guyana Rainforest Rangers on April 26 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. As part of the process, once a player is reported for a suspect bowling action, video footage from the match in which the player was reported is provided to CWI. The video footage along with the written report is sent to Loughborough University for analysis using an Opinion Report. On Monday April 28, Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that the Opinion Report by the Independent Assessor at Loughborough University, has found James’ bowling action to be illegal and, as such, he has been suspended from bowling in all West Indies international and regional matches with immediate effect. The assessment revealed that James’ deliveries exceeded the level of tolerance for extension of the elbow permitted under playing regulations. As per the International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations the suspension will also apply to all other domestic leagues worldwide. James will now undergo remedial work under the supervision of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board. He will be eligible to apply for reassessment once he has modified his bowling action, either through another Opinion Report from Loughborough or via analysis from another accredited testing centre. Support non-profit journalism and perspectives from around the world. See all those languages? The Lingua project at Global Voices works to bring down barriers to understanding through translation. Part of the UNC's campaign centred around town hall-type meetings whereby people were invited to air their concerns about a range of issues, including crime, health infrastructure and more – conversations that helped the party create inroads into former PNM strongholds While the UNC won the popular vote (334,874) and the PNM came in second (220,160 votes) Panday's party secured the third largest number of votes overall – 21,010 – more than the TPP which received 13,857 votes and landed both parliamentary seats in Tobago “the country remains in an emergency The PNM has stripped citizens of their rights but there is one right they cannot take away — the right to vote.” [F]ewer people voted in 2025 (54% and in reduced absolute numbers) than in Covid-struck 2020 (58.08%) The UNC earned over 25,000 new votes and the PNM lost around 100,000 he did not expect “the shift would be as seismic” as it was “Let’s change the way we define ‘ourselves’,” he continued Trinidad and Tobago is a semi-pluralistic society alienating any one segment of the population—for any reason as has been practiced in the past — is a dangerous road to continue along yesterday […] We are at the threshold of a new era Congratulations to Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her election as the next Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. She is a strong leader, friend, and U.S. ally who shares @POTUS‘s priorities on security and immigration We look forward to building a close partnership for the future of… — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 29, 2025 two offshore natural gas projects between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela that would have been a boon to the twin-island republic’s economy “It is quite possible that there may be a different response from the Trump administration […] given the favourable disposition of Kamla Persad-Bissessar towards Trump.” As far as the election itself went, Facebook user Denny Ablack felt that the process reflected well on the professionalism of the country's Elections and Boundaries Commission, while Gladston Cuffie identified some key lessons the last being “There is such a thing as second chances ERROR: SECURITY TIMEOUT - Please copy your message to a backup location Global Voices stands out as one of the earliest and strongest examples of how media committed to building community and defending human rights can positively influence how people experience events happening beyond their own communities and national borders Please consider making a donation to help us continue this work Donate now Authors, please log in » Stay up to date about Global Voices and our mission. 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For more information please read our Fundraising Ethics Policy Special thanks to our many sponsors and funders You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Voters in twin-island Caribbean nation to determine representatives amid Trump tariffs and rising cost of living Voters in the twin-island Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) are going to the polls today in a parliamentary election described by analysts as one of the most unpredictable in decades Soaring crime levels, Donald Trump’s trade tariffs and the rising cost of living have dominated the race between the two main parties the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC) Voters will choose the 41 members of the lower House of Representatives for a five-year term The trigger for the vote was former prime minister Keith Rowley’s unprecedented decision to stand down in March becoming the country’s first leader to resign without losing at the polls he dissolved parliament and called the election seeking a public mandate for his leadership campaigning against the government’s record on crime and the rising cost of living “Crime will be a major factor in the election because the government has been unable to take control of the situation,” Hamid Ghany a University of the West Indies political analyst The UNC has promised a range of initiatives to tackle crime including the creation of new ministries of defence and justice digitise services and improve public safety through the creation of a ministry of implementation and efficiency Among 1,650 respondents across 11 marginal constituencies in Trinidad 45% said they would vote for the UNC if elections were held tomorrow The survey also revealed that 61% of Trinidadian respondents were dissatisfied with the PNM’s performance over the last decade Young insists that the PNM’s internal tracking shows a lead in several key constituencies Ghany described the election as a contest between the “working class and the privileged class” For people like maintenance worker Clinton Brewster the gravest concern is the rising cost of living “The trade unions have sided with the UNC against the government on the need to address the concerns of the working class in attempting to repair the post-Covid economy Class concerns have cut across race and ethnic lines which has diminished the race factor in this election,” Ghany said Race has historically been a fault line in local politics with the PNM drawing support from Afro-Trinidadians and the UNC from Indo-Trinidadian communities While both parties have repeatedly denied weaponising ethnicity the 2025 campaign has included accusations of racial messaging in AI-generated ads and finger-pointing over class representation A senior member of the T&T Hindu community said equality and equity are “front-burner” issues He added that while the country has had to grapple with the impact of a post-colonial legacy “We just have to make sure that the gains that we have made in our fight for equality, fair play and justice, that we consolidate those gains and do not compromise them in any way. Words like equality and equity must remain important in a future Trinidad and Tobago,” he said. the international context is also important “This election is important in the Trump era because of the US policy towards Venezuela.” the US revoked two licenses it had granted in recent years for the development of offshore natural gas projects between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela dealing a blow to the country’s economic growth projections “The closeness between PM Young and [Venezuela’s] Maduro’s regime will be on the Trump administration’s radar should the PNM win the election,” Ghany said “It is quite possible that there may be a different response from the Trump administration should the UNC win the election given the favourable disposition of Kamla Persad-Bissessar towards Trump.” Candidates from seventeen political parties and three independents are contesting 41 seats of the House of Representatives as Trinidad and Tobago marks 100 years since the first election was held in the twin-island state in 1925 There were queues of early-rising voters patiently waiting for polling stations to open their doors with 1,134,135 people eligible and registered to vote.  Registered voters must be 18 years and over reside in an electoral district for at least two months prior to the election and be a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago or a Commonwealth citizen having resided in the country for at least a year also had an early start as he witnessed voting at the Queens Royal College polling station The election was called by Prime Minister Stuart Young on his second day in office It was originally due to be held later this year The election is also the first to be held after the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) redrew the lines for 16 constituencies and renamed five others Special polling took place from 21 April to 27 April to allow polling day staff offshore workers and prisoners on remand and others who are eligible to vote as special voters to cast their ballots Commonwealth Observers were also present and watched as the ballots were cast and results will be announced once all count and tabulation processes have concluded The 41 members are elected for a maximum five-year term in single-seat constituencies using a first-past-the-post voting system The party with a majority of seats will form the government and its leader will become the Prime Minister The Commonwealth Observer Group will issue its interim statement in a press conference at 3pm tomorrow former Foreign Affairs Minister of Malta Temitope Kalejaiye, Public Relations and Engagement Officer The group noted other areas for improvement including the need to rebuild confidence in democratic institutions and address the issue of low youth voter turnout It recommends that measures be considered to promote greater civic participation in the electoral process by allowing longer periods for voter education and awareness raising.  the COG Chairperson and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta Honourable Evarist Bartolo said the COG attended the final rallies of political parties echoing the true colours of the country's carnival spirit “We reiterate the 2015 Commonwealth Observer Group’s statement that the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) is reflecting on proposals to regulate registration and campaign financing of political parties political parties and all relevant stakeholders prioritise this process The Group commends the EBC for providing clear and helpful signage in all polling stations to aid the flow and coherence of the voting process Commenting on one of the unique aspects of this election "We noticed the presence of information desk officers in each polling division tasked with guiding voters upon arrival to their respective voting stations The Commonwealth Observer Group commended the people of Trinidad and Tobago for exercising their right to vote in an orderly manner and congratulates the EBC and the media for their roles in ensuring the successful conduct of polls Before it departs from Trinidad and Tobago an independent assessment setting out its full findings on the entire electoral process with detailed recommendations to further improve the country’s electoral process.   The final report will then be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General and thereafter shared with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago a former Foreign Affairs Minister of Malta with over 30 years of parliamentary experience consists of six eminent persons from across the Commonwealth The team will observe all aspects of the elections offering recommendations to ensure the highest standards of electoral credibility inclusivity and transparency as they assess the pre-election environment Announcing the composition of the group in London Observers arrive in the country on 22 April and they will meet key stakeholders the diplomatic community and other regional and citizen observers observers will deploy in small teams to different parts of the country to observe election preparations and meet with local stakeholders in their respective locations.  counting and the results management processes The COG will then issue an interim statement on its preliminary findings on 30 April.  The members of the COG have been mandated to observe and consider factors affecting the credibility of the electoral process as a whole and to assess whether the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Trinidad and Tobago has committed itself including national legislation and relevant regional The Commonwealth Observer Group will be supported by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat Mr Orrette Tyndale Fisher - Election Management Expert Mr Aiman Rasheed - Deputy Program Director Mr Kryticous Patrick Nshindano -  Public Policy and Electoral Management Expert The U.S. Department of State is warning citizens to reconsider travel to the island of Trinidad and Tobago The country has been under a state of emergency since December 30 2024 due to ongoing criminal activity that could threaten public safety On January 13, 2025, T&T Prime Minister Stuart Young extended the emergency declaration until April 2025 Here is why the State Department has issued the travel warning. there is a risk of gang violence in the country The department currently has Trinidad and Tobago under a level 3 travel advisory The types of violent crime the advisory lists include: The State Department said the following places could be targets for criminal activity in the country: According to the State Department and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) the GOTT has imposed the following measures: government employees working in Trinidad and Tobago are prohibited from travelling to the following areas in Port of Spain during the day and especially after dark: Here are the countries listed that are under level 1 advisory: Indian-origin politician Kamla Persad-Bissessar was elected as the new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago in April GOPIO International has congratulated the Trinidadian leader following her win She had served as the Prime Minister from May 2010 to September 2015 She won the snap poll which was called following the resignation of Keith Rowley “GOPIO has a long standing relationship with Prime Minister-Elect Kamla Persad-Bissessar from 1999 when GOPIO hosted her when she was a minister in PM Basdeo Panday’s cabinet and she was also the Chief Guest as PM in 2014 at the GOPIO Convention in Port of Spain in Trinidad,” said Dr GOPIO International President Prakash Shah welcomed her re-election as Prime Minister “GOPIO is looking forward to actively working with her for the Development in Trinidad and Tobago especially on Hospitality and Health Care Sectors and further strengthening the GOPIO chapters throughout the Caribbean Region where the Diaspora People of Indian Origin have Deep Roots GOPIO is planning two Major Events in 2026 in NYC in May and in Mumbai in December 2026 and we will welcome her esteemed Presence at Future GOPIO events’.” (Photo courtesy: www.facebook.com/KamlaPersadBissessar) The Mediocrity of Modern GoogleGoodbye Torque. Hello TeraFLOPS! Anil Swarup column: Ignoble ‘Ghar Wapsi’?Dilemmas of Civil Servants The Role of Synthetic Data in Today’s Data-Centric WorldMuckAI Girish Op-Ed: Tackling Bias with Synthetic Data In a democracy, do people have the right to criticize the government?Justice Katju: Jagdeep Dhankhar and Nishikant Dubey are correct #IStandWithIndia in the wake of Pahalgam Terror AttackAmerican Revolution was about due process Technology Cycle: Innovation to EconomicsAI: A Trillion Dollar Double Helix PM Modi meets Gukesh, calls him ‘India’s pride’COP29’s Baku finance goal triples climate finance target, draws mixed reactions from developing nations The best journalism involves covering issues of importance to the community honestly we will be following up on news for the South Asian community – without fear or favor ranking the level of safety for journalists as more than 100 gangs are believed to be active in the two-island nation Following this spike in violence, including over six murders committed in 48 hours the government late last year declared a three-month national state of emergency the heightened security measures have raised concerns about potential restrictions on press freedom during a critical electoral period RSF is calling on the next government to adopt three urgent measures to safeguard press freedom: protect journalists and support media diversity and independence RSF has expressed its willingness to engage in a productive dialogue with political party leaders to ensure that these commitments are implemented From JURIST See our last report on Trinidad & Tobago Photo: Christianwelsh via Wikimedia Commons If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email in the box below and click "Send" Click here to learn more: Documentation (opens in new tab) 6 May 2025 11:17:30 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information 2025 at 10:39 AM EDTBookmarkSaveTakeaways NEWTrinidad and Tobago’s opposition swept to power in a landslide victory that marks a stunning comeback for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who had led the country between 2010 and 2015 While electoral authorities have yet to deliver final results state television said Tuesday morning that Persad-Bissessar’s United National Congress had won 25 of 41 seats in the House of Representatives the people of Trinidad and Tobago have spoken—clearly The 2025 general election has brought a sweeping victory for the United National Congress (UNC) With 26 of the 41 parliamentary seats secured the UNC now holds a commanding mandate to govern and lead the nation into a new chapter This win is not just a political triumph; it is a vindication of persistence Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s political story is already etched into the island’s history she became the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Her leadership at the time broke barriers and inspired a generation Though her administration would eventually fall out of favor and face defeat in later years the people have called her back to the helm What makes this electoral moment especially significant is not just the scale of the victory but the manner in which it was achieved The elections were conducted peacefully and efficiently a testament to the strength of Trinidad and Tobago’s democratic institutions In a time when many democracies around the world are struggling with polarization the twin-island republic reminded us all that the Caribbean continues to be a place where the people’s voice is heard—and respected—at the ballot box and high crime rates that threaten the sense of security and cohesion that citizens deserve But the new government comes in with a fresh mandate and with a motivated base that is eager to see real progress Kamla Persad-Bissessar has already signaled her administration’s priorities Reviving the energy sector—particularly through the resurrection of Petrotrin the state-owned oil company—will be a key component of the economic plan She has also promised to re-open major healthcare facilities that were shuttered under the previous administration and is committed to improving public sector wages the government must chart a course that uplifts not just the urban centers but also the rural and underserved communities that have long felt left behind Rebuilding public trust will take more than promises—it will require measurable the UNC administration is expected to adopt a pragmatic Trinidad and Tobago sits at a strategic intersection of regional politics and global energy markets The island’s relationship with overseas partners—especially regarding trade and climate resilience—will need to be strengthened and redefined for this new era The recent overseas treaty discussions hold promise as vehicles for economic growth Trinidad and Tobago could position itself as a leader in Caribbean affairs emotional current running through this election: a national yearning for unity the nation has been tested—from economic strain to global uncertainty—and yet the people continue to show an unbreakable spirit and an unshakable belief in better days ahead Carib News salutes the people of Trinidad and Tobago—both those on the islands and in the diaspora and your belief in a brighter future deserve recognition Elections are more than just numbers—they are acts of faith in a system To Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the newly formed government we extend our sincerest congratulations and best wishes lead with the people always at the heart of every decision Trinidad and Tobago is rich in potential—not just in resources the country can rise to meet the promise of its future Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly No thanks, I’m not interested Ferris State's national championship-winning quarterback has found his new home will make the leap from Division II to the Football Bowl Subdivision Chambliss confirmed the news on social media Last week, Chambliss announced he was entering the transfer portal "The journey I've had here at Ferris State University has been nothing short of amazing and life-changing," Chambliss wrote on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this month "I am deeply grateful for everything the university and Bulldog community have done for me." Chambliss was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, otherwise known as the DII Heisman, losing out to Central Missouri quarterback Zach Zebrowski, who won the award in 2023 and 2024. Chambliss was a first-team All-American. His departure is one of several expected from Ferris State this offseason, as FBS schools go looking for DII stars who can make the jump up two levels. Ferris State's championship pedigree has proven to be a strong selling point for recruiters across the country. "He kept me in the loop, which I appreciate," Ferris State head coach Tony Annese said Tuesday night. "He's been very respectful of our program,. which I appreciate. A super young man. "I love him as a football player, but more as a person." This offseason, Ferris State also has lost offensive lineman Lawrence Hattar (Livonia Churchill) to Michigan, and is expected to lose offensive lineman Bryce George (Detroit Edison) and defensive back Jacarvis Alexandre. This roster movement is all new to Annese, Ferris State's head coach since December 2011. "It's just a different dynamic," Annese said. "And it's something where you're pleased for your guys, but you're not pleased with the way things are evolving. Chambliss will have two years of eligibility left at Ole Miss, which is losing star quarterback Jaxson Dart to the NFL Draft after he threw for 4,279 yards in 2024, when the Rebels finished fourth in the SEC and had a 10-3 record, including a bowl victory over Duke. Louisville transfer quarterback Pierce Clarkson also has joined Ole Miss this offseason. Ole Miss is coached by Lane Kiffin, a former quarterback himself. In 2024, Ferris State reeled off 14 consecutive victories after a season-opening loss. The season culminated with a dominating 49-14 win over Valdosta State, with Chambliss throwing for three TDs and running for two more. Chambliss' 51 total TDs led college football, across all divisions. Annese said Chambliss ran the offense "to perfection." "During my time at Ferris State, I have grown both as a student and as an athlete," Chambliss wrote on X. "I am truly appreciative of the coaching staff, my teammates, the athletic department, and the entire Bulldog community for helping shape me into the student-athlete I am today. "A special thank you goes to Coach Annese and the entire coaching staff for their guidance and support throughout my time at Ferris. The love they've shown me has been life-changing, and I will forever be grateful." Ferris State's quarterback well still is plenty full, with Carson Gulker coming back. He's played three seasons at Ferris State, and rushed for 31 touchdowns for the Bulldogs during his redshirt freshman season. Chase Carter and Wyatt Bower (Corunna) also are expected to be back this season. Natasha Decker•Mar 26 The State Department has issued an updated Trinidad and Tobago travel advisory The popular Caribbean country – comprised of its two main namesake islands and various smaller ones – is now classified by the United States government as a “Level 3” zone that Americans should “reconsider travel” to While there is no nationwide curfew or ban on public gatherings the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s emergency declaration allows the country’s police to enter and search all properties (public or private) those in Trinidad and Tobago can also be arrested on suspicion with bail for those persons “suspended.” As of this reporting, the State Department says all travel to the island country should be reconsidered because of “serious risks from crime” and “heightened risks of terrorism and kidnapping.” The U.S. government department claims some parts of Trinidad and Tobago’s capital, Port of Spain experience regular “violence and shootings.” Additionally the source reports that gang activity and an array of violent crimes are “common” throughout the Caribbean country The State Department’s travel advisories categorizes countries from “Level 1” zones to “Level 4,” with the latter being places where tourists are advised not to visit The U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago has recommendations for those in the island country during its State of Emergency Visitors should adhere to the nationwide mandates and remain alert about news from local reputable sources and the Trinidad and Tobago government registering for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program before traveling is always advised a free daily newsletter that features the best of travel and guides to the cities you love from a new point of view — yours you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy Queen Elizabeth Once Stepped In To Prevent Snoop Dogg From Being Banned From The UK United Airlines Flight Attendant's Armrest Announcement Sparks Social Media Frenzy ‘Basketball Wives’ Star Mehgan James Speaks Out About Popular Bahamas Island With Flesh-Eating Bacteria After Friend Loses Leg Chaos Erupts After Ethiopian Airlines Passenger Forced To Give Up Seat For Minister In each location where Black dandyism took root and social conditions shaped its expression A Simi Valley plane crash involving a small aircraft resulted in the deaths of its two passengers Check out these filming sites that have added to this harrowing story of creative survival in two popular cities Paramount+'s 'MobLand' has rapidly garnered a wide audience thanks to its fascinating characters and gorgeous scenic backdrops A 27-year-old Chinese student living in Japan was rescued twice from Mount Fuji within days – the second time after reascending for his phone the three most powerful seats the President the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are all held by women at the same time it is a defining chapter in the evolution of leadership democracy and gender equality in our twin-island republic This triumphant shift sends a resounding message to young girls and women across the Caribbean and beyond: your place is not only in the home in the classroom or in the workforce – it is also at the head of the table where decisions are made and futures are shaped Women have always been the backbone of Caribbean society From nurturing families to leading grassroots movements they have long held influence behind the scenes Their leadership brings a style marked by resilience These are not just “soft skills.” In a world facing crises of trust these are the leadership traits we need most Some may argue that leadership knows no gender leadership in TT – and much of the world – has been dominated by male voices This historic trio of women leaders is not about exclusion; it’s about balance It’s about the power of diverse perspectives in guiding a nation forward Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles addresses reporters at Balisier House in Port of Spain on April 30 These women have risen not through tokenism Their presence in power challenges stereotypes and inspires a generation to believe in what’s possible when competence meets opportunity The significance of this moment will be measured not just in headlines is about service and if women’s history in governance tells us anything it’s that service often runs deeper and wider when empathy and accountability are allowed to flourish With the strength and wisdom of women leading the way And let's not forget Mickela Panday who will be a force to be reckoned with at the next general election Trinidad Chambliss is making the leap from D2 dominance to the SEC spotlight The Ferris State Football quarterback who electrified college football with 51 total touchdowns and led the Bulldogs to a blowout win in the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship Chambliss emerged as one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the country last season stepping in for an injured Carson Gulker and never looking back He threw for 2,925 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for another 1019 yards and 25 scores—guiding Ferris State to a 49-14 thrashing of previously unbeaten Valdosta State in the title game HIM.#D2FB | #GLIACFB | @TrinidadChambl1 pic.twitter.com/5nPdYZwNEv after earning GLIAC Player of the Year and finishing third in Harlon Hill Trophy voting 200-pound playmaker is heading to Oxford with his sights set on making an impact in the SEC Here's what to know about the new Ole Miss quarterback Outside of throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and rushing for over 1,000 yards Chambliss threw only 6 interceptions across 367 attempts on a 61-percent completion percentage.  Chambliss also had four 100-yard rushing games throughout the season and averaged 6 yards per rush.  Chambliss took over for Carson Gulker in 2024 but he had already shown flashes in 2023 for the Bulldogs Chambliss had 5 passing touchdowns and 4 rushing touchdowns in limited action but seemed to do something special each time he had a chance.  Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloFootball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription. Division II and Division III football action all season long.  Don't miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloFootball schedule page for the latest games.  Get the most important Football stories delivered straight to your inbox - Colorado Rapids midfielder Wayne Frederick has been named to the Trinidad & Tobago Men’s National Team for their upcoming international friendly against Saudi Arabia the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association announced Frederick and his nation will match up against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on December 17 at 9:45 a.m This marks Frederick’s first call to Trinidad & Tobago’s senior national team since signing with the Rapids in January of 2024 The midfielder has been called up to the nation’s youth national teams in the past but has yet to make his senior team debut The Rapids drafted Frederick with the second overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft following two standout seasons at Duke University The 20-year-old made his MLS debut on April 13 2024 and featured in two games across all competitions during his rookie season Putin and Lukashenko speak on Union State ties and united historical memory at Volgograd forum Russia proposes joint aviation venture with Belarus as part of expanded industrial cooperation Russian and Belarusian agents accused of plotting attacks on exiled Belarusians in Lithuania Belarus now ‘untouchable’ under Russia’s nuclear umbrella COMMENT: Trump’s tariff drive hits emerging markets as growth and inflation forecasts slide – Oxford Economics Hungarian Commissioner delays EU plan to curb Russian energy dependence COMMENT: Is Russia’s economy headed for hard or soft landing BLOG: The EU’s glacial push to eliminate Russian LNG EU allies prepared to back Moldova’s EU accession bid without Ukraine if Hungary’s veto not lifted Post-war order teetering – rights watchdog but playing second fiddle to the Northern Route Think-tank urges EU to consider 'Big Bang' enlargement and sweeping reforms UK insect numbers plummet by two thirds in three years EU swaps China for Russia in procurement of rare earth metals Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia Poland’s manufacturing conditions improve for third consecutive month in April but outlook weakens Hungary and Slovakia warn EU against scrapping unanimity rule over Ukraine membership bid Press freedom declines sharply in several Balkan countries Albania’s 2025 general election to test democratic institutions Western Balkan states increase use of surveillance Bosnia secures €80mn World Bank loan to finance coal phase-out and energy transition Spanish blackout caused by extreme weather and a major renewables failure for the first time Moldova's government hopes for 2% economic growth this year George Simion takes decisive lead in Romanian presidential election first round Serbian president stable after falling ill during US visit COMMENT: Turkish opposition’s efforts to bring down Erdogan regime are just not working Turkey’s inflation dips further to 37.9% in April Turkey’s opposition leader assaulted in Istanbul COMMENT: Embracing “Greater Central Asia” has become a strategic imperative for US Russia and Europe vie for investment in Central Asia Russia removes Taliban from terrorist list acknowledging it as legitimate leadership of Afghanistan Taliban seek $100mn from World Bank to restart work on CASA-1000 electricity transmission project COMMENT: Europe could benefit from partnering with Armenian tech innovation Armenia courts African countries to supply diamond industry Tensions flare in Azerbaijan–Russia ties despite Patriarch’s visit Europe’s quest for Central Asian resources meets reality First commercial flight arrives in Georgia’s separatist Abkhazia region after 33 years “Lost” Ottoman era painting reappears at Sotheby’s London PMI shows ongoing expansion in Kazakh manufacturing sector in April MACRO ADVISORY: Kazakhstan’s high stakes oil gambit Gold mine no cash cow for Kyrgyz government Kyrgyz PM gets polite brush off by US business executives China exports Xi Jinping Thought to Mongolia Boosting Mongolia’s democracy with reform remains an uphill battle China spikes Gazprom gas export plan in Central Asia Turkey’s foreign policy falling apart on all fronts First-ever Uzbek-language startup guidebook series launched to support aspiring entrepreneurs Oil is a major source of income for eight African countries – OWID Sanctioned Russian cargo ship sinks in Mediterranean after explosion Russia's budget oil breakeven price world’s second lowest as oil revenues recover Southeast European countries look to Algeria to diversify energy supplies Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 16% of the global population but 67% of extreme poverty - OWID Russia's expanding pull in Africa is pushing Western influence out EBRD delivers 26% expansion in investments in 2024 Global access to energy starts to fall for the first time in a decade Saudi Arabia hosts kingdom's first Africa summit Putin at 2023 Africa-Russia summit: Wiping debts Botswana throws the diamond industry a lifeline Nelson Mandela worried about natural diamonds Botswana’s 2,492-carat diamond discovery is golden opportunity to replicate legendary Jonker diamond's global legacy Kamikaze marketing: how the natural diamond industry could have reacted to the lab-grown threat Guns and gold: how two coups reshaped Burkina Faso’s mining sector Russia’s Rosatom to support nuclear projects across Africa at AEW2024 Chase and HSBC reportedly unwittingly processed payments for Wagner warlord Prigozhin Burkina Faso the latest African country to enter nuclear power plant construction talks with Russia IMF: China’s slowdown will hit sub-Saharan growth Moscow unlikely to give up Niger toehold as threat of ECOWAS military action looms CAR mercenary becomes first African to die in Ukraine conflict Russia to capitalise on Africa’s growing energy demand Minerals for security: can the US break China’s grip on the DRC BRICS seeks new global alignment at Rio ministerial summit BRICS labour meeting in Brasilia tackles AI impact CONFERENCE CALL: Aurora Women in Tech Global Awards France call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza amid trilateral summit in Cairo Can Eritrea’s mining sector flourish under autocratic rule SDS storms fed by sand and dust equal in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza US Treasury targets Iran's National Oil Co HALLIGAN: Trump's tariffs are either madness or genius – it could go either way Brazil hosts first BRICS Sherpas meeting with expanded membership From oil to minerals: Gabon’s ambitious mining transition Guinea grants final approvals to Rio Tinto for $11.6bn Simandou iron-ore project PANNIER: Prince Karim Aga Khan IV obituary New Aga Khan takes helm of Ismaili Shi'ite Muslims Liberia’s mining resurgence: from conflict to opportunity US adds 17 Liberian-flagged bulk carriers and oil tankers to Russian sanctions-busting blacklist Force majeure at Libya’s Zawiya Refinery threatens exports and oil expansion plans facing loss of Syrian base for Africa operations seen turning to war-torn Sudan or divided Libya Libya’s mineral riches: unlocking a future beyond oil Russia funding war in Ukraine via illegal gold mining in Africa – WGC report Ukraine claims it was behind massacre of Wagner Group mercenaries in Mali Uzbekistan's Startup Garage arrives in North Africa with Casablanca launch EBRD warns of risks for emerging markets pursuing industrial policies Can Morocco's phosphate wealth put it at the centre of the global battery supply chain Foreign agricultural workers flock to South Africa as sector expands Russia's nuclear diplomacy binding emerging markets to the Kremlin Can Niger's military junta seize the country's uranium opportunity Disaster season: heat waves sweep the world – in charts and maps Niger and beyond: Francophone credit delivers coup de grâce From blood diamonds to critical minerals: Sierra Leone’s mining transformation 10 African countries to experience world’s fastest population growth to 2100 Global press freedom indicator slips – Statista SITREP: Middle East rapidly destabilised by a week of missile strikes Gold and guns: how civil war keeps Sudan's mineral riches in the ground Colombian mercenaries trapped in Sudan’s conflict COMMENT: What impact will a raft of protests across the Emerging Markets have Tunisian President Kais Saied re-elected for second term Sri Lanka's LTL Holdings targets African power sector WHO declares "global public health emergency" owing to mpox outbreak in Central Africa Climate crisis-driven global food security deteriorated between 2019 and 2022 and is even affecting the US Reserve Bank of India signals further rate cuts as inflation eases and growth outlook weakens Singapore eases monetary policy again as growth outlook dims and tariff pressures mount Russia and Indonesia work on direct bank settlement framework to bolster trade Bank of Korea expected to lower rates in April despite currency slide IMF: Global debt to exceed pandemic levels soon Chipping point – the climate toll of AI chip-making in East Asia Indonesia’s coal politics: maintaining a strategic market price despite Chinese resistance India moves to cut reliance on Chinese solar modules and PV cells Google backs Taiwan’s geothermal future in landmark Asia-Pacific energy deal mobility infrastructure in western Himalayas India eyes deeper trade ties with trusted economies Record gold prices to hit sales volume of Indian jewellery retailers Beijing VS Washington on rare earths – and why the US is losing Vietnam gold prices hit record highs as global bullion rallies Indonesia to launch national data centre by April 2025 Tehran-based ride-hailing giant sets record with nearly 6mn daily trips Chinese threat to submarine cables emerges in Indo-Pacific BMI: New US tariffs set to reshape economic landscape across Middle East US deploys six B-2 bombers to Indian Ocean ahead of Iran standoff Arab League and UN condemns brutal Israeli airstrikes on Gaza COMMENT: Gulf states court Russia but stop short of strategic shift Iran bans skateboards and scooters in public spaces Trump threatens sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil Iraq facing worst drought in history as water resources dwindle and climate crisis intensifies Unemployed Iraqi engineers block Lukoil’s site in Basra Kazakhstan will put national interests over OPEC+ oil limits Israel announces operation Gideon's Chariots to seize control of Gaza if hostage deal deadline missed Israel launches airstrikes on Yemen port city Israel to respond against Yemen for missile on Tel Aviv airport COMMENT: Israel is attempting to destabilise Syria Ryanair and Wizz Air to launch direct flights to Jordan in April Netanyahu to discuss Turkey-Israel relations with Trump at White House on April 7 Syrian foreign ministry urges Kuwait to reopen embassy in Damascus Middle East markets suffer massive losses as Trump tariff effects continue Deadly Israeli air raids heighten risk of renewed Lebanon-Israel conflict Israel launches airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburb amid Lebanon escalation Missile sirens sound in northern Israel amid Lebanon border tensions Is Oman the 'Switzerland of the Middle East' Iran FM to visit Russia ahead of second round of US talks Aid ship to Gaza hit by drone strikes near Malta in international waters COMMENT: Is Israel's Prime Minister committing political suicide Saudi Arabia deploys AI to streamline Hajj Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air plans first flights for late 2025 Israeli fighter jets strike targets near the Syrian presidential palace Montenegro mega beach deal reignites debate over UAE investments in Western Balkans Protesters against UAE beach development deal target Montenegrin parliament Turkey says it wants no confrontation with Israel in Syria ECLAC cuts Latin America growth forecast amid global uncertainties LatAm set to be world's slowest-growing region as World Bank slashes forecasts Trump’s trade tariffs push Mexico towards recession and weigh on regional growth Latin American leaders blast US tariffs at CELAC summit as China offers economic lifeline Why investors are turning their gaze to Latin America after Trump tariffs Gazprom abandons Bolivia's Azero project after 16 years of unfulfilled promises Brazilian police foil bomb plot targeting Lady Gaga's 2mn people Rio concert IMF suspends Colombia's flexible credit line amid fiscal concerns Colombia’s import surge deepens trade deficit Latin America to miss more than three-quarters of 2030 sustainability targets EU observers reject election fraud allegations in Ecuador Ecuador's Noboa secures presidential win with 55.95% of vote El Salvador plays defiant game with IMF Bitcoin rules Trump and Bukele cement controversial migrant deportation deal Cross-border oil smuggling reveals dark underbelly of US-Mexico trade nexus Mexico rejects bleak IMF recession forecast Panama’s Mulino rules out mining law in bid to restart First Quantum project murder and the collapse of the Peruvian State Trinidad opposition sweeps to power in decisive election victory Venezuela embraces Russian GLONASS in challenge to US satellite dominance Japanese official warns of wider Asian security impact of Trump tariffs ASIA BLOG: Is China preparing to poke the paper tiger in the White House Asian giants thrive in Russia despite sanctions ASIA BLOG: China suddenly recognises need for community Myanmar junta chief to attend regional summit in Bangkok Southeast Asia's leading economies ponder possible US tariffs as 90-day pause takes effect China doubles down on Cambodia ties amid global trade tensions but Myanmar’s celebrations damped by earthquake aftermath Albanese defies ‘incumbency curse’ with a landslide re-election in Australia Pakistan airspace closure impacts around 600 Indian flights war clouds hover over the Indian subcontinent Nusantara: Indonesia’s grand ambition to reshape its future Empty shelves and soaring costs hit Japan’s rice supply China to boost Russian LNG imports in 2025 Myanmar’s recovery stalls as extent of losses still not known North Korea acknowledges deployment of troops to support Russia in Kursk region North Korea is making billions of dollars a year from supplying Russia with weapons India bans Pakistani Youtube channels over provocative content after Kashmir attack US imposes preliminary duties on Southeast Asian solar imports Papua New Guinea tribal conflict leaves 30 dead amid gold mine dispute Singapore election outcome a ‘clear signal of trust South Korea’s PPP narrows presidential field to two finalists China accuses US of sophisticated cyberattacks Thailand's Maha Songkran World Water Festival draws over 558,000 visitors Magnit acquires controlling stake in Azbuka Vkusa German Prosecutors Confirm Termination of Money Laundering Investigation Against Alisher Usmanov Comments by President of the Russian Fertilizers Producers Association Andrey Guryev on bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin PhosAgro/UNESCO/IUPAC green chemistry research grants awarded for the 8th time to world's best young scientists Download the pdf version Download the pdf version Download the pdf version Download the pdf version Trinidad and Tobago's parliamentary elections on April 28 delivered a decisive victory for Kamla Persad-Bissessar's centre-left United National Congress (UNC) party which secured 26 of 41 seats in the House of Representatives Stuart Young's People's National Movement (PNM) which had governed the Caribbean nation since 2015 won just 13 seats and promptly conceded defeat described by analysts as one of Trinidad and Tobago's most unpredictable in decades followed former Prime Minister Keith Rowley's unprecedented resignation in March making him the first leader in the country's history to step down without electoral defeat who became prime minister last month after Rowley's departure had quickly dissolved parliament in hopes of securing a fresh mandate Persad-Bissessar returns to power after previously serving as prime minister from 2010 to 2015 Despite internal party conflicts and electoral setbacks the 73-year-old attorney maintained strong support while campaigning on promises to address crime and economic issues that have plagued the country Security concerns featured prominently in the campaign with Trinidad and Tobago recording 624 homicides last year despite its relatively small population of 1.5mn The country had been under a three-month state of emergency declared in December following escalating gang violence The UNC campaign centred on addressing national priorities The incoming UNC government now faces immediate challenges regarding the nation's energy future particularly concerning access to natural gas fields on the border with Venezuela jointly developed with Caracas "We will work with the Trump administration to see how the discussions with the Venezuelan government on the cross-border gas fields can be reopened," UNC energy spokesman David Lee stated This diplomatic initiative takes on added urgency following the White House's recent revocation of waivers granted by the Biden administration that had exempted certain cross-border gas field development from US sanctions The decision has significantly impacted Trinidad and Tobago's gas-dependent economy creating both a policy challenge and an opportunity for the new Persad-Bissessar government to establish a working relationship with Trump's administration Check the box to receive the e-magazine to your inbox every month for free Get notified when there's a new bne IntelliNews Podcasts added THE new government comprises 24 Cabinet ministers four junior ministers and six parliamentary secretaries The following is Trinidad and Tobago’s new Cabinet: Minister of Energy and Energy Industries: Dr Roodal Moonilal Minister of Homeland Security: Roger Alexander Minister of Justice and Minister in the Office of the Attorney General: Devesh Maharaj Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs: Sean Sobers Social Development and Family Services: Vandana Mohit Economic Affairs and Development: Kennedy Swaratsingh Minister of Culture and Community Development: Michelle Benjamin Minister of Rural Development and Local Government: Khadijah Ameen Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation: Eli Zakour Minister of Works and Infrastructure: Jearlean John Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister: Barry Padarath Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence: Dominic Smith Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training: Prakash Persad Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprises: Leroy Baptiste Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs: Phillip Watts Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries: Ernesto Kesar Minister in the Ministry of Health: Dr Rishad Seecheran Minister in the Ministry of Housing: Anil Roberts Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities: Clyde Elder Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Community Development: Dr Narindra Roopnarine Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister: Nicholas Morris Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of the People Social Development and Family Services: Dr Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities: Shivanna Sam Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training: Hansen Narinesingh Diálogo Américas Trinidad and Tobago kicked off the new year under a state of emergency following an alarming rise in violence and retaliatory gang killings “The gangs in Trinidad and Tobago are growing and competing with each other for control of illicit businesses and control of illicit goods,” Guillermo Holzmann defense analyst and academic at the University of Valparaíso With greater corruption comes increased institutional weakness All of this generates more space for the growth of organized crime.” “The decision to declare a state of emergency was taken due to a series of incidents which resulted in a death outside a police station and a shootout that left five dead and one wounded,” a spokesperson for the office of the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley said “Intelligence reports indicated a high possibility of more attacks with automatic weapons.” allows police searches without a warrant and 48-hour detentions the Trinidad and Tobago Police (TTP) has seen a 73 percent reduction in violent crime Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin told the press there has been a decrease in the country’s homicide rate with 18 murders compared to 34 in the same period of 2023.” “As we intensify operations across the country both in collaboration with the TTP and in independent deployments our main focus is strengthened to maintain peace and guarantee the rule of law,” the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment posted on Facebook “We are responding quickly and decisively to any threat.” the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament extended the state of emergency by three months after police said to have received intelligence on an imminent gang war Rowley told Parliament that the emergency measure was saving lives and preventing mass killings with high-powered rifles authorities recorded 623 homicides on the islands National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds told AP “This situation goes beyond the main island of Trinidad and also permeates Tobago According to a report cited by the Chief Secretary of Tobago his country is experiencing a worrisome increase in gang activity Augustine pointed out that the number of gangs on the island skyrocketed from just three in 2009 to 28 in 2022 The growth rate surpasses that of Port of Spain which decreased its number of gangs in the same period it was reported that Port of Spain only had 21 which means that their trajectory has been decreasing in recent years.” Twenty-four people were arrested on January 22 as part of the state of emergency operations in the Central support for Trinidad and Tobago and initiatives to combat organized crime and increase the security of that nation is ongoing the Tradewinds 2025 mid-planning conference was carried out in Port of Spain Southern Command- (SOUTHCOM) sponsored exercise is co-led by U.S Army South (ARSOUTH) and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force The mid-planning conference brought together nearly 150 participants from SOUTHCOM and partner nations SOUTHCOM commander met with Prime Minister Rowley and other government ministers for discussions on security the leaders signed the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to facilitate interoperability between the armed forces of both countries and initiatives such as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Technical Assistance Field Team (CBSI-TAFT) and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) That same month Trinidad and Tobago co-hosted the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) in Port of Spain bringing together 21 nations to discuss enabling a regional approach to respond to natural disasters The SOUTHCOM-sponsored annual regional security forum aims at fostering ties of cooperation Trinidad and Tobago became the second Caribbean country to implement Interpol Washington’s border security solutions two custom software solutions were installed: Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) Workbench and Stolen Motor Vehicles (SMV) Workbench strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s ability to share and manage vital documents and vehicle information with 195 member countries The initiative is supported by CARICOM IMPACS and funded by the U.S State Department’s Office of State Counter Terrorism Bureau “This tremendous milestone underscores the vital importance of international partnerships in enhancing border security,” said Interpol Washington’s lead for Project Terminus Keith Hood “By working together with Trinidad and Tobago we are fortifying not only their borders but also the security of the entire Caribbean region and beyond.” For more on security and defense issues around the globe DEFENCE Minister Wayne Sturge and Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander both reported for duty at the Ministry of National Security building on Abercromby Street The ministers arrived around 10 am separately and spent approximately two hours in meetings While it remains unclear who they met with an employee who did not wish to be identified said they greeted staff on arrival crossed the street and made his way to the Hall of Justice via its side entrance Both men were sworn into their respective portfolios on May 3 In an interview with Newsday at his campaign office on Foster Road following his April 28 victory making him the Member of Parliament for Toco/Sangre Grande Sturge said: “What I don't want is that five years from now my children would say their daddy was a failed politician Sturge also highlighted crime in the constituency as a serious issue noting that he believes unemployment is a driving force behind it An attorney with over 26 years of experience in criminal defence Sturge previously served as a senator for the United National Congress (UNC) during its time in opposition