Page 55 – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Home-based businesses bring new twist to Xmas favourite: Ponche de Ganja

WHY get its medicinal value from only smoking it, when you can sip it?

A smooth glass of Ponche de Creme infused with marijuana has proved to be a lucrative hustle for two “budding” home-based entrepreneurs who have brought a new twist to an old Trini Christmas favourite. So much so, that today – Christmas Day – somewhere in TT there is a person sipping on some cold marijuana-infused ponche de creme or sorrel.

The cannabis-infusion industry may be TT’s worst-kept secret but it is climbing to new heights thanks to social media, while globally, this industry is a billion-dollar one with products ranging from brownies to gummies to chocolate bars, being the regular fare in some countries, especially the United States.

Local artisans have taken note.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, Business Day spoke with two home-based entrepreneurs – Tron and Blue – who produce and sell a range of cannabis-infused products including ganja-infused ponche de creme and sorrel which they then market over social media.

Tron, owner of Rum and Resin, said he started his business as a hustle during the pandemic along with a small team of then-retrenched hospitality workers. Since then, the business has grown into a full time job.

A growing bud blooming with trichromes used for cannabis infusions.

In a phone interview on December 23, he said attitude changes toward cannabis in the US are slowly trickling down to TT, creating the potential for a wider medical marijuana usage market.

He said the previous shame and stigma attached to marijuana is slowly changing now that people are able to research information over the internet.

Demand for a wider variety of products is also quickly evolving. Tron said the addition of ponche de creme infused marijuana to his menu came because clients were asking for more.

“Customers used to ask me, ‘You don’t have anything besides edibles?’ because everybody are used to having edibles and gummies and those sort of things…not everybody wants to eat a big chocolate brownie. They might want to sip on something relaxed.”

With ingredients similar to cake like milk, eggs and sugar, the recipe for marijuana-infused ponche de creme was easy to formulate, simply with the addition of cannabinoid infusions.

Blue, who owns and operates Bloom Delights, said he has had the same requests.

“People were actually requesting more holiday-themed treats besides the edibles, instead of just the same brownies or gummies. So to localise it and make it more for Trinidadians, we came out with the Ponche de Creme and it’s been nice. When people hear about the idea, they’re like ‘wow’!”

His infusions are egg-free, using heated trichromes of the marijuana flower for his edible and drinkable infusions.

Beyond the buzz

Both artisans say despite the excitement, the industry is about more than recreational use. With his range of products, including infused tea for sleep and immunity and the roots of the marijuana plant to help people with asthma and gout, Tron said the medical benefits of responsible cannabis use cannot be ignored.

Blue agreed saying ending the stigma against marijuana starts with recognising the way cannabis is used in global medicine.

Infused ponche de creme from Bloom Delights

Claiming that most of his clients are parents and professionals, many who suffer from anxiety, depression and high stress, Blue said he has witnessed first-hand the positive impact his products have had on his clients.

For example, he said, one of his customers is a woman suffering from hormonal thyroid issues, and who augments her treatment with cannabis-infused products because medication for her condition is not readily available locally.

Progress on medical marijuana seems to be kicking off since as recently as December 18, US President Trump signed off on an executive order increasing medical marijuana and cannabis research.

The move reclassified the drug under the Controlled Substances Act, from a Schedule I to a Schedule III, recognising the drug’s accepted medical use and lower potential for abuse and physical dependence.

The order noted the Health and Human Services department’s findings of more than 30,000 licensed healthcare practitioners across 43 American states who are authorised to recommend medical marijuana for more than eight million people.

It also noted the Food and Drug Administration’s 2023 review of the medical marijuana landscape, finding scientific support for the drug’s use in treating anorexia and chronic pain.

Highs and low

Despite a growing demand for marijuana-infused products for therapeutic purposes locally, artisans say it is difficult to mass produce products at any one given time because of legal restrictions on the amount of marijuana a person can have.

As a result, some turn to illegality and use imported marijuana from South America as well as marijuana laced with factory-made synthetic oils, which alters the therapeutic properties and the drug’s effect as well as consumer tastes and expectations.

Blue said some unscrupulous vendors capitalise on the demand, caring little for the safety of their customers or that this could reduce acceptance of marijuana use for medicinal purposes. All in the name of making a profit.

Blue said this impacts individuals and the industry, as bad experiences with altered products turn potential customers away.

“People who get a bad trip at the start, get turned off from it most of the time…but if you buy home-grown stuff that don’t have any chemicals or preservatives or chemicals and it’s fresh, those give a more positive experience,” Blue said reiterating that the end goal is for his customers to have a pleasant therapeutic experience.

Towards the future

Although the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2019, decriminalised the possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis, or up to 5 grams of cannabis resin, the sale and public consumption of the drug remain illegal in TT and attract arrests, prosecution and serious punishment including hefty fines and jail time.

Tron did not attempt to sugar coat the fact that his business comes with clear risks. “When you playing with fire, you have to be prepared to get burnt,” he said.

Both Blue and Tron acknowledged that the main ingredient in their business is marijuana and that as of today, if anyone is caught with more than the legal limit, there would be consequences. They both hope that legislation can be changed to open up the cannabis-infused industry for medical and therapeutic purposes.

Blue said such an industry, if given legal backing and support, can be a lifeline to people who suffer from many mental and health related issues and can also be a viable means for people to earn a legitimate living.

Change may very well be on the horizon.

The United National Congress (UNC) and its political leader and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar gave an undertaking – during the campaign for the April 28 general election – that a UNC government will develop a regulated, large-scale cannabis industry for medical and commercial export purposes, but not recreational use.

Key aspects of the proposal, as contained in the UNC’s manifesto, include:

*Economic Diversification

Positioning cannabis/hemp as a new agricultural product to create jobs in cultivation, processing, distribution, and export sectors, with a projected global market value of over US$100 billion by 2030.

* Support for Small Farmers

Providing incentives, training, and a co-operative framework to empower small farmers to participate alongside larger entities in this emerging industry.

* Regulatory Framework

Implementing a robust system for licensing, quality control, and international standards to facilitate exports of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products, learning from regional leaders like Jamaica.

* Age Restrictions:

Maintaining a position that persons under the age of 25 should desist from smoking cannabis, as the brain is still developing, and proposing to raise the legal age for use to 25. The UNC has said its plan is an attempt to fully capitalise on an industry that was decriminalised in December 2019, but has been hindered by an incomplete regulatory framework and lack of legal dispensaries and export opportunities.

Blue noted that several other artisans started their business during the pandemic years when job opportunities and avenues for revenue basically dried up.

“It is a way to keep expenses at bay…most people who get into the industry, it’s not because they want to push marijuana. They generally understand the medicinal benefits of proper marijuana use to people suffering with certain physical or mental ailments. It’s a good way of making money and also giving back to society. But what is needed is a proper framework to prevent or punish abuse.”

He said although the marijuana-infused business is not his main source of income, it has allowed him to not only cover household expenses but to also build a savings.

Bring joy to someone on this day

THE EDITOR: It is Christmas Day in TT and many other countries around the world. I hear this song ringing out: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let the Earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing.”

I know the coming of this day will not end some of the challenges that many are facing, but do your best to enjoy the day with family and friends. If there are children in your midst, do what is in your power to bring joy and laughter to them.

Christmas comes just once a year, so it is important that we try to make the best of it. I encourage you to send someone Christmas greetings on your phone or speak to that family member who you have not heard from in a while. Be a voice of inspiration and encouragement to someone else. Be the carrier of joy wherever you go today.

It is said that the strong should bear the infirmities of the weak. Throughout the year grief, pain, and sorrow would have touched many homes. If you know such a person, be that angel to them with words of comfort. Author Stephanie Perkins says, “You should show encouragement whenever you can. People try harder when they know that someone cares about them.”

What better time to show someone there are people who care about them than at Christmas, the time for the message of God demonstrating care and love to the world.

I take this opportunity to speak blessings over you and your household. May the grace and favour of God become part of your daily life.

I conclude with a quote from Maya Angelou. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Merry Christmas and a bright and prosperous New Year.

ARNOLD GOPEESINGH

via e-mail

Security needs answers, not drama

THE EDITOR: National security is being reduced to political drama. Many of us followed the recent parliamentary debate on the proposed US-linked radar installation in Tobago, simply hoping for a clearer explanation. What exactly is being built? Why Tobago? And how will this affect us? Unfortunately, those basic questions were never properly answered, leaving many citizens more uncertain than informed.

It has been widely stated that TT has, for many years, participated in Caribbean and hemispheric security co-operation under different governments. It is also worth asking whether our country already operates coastal surveillance radar systems in both Tobago and Trinidad as part of wider regional information-sharing arrangements aimed at tracking illegal drugs, weapons, and human trafficking.

Similar systems reportedly exist across the Caribbean and are supported through long-standing regional agreements and partnerships with international allies.

This broader context was missing from the parliamentary debate. Instead of helping citizens understand how this installation fits into existing arrangements, the discussion focused narrowly on secrecy.

What many citizens really want answered are practical questions. Who will control the data collected in Tobago? Will local agencies have full access? Which authority will provide oversight and ensure compliance with our laws? And do we actually have the boats, trained personnel, and resources to act when threats are detected?

These questions go to the heart of sovereignty and public trust. Citizens of TT deserve calm explanation, honest engagement, and clear accountability. National security is too important to be reduced to political drama.

DENNISE DEMMING

via e-mail

Focus on purpose of Christmas, not the date

THE EDITOR: Over the years, on approaching the Christmas season, there seems to be, even among the very people who belong to the Christian faith, diverse opinions about the actual date of Jesus’s birth.

However, we need to keep in mind that the determining/establishing/naming of calendar months and years has a very long history. And with diverse people’s secular dominance and our viewpoints of world history, there will always be differences of opinion on various matters, inclusive of this holy occasion.

Today the most widely used civil calendar, the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 “to correct inaccuracies” of the older Julian calendar, is globally accepted.

I believe that given our general divided opinion of secular history, and unfortunately our discrete beliefs on an actual date of this 2,000-plus years occasion, it (the actual date) is irrelevant. Our main focus should be the purpose of Christmas.

According to our spiritual guide (the Bible), Jesus came to pay the price for our (all mankind) sins. A very significant biblical warning we tend to forget or take for granted is the devil’s shrewd ability of using even the very ones we look up to for upliftment on secular subjects like this.

While we naively tear apart what ought to be our total oneness in Christ, we must also remember the story of Moses, who Almighty God used not just to present the Ten Commandments to us, but also the phenomenal parting of the Red Sea, among other biblical performances and communications.

The Egyptian pharaoh at the time ordered all Hebrew baby boys killed for fear of an increasing Israelite population and consequently a military threat. Then a baby, Moses’s mother Jochebed placed him in a waterproof basket and set him adrift on the river. And guess who, of all people, found him and, having pity for him, raised him as her own son? The pharaoh’s daughter.

That’s right. The very people who had concerns about their lands being overtaken by those who they defined as “outsiders,” and so decided to get rid of baby boys by killing them, by a virtual miracle raised up one of those very children who went on to be one of God’s mighty disciples. And this is what the date-doubters of Christmas should consider.

Just when they thought they could possibly complicate the arrival time of our Saviour on Earth, in the same manner Almighty God placed Moses among the very people who would have killed him had he stayed with his parents, He (God) permitted the secular influencers to have their way, only this time giving us the appropriate time we all celebrate victoriously. Yes, God does work in mysterious ways.

Jesus came because we all need Him. It’s His purpose here that should be the emphasis. Believers, our duty is to spread His word and His purpose clearly, mutually.

LLOYD RAGOO

Chaguanas

CAL Cargo appoints new GSSAS for UK, Western Europe

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Cargo has announced new partnerships with two General Sales and Service Agents (GSSAs), giving customers across its cargo network easier access to European trade and ensuring that shippers in Europe benefit from equally convenient access to Caribbean markets.

To support seamless, reciprocal connectivity, Caribbean Airlines Cargo’s latest GSSA’s are APG Inc. Western Europe and ANA Aviation Services Lts.

APG Inc will represent Caribbean Airlines Cargo (BW) in: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Vatican City.

CAL said in a release that this extensive coverage will ensure increased visibility and commercial opportunities for BW.

Additionally, customers have reliable local support for bookings, rates and service inquiries throughout Western Europe.

ANA Aviation Services Limited (Network Airline Services) will represent CAL Cargo in the UK.

With its long-standing industry experience and strong UK footprint, Network Airline Services will represent Caribbean Airlines Cargo (BW) across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, providing convenient access to cargo solutions from all major UK regions.

Caribbean Airlines’ general manager (Cargo and New Business) Marklan Moseley commenting on the new GSSA appointments said, “These partnerships are designed to give our customers, both in the Caribbean and across Europe, the ease and convenience of smooth, reciprocal trade.

“With APG and Network Airline Services, shippers now have trusted local contacts who are ready to support their needs on both sides of the Atlantic. Both APG and Network Airline Services bring deep market knowledge and a commitment to service excellence that aligns with our mission of providing reliable customer support and we look forward to working together to better serve our customers across these key markets.”

The services revolution: powering the future of Trinidad and Tobago

Dianne Joseph, president, TTCSI

AS THE curtains draw to a close on 2025, the TT Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) – the national umbrella organisation for the services sector – stands at a pivotal crossroads of reflection and resolve.

We commenced this year with a high-octane anticipation of success, and as we audit our progress against our strategic goals, it is evident that we have not only achieved our milestones, but have set a new benchmark for member support, capacity building, and national advocacy.

In an era where economic volatility is the only constant, the services sector has emerged as the resilient backbone of our twin-island state.

Throughout 2025, our mission has been clear: to empower our members through capacity building, amplify their voices through media exposure, and bridge the gap between specialised expertise and the wider public.

Strengthening the foundation: Capacity and inclusion

One of our most significant triumphs in 2024 was the strategic capacity-building thrust launched in January, bolstered by the invaluable support of the Unit Trust Corporation. This initiative was not merely a training exercise; it was an exercise in economic inclusion.

We were proud to enrol the Blind Welfare Association, the Montserrat Cocoa Farmers Co-operative, and the Anime Caribe Organisation into a transformative development programme.

By integrating these diverse groups into our work, we have demonstrated that the services sector is a universal language.

Looking ahead to 2026, we plan to aggressively scale this platform. Our goal is to embrace new niche sectors, adding tangible value to the domestic landscape while strategically preparing these entities for the “export of services” – a critical pillar of our national development strategy.

Power of the narrative: Education and media impact

In 2025, the TTCSI took a deliberate leap into the public consciousness.

Our expanded print and electronic media presence allowed our members to transcend their traditional boundaries. This was not just “public relations”; it was public education.

Dianne Joseph, president of the TT Coalition of Services Industries. –

Through these platforms, citizens benefited from a wealth of knowledge across a spectrum of essential disciplines. From health and safety protocols and sophisticated human resources management to the technical nuances of architecture and the prioritisation of facility management, our members became the nation’s teachers.

We explored the vital distinction between “pest management” and “pest control,” and we illuminated the economic benefits of a thriving creative sector. We believe that an informed public is a public that demands – and receives – excellence.

Celebrating excellence on the global stage

Nothing speaks more loudly of the TTCSI’s impact than the international accolades earned by our members. This year, we shared an immense sense of pride as our member, the TT Chapter of the International Facilities Management Association (TTIFMA), was named Small Chapter of the Year by their international parent body.

Simultaneously, their president, Edward Kacal, received the Distinguished Member Award.

When I personally signed the letter of recommendation for this award, I did so with the conviction that TTIFMA represented the very best of our coalition.

Their success on the global stage is a testament to the fact that when our service professionals are given a platform for growth, they do not just compete – they win.

Geographic expansion: The Tobago Vision

A core strategic goal for 2025 was to firmly embed the TTCSI brand in our sister isle. In March, that vision materialised. Our engagement in Tobago has been deeply rewarding, particularly our work with Ruazz Fine Dining Restaurant.

By providing a support framework for such SMEs, we have witnessed first-hand how tailored advocacy can strengthen a business’s footing in the competitive food industry.

My recent interactions with Tobago’s service players confirm a fundamental truth: strengthening SMEs is the most direct path to elevating the success ladder for the entire country. We will double down on our Tobago outreach in 2026, ensuring that no service provider is left behind.

Hidden power of services & the forex solution

The services sector possesses a “hidden power” that is often overshadowed by traditional commodities. However, services have the unique potential to turn action into income and creativity into capital. We embrace the vision of the Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism (MTIT) and are ready to partner in ways that accelerate the transition of SMEs into the international market.

Effective service delivery increases brand awareness, promotes product differentiation, and provides the scale necessary to increase employment and strengthen our social fabric.

Most importantly, the export of services is a primary solution to our perennial foreign exchange (forex) challenges. When we export a service, we are exporting the brilliance and competency of our people, generating high-value income that stays within our borders.

Strategic alliances and governance

In a changing world, partnerships and alliances are not just beneficial; they are critical. Throughout 2025, the TTCSI has engaged in strategic conversations to add new products and opportunities for our members. However, we approach partnerships with a discerning eye.

Successful alliances require more than just a shared contract; they require aligned cultures, norms, and value systems. Governance best practices dictate that honesty, integrity, and a willingness to share openly are the non-negotiable components of any relationship.

Without these, even the most promising alliance will falter. The TTCSI remains committed to partnerships that are rooted in transparency and mutual respect.

2026: The Year of the Service Professional

As we look toward 2026, we see a horizon filled with untapped potential. Our country is rich in talent, skills, and competencies that remain largely underutilized. We plan to tap into every angle of this professional reservoir.

To accommodate this growth, we have expanded our membership classes to include individual professionals alongside small, medium, and large companies. We are taking the services sector to the next level because we understand a fundamental market truth: No product can succeed in a vacuum.

Service is the vital component of every successful transaction. You can have the world’s greatest product, but if the service delivery is poor, that product will inevitably fail. Many businesses do not lose customers because of a faulty product; they lose them because of a lack of service excellence.

A call to excellence

In 2026, service standards must be our national priority. The TTCSI will partner with key global and local players to put “Service Excellence” on the front burner. As we prepare to embrace the new year, we are shifting our focus toward the realm of total excellence – a shift that will strengthen not only the services sector but our entire twin-island state.

We understand the government’s fiscal challenges and their strategy to fund the $59 billion 2026 budget. We are ready to do our part by fuelling an engine of growth that is sustainable, ethical, and professional.

To our members, our stakeholders, and the citizens of TT: thank you for your trust. Together, we are not just providing services; we are building a nation.

I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a successful, service-driven 2026.

Trinidad and Tobago’s forex challenge: From diagnosis to decisive action

Trinidad and Tobago is facing a foreign exchange (forex) challenge that has moved well beyond technical debate and into the realm of national economic urgency. What was once viewed as a cyclical constraint has become a structural issue, with real consequences for business continuity, investment confidence, and the country’s long-term diversification ambitions.

For many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), manufacturers, service providers, and new exporters accessing foreign exchange has become increasingly unpredictable. Firms report delays in securing forex for essential imports, higher operating costs due to informal market premiums, and an erosion of competitiveness in both regional and international markets. At the same time, the widening gap between the official exchange rate and parallel market pricing signals deeper distortions in how foreign currency is supplied and allocated within the economy.

This is not simply a business problem. It is a national economic challenge that affects jobs, prices, investment decisions, and the pace at which Trinidad and Tobago can transition to a more diversified and resilient economy.

Understanding the roots of the crisis

To address the forex challenge effectively, we must be clear about its underlying drivers. The first is an exchange rate that no longer reflects the realities of supply and demand. An overvalued TT dollar creates excess demand for foreign currency while discouraging inflows through official channels. When prices are administratively fixed below market-clearing levels, shortages are inevitable.

Second, TT continues to experience a structural decline in oil and gas production. Aging fields, delayed upstream investment, and intense global competition for capital have reduced energy output over time. Given that the energy sector historically provides more than 80 per cent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings, even relatively modest declines in production have an outsized impact on the wider economy.

Third, the economy remains heavily dependent on imports. Fuel, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing inputs account for a significant share of foreign currency demand. While this dependence is unlikely to change in the short term, the challenge lies in how foreign exchange is priced and allocated. A widening gap between official and market exchange rates can unintentionally favour imports while making exports less competitive, affecting production decisions across the economy and leading to a misallocation of resources, with fewer being directed toward essential needs.

Finally, uncertainty itself has become a driver of the problem. When businesses anticipate prolonged shortages or future exchange rate adjustments, they tend to hold on to foreign currency earnings rather than convert them into TT dollars. While this behaviour is rational at the firm level, it reduces circulation within the formal banking system and pushes more activity into informal markets.

What the data is telling us

The data reinforces what businesses are experiencing on the ground. TT has seen only two major exchange rate adjustments since the early 1990s, followed by long periods of relative stability. Since 2017, the selling rate has remained effectively fixed, reflecting administrative management rather than market-clearing dynamics.

While stability can be beneficial, prolonged misalignment has contributed to recurring shortages and steady pressure on foreign reserves. Net official reserves have declined over time, reflecting weaker energy revenues and the cost of supporting an overvalued exchange rate. Import cover has narrowed accordingly, even as headline reserve adequacy metrics remain within conventional benchmarks.

At the same time, foreign currency deposits in the domestic banking system have increased significantly. This suggests that foreign exchange exists within the system but is not circulating efficiently. In practical terms, it reflects confidence challenges and structural constraints in intermediation rather than an absolute absence of foreign currency.

Export performance tells a similar story. Energy exports continue to dominate earnings, while non-energy exports remain constrained by relatively high production costs and an exchange rate that does not reflect underlying fundamentals. Temporary foreign exchange distribution mechanisms and administrative controls may ease short-term pressures, but they cannot resolve the structural imbalance created by an overvalued exchange rate. As a result, exporters face reduced competitiveness, as locally produced goods become relatively more expensive in international markets.

Aligning the exchange rate with economic reality

A central element of any credible solution must be a move toward an exchange rate that better reflects demand and supply conditions. Aligning the TT dollar with economic fundamentals would help restore balance to the forex market, reduce pressure on reserves, and improve transparency for businesses.

Concerns about inflation are often cited as the primary objection to exchange rate adjustment. However, TTs own history shows that inflationary impacts following past adjustments were manageable, particularly when supported by prudent monetary and fiscal policy. A more market-aligned exchange rate would improve competitiveness, encourage exports, and reduce the distortions that currently fuel excess demand.

For businesses, predictability matters as much as price. Transparent access to foreign exchange at realistic rates allows firms to plan, price, and invest with greater confidence an essential condition for growth and expansion.

Bringing the parallel market into the light

The existence of a parallel or black market is not a moral failure; it is an economic signal. Such markets emerge when official systems cannot meet demand at the prevailing price. Participants respond rationally to shortages, delays, and uncertainty.

The objective should therefore be to bring this activity into a transparent, regulated framework. Expanding legal trading through licensed intermediaries, including authorised dealers and cambios, would allow foreign exchange to be traded at market-clearing rates within the formal system. This would reveal the true equilibrium price, increase recorded supply, and reduce rationing and queues.

Once legal channels provide availability at realistic prices, the incentive to transact informally diminishes. In effect, the black market shrinks because it becomes unnecessary.

Increasing inflows and using forex more efficiently

Addressing the foreign exchange challenge also requires a collective effort to increase inflows and reduce wasteful or distortion-driven outflows. The private sector has a role to play by supporting policies that encourage the repatriation of profits, attract foreign direct investment, and enhance export capacity. At the same time, it is essential to maintain an environment that protects predictable and transparent profit repatriation, as investor confidence depends on the ability to move capital transparently and predictably. The objective is not restriction, but balance, ensuring that foreign exchange circulates efficiently within the economy while remaining attractive to investment.

Equally important is accelerating local production where it is economically viable. Reducing structural dependence on foreign currency particularly for consumption goods will take time, but targeted interventions can yield meaningful gains. At the same time, aligning prices with market conditions helps ensure that foreign exchange is allocated more efficiently across the economy.

Larger firms, especially those with export earnings and regional or international operations, should also be encouraged to become more self-sufficient in meeting their forex needs. As net earners of foreign currency, these businesses can play a stabilising role by reducing reliance on the domestic banking system and contributing to overall market liquidity.

A call for coordinated action

The foreign exchange challenge confronting TT is now widely recognised as a national issue. Its resolution requires coordination among government, the Central Bank, and the private sector, given the complex mix of structural, institutional, and market factors involved.

While perspectives may differ on specific policy tools, there is a shared interest in restoring availability, predictability, and confidence in the forex system. What is clear is that inaction is not an option. Delaying reform will only deepen distortions and increase the eventual economic cost.

The TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce stands ready to work with all stakeholders to advance practical, evidence-based solutions. Addressing the forex challenge is not about ideology; it is about safeguarding economic resilience, supporting businesses, and creating the conditions for sustainable growth that benefit every citizen.

Trinidad and Tobago nationals abroad all agree : 'Trini Christmas is the best'

BAVINA SOOKDEO

“Oh yes, Trini Christmas is the best!” may be familiar lyrics from the late Susan Maicoo’s popular song, but for many lyrics ring true. While at home many revel in the sweet sounds of parang, the flavours of sorrel and ginger beer and the warmth of togetherness, TT nationals living abroad find meaningful ways to recreate the unmistakable spirit of a Trini Christmas.

De Avion Daniel – Switzerland

De Avion Daniel and daughter Havana Seepaul. –

Living in Bern, Switzerland, 26-year-old De Avion Daniel from Chaguanas says what she misses most is the sense of community. “I miss the feeling of togetherness: parang, the laughter, the liming and the whole preparation that comes with a Trini Christmas,” she shared. For Daniel, even the smallest details are deeply tied to the season. “From simple things like smelling fresh paint, cleaning and changing curtains… there’s a unique feeling that only Trini people could relate to during the holidays” she said. “There’s nothing like the smell of black cake in the oven, baking bread on Christmas Eve and neighbours paranging by your house. Christmas in Trinidad is not just a day, it’s a full season of prep, music, food and community, and that sense of belonging is what I miss the most.”

At Christmas market in Montreux, Switzerland. –

While Christmas in Switzerland is “quieter and more structured,” Daniel has found ways to recreate home. “I still cook the dishes I grew up with, make sorrel, play parang and prepare a proper Trini Christmas lunch for myself and my daughter Havana Seepaul. Many families here celebrate on Christmas Eve, but my daughter and I still keep our tradition of celebrating on the 25th,” she said. At the same time, she has embraced Swiss traditions like visiting the Christmas markets and partaking in their traditional hot wine known as Glühwein. She also gets a real pine tree each year, decorating it with her family and even goes skiing during the holidays.

Blending both cultures, Daniel shared, has become her own little tradition. “And it allows my daughter to grow up feeling rooted in where she comes from while also connected to where we live now. No matter how far I am, a little Trini Christmas always follows me,” she added.

Tyreka Russell – Germany

In Duisburg, Germany, Tyreka Russell, 27, originally from Cocorite, says the absence of family gatherings is the hardest part. “Every other day there was some get together happening at an aunty or uncle’s house,” she recalled. “Being in Europe now, I mostly experience it through WhatsApp calls. It’s definitely not quite the same but still very important to stay connected to my family.” Russell also misses the food and drinks.

Marienplatz Square, Munich Germany – Munich Christkindlmarkt. –

Though residing in Germany, since 2021 Russell has spent Christmas with her cousin in Brussels, where they intentionally preserve Trini traditions. “The night before Christmas is usually a late one spent in the kitchen cooking, laughing and listening to soca parang,” she said. Pastelles, callaloo, peas, baked chicken, lasagna, ham and a version of home-made sorrel (using hibiscus leaves) remain staples.

But the cousins also follow some European Christmas traditions. “We love visiting the Christmas markets and never miss a chance to enjoy some Glühwein” she said. Russell usually gets an Advent calendar for her cousin from Germany. “This calendar prepares us for the Christmas holidays and helps build the excitement” she said. “It’s a great blend of Trinidadian and European culture and it has become our own little Christmas tradition in Brussels.”

Catherine Andrews – The Gambia

For Catherine Andrews, 58, born and raised in Piparo and now living in The Gambia, Christmas is deeply tied to parang. “I miss the rehearsal and performances,” she said, recalling visiting homes and secretly entering porches to announce the birth of Christ through song. Andrews once sang with the House of Marketing Universal Parang Group. In The Gambia, she said she “highlights the traditional parang music with the modern spin sharing how the music has transformed into parang soca and chutney parang.

While in The Gambia, Andrews is immersing herself in local customs, including a church pilgrimage and a Boxing Day masquerade. Still, she ensures Trini traditions live on. “I am making pastelle, sorrel, ginger beer and ponche de creme,” she said, adding that she introduces traditional foods – and even gift customs – to friends abroad. Boys there will receive footballs and girls, tea sets – “Not plastic” she explained, “but the real stuff as the girls are taught to cook from toddlers.”

Amelyah Roach – France

In Paris, France, Amelyah Roach, 26, from San Fernando, says what she misses most is the familiarity of home. “I’ve lived in the same house since I was five years old and that’s one of my main associations with Christmas in Trinidad,” she shared.

“There’s so much warmth in being at home and knowing what to look forward to, like the familiar smells of black cake, sorrel and ham,” she said. “And I really miss hearing parang and soca parang everywhere as well.”

While she enjoys Parisian Christmas markets and traditional French treats, Roach insists on keeping Trini staples close. “The last two years, I made it my mission to ask my mother to send me a black cake and ponche de crème. It’s not Christmas without these things in my opinion,” she noted. She makes sorrel and sometimes orders Shandy and Peardrax from an e-commerce website based in the UK which sells Trini goods.

Henrietta Phoebe Pereira – Turks and Caicos

In Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, 42-year-old Henrietta Phoebe Pereira of Tabaquite – daughter of parang legend Henry Pereira – says she deeply misses the traditions that defined Christmas back home, from house-to-house parang and carolling to visiting relatives she rarely saw during the year. “The food – pastelle, paime, black cake, home-made wine, ham and hops,” she said, remains especially close to her heart. She also misses seeing all the houses with their elaborate Christmas decorations and lights. “My mother’s ponche de crème that you have to drink sparingly too” she laughed.

Working in hospitality often means Christmas Day is spent on the job, but Pereira makes it a point to attend midnight mass and prepare her own pastelles with corn meal she took to Turks and Caicos from Trinidad. “These I would share with other Trinis or my close friends who aren’t familiar with it” she explained. She also stays connected through video calls with family in Trinidad. Ensuring she visits the beach, on the drive there, she fills the car with her father’s “sweet parang music,” letting the familiar sounds carry a piece of home with her, even while living abroad.

Alex Nedd – Turkey

For Alex Nedd, 43, from Scarborough, Tobago, now living between Tobago and Ankara, Turkey, Christmas abroad feels particularly distant. “What I miss the most about Trini Christmas is checking the neighbour, checking your friends – the drink up and the lime up,” he said.

Spending Christmas in Turkey, he sets up a Christmas tree with his family and listens to Christmas music. But he admitted that in a predominantly Muslim country, Christmas celebrations are limited. “It is nothing near to a Trini Christmas,” Nedd admitted, adding that access to sorrel and ginger beer makes recreating the atmosphere difficult. “Long story short, I truly will always miss my Trinbago Christmas.”

Although they may be thousands of miles away, TT nationals share an unwavering connection to home. While Christmas may look different abroad, through our food, music and warmth, the spirit of a Trini Christmas certainly knows no borders.

10 coral reefs to visit in 2026

Dr Anjani Ganase, coral reef ecologist, urges everyone to visit the reefs of Tobago

Visit ten coral reefs in 2026. This is the challenge to know your marine backyard and help drive its protection. Exploration can take different forms: swimming, snorkelling and diving. There’s also virtual exploration through Google StreetView, or via the Maritime Ocean Collection (maritimeoceancollection.com). All images are available in 360-degrees and can be uploaded to a VR headset for the immersive vibe.

See to save the reef

Our coral reefs need you to visit them now more than ever! Coral reefs are important to living on islands and should be regarded as precious assets. At this time, their health is critically compromised and we must actively support their management and protection. Having eyes on them and knowing what to look for when they are not doing so well is critical for their protection. We need to bring our reefs front and centre; and a lesson in understanding coral reefs will help us to look for signs of sickness in the form of disease or coral bleaching, invasive species (lionfish, soft coral), while we enjoy the beauty and rich marine life the reefs offer us. Let’s open our eyes to the reefs around Tobago worth protecting.

A threat to corals is a threat to us

Threats to the reef are many, and we need more allies to speak out against issues such as unchecked coastal development, over exploitation, pollution and littering. Over exploitation of fish species is common on reefs and it is driven by both industrial and recreational fishing. It is especially disastrous for small reef systems such as we have around Tobago. And what about coastal development? Many of Tobago’s reefs have suffered from construction of large infrastructure (hotels and other attractions) taking place on the coast. Reefs like Culloden Reef, Arnos Vale, Bopez Reef have been decimated by coastal development. How many more are we willing to lose with a major hotel approved in Kilgwyn, which will impact the mangroves and the reef, and the proposed development at Rocky Point. Active management of reefs and the surrounding coastal areas in the form of Marine Parks, and through the integrated coastal zone management policy is key to maintain reef ecological function so we can continue to benefit.

Explore Coral Gardens

Take a dip this Christmas and in the new year, to see why reefs are worth saving. You’ll see that it’s not too late to protect our coral reefs. Start in south Tobago, home to the only designated marine protected area in the country at Buccoo. Although management needs to be improved, here you’ll find the most popular reef on the island – Coral Gardens.

If you get a chance to snorkel or swim among the coral heads known as the boulder star corals, there is vibrant marine life at every turn. These reefs have survived many bleaching events, despite being a shallow warmer lagoon. They are resilient but require special attention to prevent boats from anchoring too near, or from scraping over the shallow reef.

Rocky Point/Mt Irvine Reef

Mt Irvine Reef near Rocky Point. – Photo courtesy the Maritime Ocean Collection (maritimeoceancollection.com).

Here is one of the most popular diving, snorkelling and surfing locations on the island. It is also a site that is threatened by large-scale development. Mt Irvine Reef rivals Buccoo Reef in health and biodiversity, largely because it has been protected by having limited construction on its shores.

Castara Reef

Moving along the Caribbean coast we come to a Caribbean treasure trove for little creatures, from tiny crustaceans to seahorses, juvenile turtles seeking shelter among the giant barrel sponges and the gorgonian, soft corals.

Culloden Reef

In its heyday, the bay of Culloden was full of thick branching corals. A lot of this was lost to disease, coastal erosion and construction. Outside of the bay, you’ll see the most expansive spur and groove reefs on Tobago’s Caribbean coast. Culloden Reef deserves protection and rehabilitation.

Arnos Vale

Reefs in the bay of Arnos Vale have been destroyed already from development and poor management. However, outside of the bay to the east are underwater canyons that divers can swim through among schools of fish.

Booby Island

Off north-east Tobago, reefs support some of the largest colonies of corals on the island not just the ancient brain corals but large mountainous star corals as well.

In Man O’ War Bay, look for the reef between Booby Island and Campbleton. You will see a reef that is home to visiting turtles, eagle rays. There’s large coral structure to remind us of what was there. Dead coral colonies blend into the background like rock but their skeletons show where large stands of elkhorn corals used to exist in the shallows. Here’s a place to look for recovery, because it is possible if herbivorous fish are protected.

Melville Drift

Outside of Man O’ War Bay, this remote reef runs along the south face of St Giles Island. This dive is not for beginners, but it is a brain coral paradise. This reef supported many like the biggest brain coral in Speyside. However, in the 2024 bleaching, many of these majestic giants lost their lives. For those visiting this reef, the mission is to look for recovery. Many reef fish and pelagic visitors frolic on the reef and should help keep the corals clean of algae, thereby facilitating recovery. However, if the parrotfish are gone, the corals are unlikely to return.

Blackjack Hole

Along the south face of Little Tobago, there’s a remote reef teeming with fish life. This unique reef is flushed by the Atlantic Ocean, and has had an interesting history of bleaching disturbance and shifting marine communities. Today, extensive marine sponges have spread across the reef competing with the corals.

Angel Reef

Off Goat Island, this is the one of the best reefs on the island. You’ll find big towering corals at least a few hundred years old to the teeniest creatures such as nudibranchs not commonly found elsewhere.

Swim among the mangroves

Healthy reefs are associated with healthy mangroves, but would you snorkel in the mangrove? The Bon Accord Mangrove system is fundamentally different from those found in Trinidad. In Tobago, clear waters around Bon Accord support a vital nursery with fish and marine organisms commuting from reef to mangroves. If only we could actually protect it from the pervasive pollution and coastal development up to 50 metres from the water, we can replenish this system. I’ve snorkelled protected mangroves on the Great Barrier Reef full of green turtles, nurse sharks, barracudas in clear and clean tropical water. This is my wish for Bon Accord Lagoon, with the right enforcement.

All our reefs have been impacted by chronic pollution, coastal development and over-exploitation. Once you can see the impact, your next action should be to demand change from the relevant government authorities, such as Tobago House of Assembly and Environmental Management Authority.

Since our independence, as a nation, we have not enacted or enforced legislation to conserve and protect the marine spaces. Endless development projects continue chipping away at the coasts degrading the healthy ocean. Let’s make 2026 a year to action marine protection and advocate for the reefs by bringing them into view and top of our mind. Share photos with NGOs, politicians, regulators because without our protection, our coral reefs may certainly be lost within our lifetime.

Badree, Mohammed spread Christmas joy in Barrackpore

Barrackpore’s born and bred cricketing duo of Samuel Badree and Jason Mohammed gave back to the children of the southern community with a mobile Christmas toy drive on December 22.

Badree, a two-time T20 World Cup winner with West Indies, and Mohammed, the region’s leading Super50 Cup top-scorer, combined their love for the gentleman’s game to spread Christmas joy throughout Barrackpore and environs.

Reflecting on the success of this year’s toy drive, Badree’s wife Stacy thanked contributors who “brought smiles to faces of almost 1000 children,” via a Facebook post.

“Thanks to our wonderful friends and family who made BASE (Badree) with JASE (Jason) 2025 toy and hamper drive a huge success. Your contribution to our events made this day possible. What started out as an idea three years ago with Badree and Mohammed, and it continues to grow with each year as they show appreciation and love to the community that nurtured them.”

Discipline, injection of youth aid Police FC's fast TTPFL start

ONCE a bruising central midfielder, coach Todd Ryan is currently spearheading a Miscellaneous Police FC team which play a physical and enforcing brand, but also possess the players with dynamism in the final third who can put the hurt on opposing defences.

This approach has worked like a charm thus far for Police in the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) tier one season, as they currently hold a two-point lead atop the standings ahead of reigning champions Defence Force (20 points), who have a game in hand on Ryan’s lawmen. Police have scored a joint league-high of 21 goals (same as Club Sando) from their nine games, while their lone loss so far this season came against their Defence Force rivals on November 9.

On Boxing Day (December 26), Police will aim to extend their lead when they meet a fourth-placed Prisons FC team, which started the season with five straight wins before enduring a bit of a lean spell.

For Police, Ryan said they built good habits before the start of the campaign with a more rigid and focused pre-season, while he also credits the addition of younger players such as midfielder Isaiah Hudson (25), right back Jardel John (23), winger Kelon Williams (20) and goalie Raheem Lee (25) for breathing new life and healthy competition into the squad.

“We wanted to kinda balance the international experience of some of our players with some young players who could learn from that experience, but yet still bring that energy and pace,” Ryan said, during an interview with Newsday on December 23.

In attack, Police have shared the love around as forwards Kwesi “Jep” Allen and Mickaeel Jem Gordon have scored four goals apiece, with tireless flanker Kadeem Hutchinson leading the team in scoring so far with five goals to his name. Veteran playmaker Joevin Jones has also chipped in with three goals, including a last-minute winner against Caledonia AIA on December 14.

And though Ryan says his team doesn’t necessarily have the presence of a natural number nine, he said the versatility of his attacking players has given him more wiggle room to tinker with the frontline.

“The mixture of Jem, ‘Jep,’ Kadeem and Joevin, who we are using out in the wide areas right now…even (Joshua) Sitney. It’s a combination of different goal scorers, so you might get a five-game hot streak from Kadeem, and then you’d get Jem to give five.

How we’re operating is that none of them have a starting position per se,” Ryan said.

“That’s what’s keeping the competition for places healthy. They know they have to be scoring, assisting or producing.”

With Lee filling in for the injured veteran Adrian Foncette in goal, his defensive line is not short on experience as players such as Elijah Belgrave, Kaydon Gabriel, Martieon Watson and Mekeil Williams are all at Ryan’s disposal, with the lanky Simeon Bailey offering protection in the middle of the park and Jabari Mitchell adding the creative spark.

Ryan doesn’t want to alter the team’s chemistry too much, but said Police might be on the lookout for a left-footed left back in the upcoming transfer window.

He reiterated that the main goal for his team this season will be to lock up a Concacaf Caribbean Cup spot via a top-two league finish, but he wouldn’t mind silverware either. “A successful season for us will be qualifying for the Caribbean Cup.

“But definitely, we’re a team that’s been around the top three for three to four years running. Most definitely, we want to put something in the (trophy) cabinet,” he said. “We want to win the league, but a successful season for us will be automatic Concacaf football.”

When the lawmen face their Prisons counterparts from 7 pm at the Sangre Grande recreation ground on Boxing night, Ryan wants an approach which will ensure the latter team doesn’t regain their early-season form. “Looking at Prisons, I personally find they are a fit team. They have a quality striker in Ricardo John. They have some nice players around the park, so they aren’t a team we’d take lightly,” the Police coach said.

“They were on a five-game streak where they didn’t lose a game.

“They met some of the so-called bigger clubs and struggled a little bit.

“We definitely don’t want them to get back on track with us, so it’s a game we’ll be taking very seriously.”

In the first game of the Sangre Grande double-header, FC Eagles will try to notch a second straight win when they meet the youthful San Juan Jabloteh team from 5 pm.

Spartans distribute Christmas hampers in Penal

In the true spirit of giving, Spartans TT Basketball Club distributed 25 Christmas hampers to families in Clarke Rochard, bringing much-needed support and holiday cheer to the community ahead of the Christmas season.

The initiative formed part of Spartans’ ongoing commitment to community development and youth impact, reinforcing the club’s belief that sport is not only about competition, but also about service, leadership and responsibility beyond the court.

Each hamper contained essential food items and household supplies aimed at easing the financial burden for families during the festive period. The drive was made possible through the collective efforts of Spartans TT players, parents, families, friends and supporters who rallied together to give back to those in need.

“As a club, we are deeply rooted in community. This hamper drive reflects who we are and what we stand for, using sport as a platform to uplift, inspire, and make a real difference,” said Garvin Warwick, president of Spartans TT. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed and helped us reach 25 families in Clarke Rochard this Christmas.”

Spartans TT continues to emphasize holistic development, ensuring that their athletes are not only developed on the court but also grow into compassionate, socially responsible young leaders.

As the club closes out one of its most impactful years, both on and off the court, initiatives such as this hamper drive reaffirm Spartans TT’s mission to positively influence lives and strengthen communities across TT.

Ty Humphrey lands chess gold for Trinidad and Tobago at CAC Youth Festival

Youngster Ty Humphrey was the standout performer for Trinidad and Tobago at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Chess Festival which was held in Puerto Rico from December 15-20, as he won gold in the Under-10 Absolute category.

Humphrey’s showing followed up the silver-medal finish he had at the Youth Chess Festival in El Salvador last year, and set the tone for the performance of Team TTO in Puerto Rico this month. Humphrey played unbeaten through the Under-10 Absolute category, while his stellar play just saw him conceding the single draw against Jamaica’s Rajvir Shergil. St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Shetty Vedant was second in the Under-10 Absolute category, with Panama’s Jarrin Zhang Dominick Young Hen placing third. Humphrey’s countryman Jaydon Bowyer placed eighth with 5.5 points.

TT had a delegation of 19 players across the under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 categories, with coaching support on the ground coming from Fide Master (FM) Joshua Johnson and Candidate Master (CM) Dev Soondarsingh, while TT Chess Association (TTCA) assistant secretary Tisha Balliram served as the team’s official delegate.

The event featured over 200 players from 22 national federations.

In the girls’ under-10 category, Catherine Ali also had a solid showing as she placed fourth on a tie-break after rattling off four wins and four draws. Ali had one defeat in the girls’ under-10 category which was won by Nicaragua’s Luciana Paguaga, with Guatemala’s Saisha Merida placing second.

In the Under-16 Absolute category, CM Kael Samuel Bisnath placed seventh with 5.5 points, with first place going to El Salvador’s Marvin Guevara as Puerto Rico’s Joshua Pedrosa grabbed the silver medal.

In the Blitz Chess Championship which was contested on December 19, there were also solid showings from the TTO contingent. Ilyas Hosein placed third in the Under-8 Absolute category, while Ali (girls’ under-10), Humphrey (Under-10 Absolute) and Naomi Clement (girls’ under-8) all registered fourth-place finishes. Meanwhile, Caleb Harry placed fifth in the Under-10 Absolute category.

TTCA president Sandy Razark served on the organising committee for the CAC Youth Chess Festival, while TTCA’s third vice president Sadiqah Razark, who was recently elevated as TT’s sole female arbiter, served as a member of the arbiter team for the youth festival.

A TTCA release congratulated players, coaches and parents on a commendable international campaign and said it is looking forward to building on these results as part of the ongoing youth development programme. The TTCA also thanked one of its main sponsors C3 Centre for its continued support.

Promenade Chess Club hosts final tournament for 2025

THE Promenade Chess Club will host their final tournament as the Grand Tour will continue at the Valpark Plaza in Valsayn, on December 28.

Prizes will be awarded in various divisions – open, best Promenade Chess Club player, Under-12 and Under-8.

The open section will have attractive cash prizes with $1,200 up for grabs for the first-place winner, $800 for second place and $500 for third place.

The top Promenade Chess Club player will walk away with $300, the best junior of the club will earn $400 and top women’s player will win $300.

The best junior players overall will cop trophies and medals.

Trophies will be awarded to the best three players in the Under-12 category and medals will be distributed to the top three in the Under-8 division.

Participants with the most points will be crowned champions. Free pizza and ice cream will be provided for the first 100 registered players.

Senior players must pay $120 to compete and juniors $110.

Payments can be made to organiser Hayden Lee’s chequing account – 340045180501. For more information, contact haydenlee21@yahoo.com or 780-2437.

The sponsors of the event are Radica Trading, Basic Transport, Marios, Galactica, KFC and TYCO Farms.

Wallace 23rd on world sprint rankings after debut senior year

After just one year competing as a senior cyclist, Trinidad and Tobago’s rising cycling sensation Makaira Wallace has risen to 23rd on the International Cycling Union (UCI) women’s sprint rankings.

In her breakthrough year at the highest competitive level, Wallace produced multiple commendable and podium performances, which aided her climb up the global rankings.

Following her transition from a junior to elite rider at the start of 2025, Wallace pedaled off her debut year in fine style by setting a new national women’s flying 200m record by clocking 10.784 seconds at the UCI Nations Cup in Turkey, in March.

In August, she was still eligible to compete at the Junior Pan American Games and finished with a haul of three bronze medals. Wallace and TT teammates Kyra Williams and Phoebe Sandy opened their campaign with a third-place finish in the team sprint event. She then rode to bronze in the sprint and keirin events.

Wallace’s form earned, partnered with a couple of meets at the end of 2024, helped her qualify for her first UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Santiago, Chile.

As a result, she became the first female sprinter from TT to secure World Champs qualification.

In the women’s sprint, she advanced out of the flying 200m event but was eliminated by Japan’s Mina Sato in the 1/16 final. Sato went on to win gold.

Additionally, she set a new 500m time trial record at Worlds, clocking one minute and 09.822 seconds.

And in her final major event of the fading year, Wallace capped off 2025 with sprint silver and keirin bronze at the Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru, in November/December. Earlier on, she was also crowned national women’s U23/elite keirin champion.

Looking ahead at the new year, Wallace has set her eyes on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

President Kangaloo: Be instruments of peace

PRESIDENT Christine Kangaloo has appealed citizens to do all they can to be instruments of peace and humanity despite the challenges which confront the world today.

She made this appeal in her Christmas message to the nation.

Christmas will be celebrated in homes across TT on December 25.

“In a world often marked by division, uncertainty and hardship, the message of Christmas speaks quietly, but powerfully: peace on earth and goodwill to all,” Kangaloo said.

“Peace, we are reminded, is not merely the absence of war or strife; it is the presence of justice, mercy and respect in our daily lives, in our homes, workplaces, and communities.”

Kangaloo’s Christmas message comes against the background of ongoing US-Venezuela tensions in the southern Caribbean and questions over the reasons for government’s support of the US military deployment and the establishment of a US military radar at the ANR Robinson International Airport in November.

Goodwill, Kangaloo continued, is built through a series of simple actions.

“Listening with empathy, speaking with kindness, extending forgiveness and offering help to those in need.”

Kangaloo said, “These small gestures, when multiplied, have the power to heal wounds, restore hope and build bridges where walls once stood.”

She added, “The spirit of Christmas urges us to choose compassion over anger, understanding over judgment and reconciliation over resentment. It challenges us to look beyond our differences and to recognise our shared humanity.”

Kangaloo said, “My wish this Christmas is that we do not relegate the message of peace on earth and goodwill to merely a cherished ideal, but that we elevate it into a lived reality, shaping our choices and inspiring us to be instruments of peace and of goodwill wherever we are.”

She added,”My wish this Christmas is that, through the practice of peace and goodwill, each of us brings hope to the weary, comfort to the suffering, and unity to our communities.”

Kangaloo said, “I pray that the light of goodwill shines brighter than the darkness. And I pray that peace and goodwill will guide our actions, enliven our spirits and lift up our hearts, long after the season has passed.”

Opposition Leader: Christmas a time for hope

OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles says Christmas is a time for people to renew their hope in all that is good and to work steadfastly to keep hope alive, regardless of the obstacles which threaten to extinguish that hope.

In her Christmas message to the nation, Beckles said, “We are living through a period of profound uncertainty. Many families are grappling with the pain of job losses and ongoing economic instability. Our economy is at a near standstill, with business owners expressing serious concern about their Christmas earnings.”

After the April 28 general election, thousands of Cepep, URP and Forestry Division workers lost their jobs when these programmes were terminated.

Beckles said, “The national mood is heavy as the cost of living continues to rise and opportunity feels increasingly out of reach for far too many. There is growing unease about the direction of our economy, the tone of governance and decisions that appear disconnected from the lived realities of our people.”

International ratings agencies Moody’s and Standard and Poors (S&P) have revised TT’s economic outlook from stable to negative and business chambers have expressed concern about foreign exchange (forex) issues

Beckles said, “For many, this Christmas feels particularly difficult. At such a time, our prayer must be that the New Year brings a clearer path forward for economic prosperity and social stability for the nation.”

Outside of TT’s borders, she continued, the country finds itself uncomfortably positioned between powerful interests.”

This statement is in reference to ongoing US-Venezuela tensions in the Caribbean, the ongoing US military deployment in the southern Caribbean outside of Venezuela’s territorial waters, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s support for all issues related to the deployment and her condemnation of local and Caricom questions and criticisms about the deployment.

Beckles said, “There is also strain on our relationships within our region, Caricom, arising from the unfortunate posture adopted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.”

She added,” It is my hope that during this season, as a people, we can come together despite our differences, choosing peace over discord and unity over division.”

Beckles reminded citizens that hope is active and not passive.

“It demands courage, vigilance and a deep love for country.”

She repeated, “This Christmas, let us hold fast to that promise by caring for one another and praying for our nation.”

Christmas, she continued, is a time to hold fast to that promise of hope by caring for one another and praying for the nation.

Beckles said, ” I call upon all citizens of this blessed land to recommit ourselves to the work of rebuilding hope, not just for today but for generations to come.”

December 25 is Christmas Day.

St Mary’s gets a police station

THE upgrade of the St Mary’s Police Post to the St Mary’s Police Station, Moruga, will enable the expansion of policing services to residents of St Mary’s and surrounding communities. The opening ceremony for the station took place on December 24.

In a release on Facebook on December 24, the Ministry of Homeland Security said the upgrade reaffirms the government’s commitment to enhance infrastructure and policing in rural communities.

Minister Roger Alexander attended the ceremony, accompanied by the Police Commissioner and other senior police officials. He acknowledged the support and presence of Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John and Moruga/Tableland MP and Culture and Community Development Minister Michelle Benjamin, as well as local government representatives.

The release said Alexander underscored the importance of continued investment in law enforcement infrastructure as a critical component of national security.

He commended officers serving the Moruga district for their dedication and encouraged the approximately 500 residents to continue working in partnership with law enforcement to build a safer space and resilient community.

Alexander said concerted efforts were made to complete the Moruga Police Station by Christmas 2025, to deliver a tangible, functional and beneficial Christmas gift to the people of Moruga and environs.

Sturge warns against flying drones near airports

THE Defence Minister Wayne Sturge has expressed concerns over what the ministry alleges to be drone activity within Trinidad and Tobago’s restricted airspace.

In a statement on December 24, the ministry said this activity happened within close proximity to the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and the ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago.

The ministry said its checks show these drones were flown within five kilometres of both airports and not outside of this limit.

“Quite apart from the dangers posed, the desire to obtain footage of the military installations and equipment and to disseminate same to media houses and by extension to the world at large, is inimical to national security interests and exposes the citizenry to those who would benefit to our detriment.”

Sturge said investigations are under way to determine the identity of the alleged anonymous source who conducted the alleged drone surveillance footage “in violation of the law, with a view to preventing such further actions, thereby protecting the public interest from any further undermining of our security and to ensure the safety of all airline passengers.”

He warned drone operators that should they continue to act unlawfully, the government will “take the necessary actions to protect the public interest, should it become necessary, including those afforded under the current state of emergency (which began in July and was extended in October for another three months).”

In November, US Marines installed a G/ATOR radar system at the ANR Robinson International Airport.

Developed by American aerospace and defence technology company Northrop Grumman, the G/ATOR is a three-dimensional, medium/long-range multi-role radar designed to detect unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, air-breathing targets, rockets, artillery, and mortars.

From November 26-28, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar initially did not reveal the establishment of the radar, but later said it would assist with surveillance of drug trafficking activities and she had requested its establishment.

In response to questions posed on December 21 about support vehicles and tents established around the radar at the airport, Persad-Bissessar said, “The picture is self-explanatory. There is a radar with the support office to operate it.”

In one media report, Persad-Bissessar appeared to become irritated with continuing questions about the radar. “Please stop wasting my time with this nonsense. Feel free to send any questions on sensible issues in the future. Have a wonderful evening.”

On December 15, the Foreign and Caricom Affairs Ministry said it had given approval for “US military aircraft to transit TT’s airports in the coming weeks.”

The ministry added, “The US has advised that these movements are logistical in nature, facilitating replenishment and routine personnel rotations.”

All of these developments came one week after the release of the US National Security Strategy 2025 report, published in November by the White House, and signed by US President Donald Trump.

In that document, the US said, “We will enlist established friends in the hemisphere to control migration, stop drug flows, and strengthen stability and security on land and sea.

“We will expand by cultivating and strengthening new partners while bolstering our own nation’s appeal as the hemisphere’s economic and security partner of choice.”

At a UNC Christmas Supper at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s on December 18, Persad-Bissessar slammed local critics of her support for the ongoing US military deployment in the Southern Caribbean outside of Venezuela’s territorial waters and the US military radar in Tobago.

She warned that criticism of the US and its actions could result in an estimated 350,000 Trinbagonians with US visas, having them revoked. Persad-Bissessar repeated only the US can protect TT against any external threat.

“Understand where our help comes from. Understand who could help protect and defend TT. Right now there is only one country in the world who can do it. They have the money. They have the equipment. They have the assets and (they have) TT first.”

Sturge has echoed Persad-Bissessar’s position, including her view that TT will not be used by the US as a military base to launch an attack on any other nation. Sturge has declined to answer questions in Parliament from the opposition about the radar and US-TT security arrangements, saying to do so would not be in the public’s best interest at this time.

PM: No freedom, democracy for many in region

PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said many people in the region do not enjoy the freedom and democracy which the people of TT do.

She made this comment in her Christmas message to the nation on December 24.

Persad-Bissessar made references to biblical quotations which focus on oppression and freedom.

First, Luke 4:18, “He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the captives and to set the oppressed free.”

Persad-Bissessar said, “As we are reminded, Jesus came into the world as ‘the true light, which gives light to everyone’ (John 1:9). From the very beginning, that light confronted oppression

She added, “Christ’s earliest days were marked by flight from a tyrant ruler, King Herod, as His family escaped violence used to preserve power (Matthew 2:13-15).”

Persad-Bissessar said this scripture shows Christ’s “life began in solidarity with the persecuted, the displaced, and the powerless.”

While TT cherishes democracy and freedom, she continued, other nations in the region are not so fortunate.

“At the same time, we remain mindful that many in our region do not share these freedoms. In neighbouring countries, populations are forced to live under repression, violence, and economic hardship.”

Persad-Bissessar identified no country by name

She said, “Tyranny and oppression have torn families apart, forcing many into refugee lives, driven from their homelands by fear and deprivation

In a post on X this week, Persad-Bissessar said, Caricom has aligned itself with the (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro narco government headed by a dictator who has imprisoned or killed thousands of Venezuelans who oppose him.”

She added, “TT wants no part of that alignment, we don’t support dictatorship and drug trafficking and we don’t support Caricom in their zone of peace fakery.”

Persad-Bissessar claimed Caricom has “chosen to support the Maduro narco government through the fake zone of peace narrative which is clearly designed to get the American military to leave the Caribbean region and therefore enable Maduro to remain as dictator in Venezuela. ”

Persad-Bissessar has publicly supported the US military deployment in the region which started in August, the Trump administration’s position the deployment is an anti-narcotic exercise and US military strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean which other nations have described as extrajudicial killings.

Persad-Bissessar has defended the establishment of a US military radar in Tobago and defended US actions in the region against local and Caricom critics. She has publicly differed with other Caricom leaders about the organisation’s longstanding position that the Caribbean must be maintained as a zone of peace.

She said, “Christ’s life teaches us that true strength is found in service and that authority, without compassion, becomes oppression.”

Christmas, Persad-Bissessar continued, therefore, “is not only a celebration of birth but a call to humility, integrity, justice, and care for others.”

She said TT has begun to steady itself eight months after the UNC won the April 28 general election.

“There is renewed seriousness in public life and a stronger focus on service, responsibility, and integrity.”

Persad-Bissessar said, ” While challenges remain, there is confidence that when the welfare of the people is placed first, the future can be shaped with purpose.”

Those challenges include recent revised economic outlooks from international ratings agencies Moody’s and Standard and Poors (S&P) from stable to negative, ongoing foreign exchanges supply and demand issues and the ongoing state of emergency (SoE) which began in July and which was extended in October.

Persad-Bissessar said the values of Christmas “guide the work of this government and renew my commitment to serve with honesty, empathy, strength, and responsibility.”

Addressing a UNC fundraising Christmas dinner, in Couva, on December 13, Persad-Bissessar told party members, “Brace your back. We have a lot of work to do in the new year.”

She added, “The year ahead will be very decisive and a lot of work to be done.”