N Touch

WiPay's new strategy for services, payments

BitDepth 1542

MARK LYNDERSAY

AT WiDay 2025 on December 4, the first WiDay held in TT in this decade, WiPay Group CEO Aldwyn Wayne announced a bolder and more pervasive local presence for the predominantly Trinidadian/Tobagonian fintech company.

After the successful introduction of CourtPay in 2018, WiPay faced dramatically diminished interest by the government of the day.

The professional snubs ended in 2020 as covid lockdowns became more widespread when Wayne took his systems to Jamaica and Grenada, where they enjoyed a quite different reception.

A restless thinker, Wayne kept thinking about the challenges of local digital payment settlement and, as he told his audience at WiDay, “The problem was way bigger (than payments).”

“After I make a payment, how do I get that product? Who handles the logistics? Who handles communication? Who handles the backbone of the entire infrastructure of the country, which is the government, also the largest employer, who handles that? It was fragmented.”

The National Payment and Innovation Company, which replaced the TT International Finance Centre, is, he said, “Powered by WiPay’s GovPay solution.”

WiDay announced the availability of new services from the rebranded WiPay Group, some of them already in use, others appear to be in the process of being rolled out.

Tying everything together is the company’s payment system, which is tied to the Colour app, a software solution that allows users to accept card payments using their mobile phones.

Wayne’s strategy will make the Colour app a hub for services that target the next generation of citizens, whose expectations of fluid, digital payments haven’t been met by existing systems and solutions.

WiTravel (found at witravel.app) is a booking system for travel. How it works isn’t clear from the website because you have to join the service to go deeper than the promises of its front page, which claims that its services “move different.”

It’s going to be interesting to see how WiTravel tackles the sophisticated criminality of online travel bookings, which are weighted against customers from the minute they begin to search for a flight online.

His payment systems promise to address today’s issues with foreign exchange.

“US limits? It’s tough. We will fix that,” Wayne said.

“We’re going to provide you an option to pay with your links card online to go to that trip to Miami or to go to Amsterdam.”

Payments are described with evangelical zeal by chief marketing officer Kibwe McGann.

“Payments are not just transactions. Payments are connections. Payments are the lifeline of an economy,” McGann said. “When a small business finally accepts digital payments, that is dignity. When a public office goes cashless? That is progress.”

That same enthusiasm to meet new customer needs infuses the pitches for services such as WiLoan, introduced in March.

“(Customers of) traditional financial institutions face long lines, outdated systems and very rigid processes,” said Lyron Marlow, CEO of WiLoan.

“In my opinion, those processes present unnecessary barriers (and) WiLoan is here to change that. WiLoan was created to make credit simple and approvals fast.”

“In six months, we have over 750 loan applications, more than 400 customers, a growing employer partner network and we boast an average of five working days in turnaround time from loan application to disbursement. Our delinquency ratio is under one per cent. We are now working closely with the government ministries to be on-boarded to their national payroll system.”

Despite Abraham Sutherland’s colourful insistence that the Nimble mobile “Feels like a real Caribbean new culture that is bright, creative, funny, bold and spontaneous,” it is also a well-dressed reseller relationship with telecommunications partners.

TSTT is WiPay Group’s partner for voice and data services in TT, but the company declined to disclose its partner for its international e-SIM travel connectivity services for data.

Travel e-SIM plans are local data plans that are usually resold to visitors with set data limits and access times. Nimble’s plans are roughly in line with most of its international competition.

WiPay’s aggressive return to the TT financial space is likely to add some spice to an already lively fintech space and its new pillars of business align with the sprightly, country-hopping character of its leader. But are there enough bread-and-butter customers who need new options for travel, phone service and loan services to make those add-on businesses worth the time of a small, albeit feisty, contender?

WiTravel, WiLoan and Nimble are likely to be subject to Wayne’s “fail fast” principles, the successful bits going forward, the others eventually falling away. Less sexy are services like NOBIS, the company’s e-KYC (Know Your Customer) platform and the Caribbean Settlement Network, still at the stage of navigating regional regulatory approvals, which chart a clearer path forward for Wipay’s growth.

Mark Lyndersay is the editor of technewstt.com. An expanded version of this column can be found there

Recruitment drive continues as UK-based footballers arrive

THE TT Football Association (TTFA) has intensified its overseas recruitment drive as a group of UK-born and UK-based footballers have accepted invitations to travel to Trinidad to join the Under-17 and Under-20 men’s national team residential training camps.

The players, who are currently attached to professional and semi-professional clubs in England, arrived in Trinidad on December 19 to train, live, and integrate with the local environment as part of the ongoing assessment process. The camps run until the end of December, with players remaining in Trinidad for the duration. These players along with a group from North America have already engaged in sessions with Under-17 head coach Randolph Boyce and Under-20 head coach Marvin Gordon.

This latest wave of recruitment follows the recent passing of the “grandparent law,” which has expanded eligibility pathways for players with ancestral links to TT.

While some of the invited players were already eligible to obtain TT passports due to their age, the updated legislation has further strengthened the association’s ability to widen its talent pool globally.

The invited players from the UK who arrived are Archie Lovatt (central midfielder, Southampton FC); Tate Ormonde (central midfielder/right back, Brighton & Hove Albion FC); Jashaun Christmas (central midfielder, Crystal Palace FC); Kayden Bancey (central midfielder, Reading FC); and Eden Ormonde (central midfielder, Welling United (Brighton FC pathway).

They have joined home-based players and US-based players already in camp, all vying for selection to the final squads ahead of the 2025 Concacaf Under-17 and Under-20 Men’s Qualifiers, scheduled for February and March.

Head of overseas recruitment Brent Sancho, who has been leading similar recruitment initiatives across the region, including with Grenada, St Lucia, and St Kitts and Nevis, highlighted the importance of early engagement and cultural immersion.

“This is about giving players a real opportunity to connect with TT, not just through football, but through living and training here,” Sancho said.

“We want them to understand the culture, the expectations, and what it truly means to represent the red, white and black. There is a strong pool of players overseas, and this is only the beginning.”

Currently there are also players with Chelsea, Fulham, Swansea, Lincoln City, Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town also in talks with the TTFA to join either the Under-17 or Under-20 pool. Among them is Jamie Mauge of Ipswich Town, son of former senior team midfielder Ronnie Mauge.

TTFA president Kieron Edwards underscored the strategic value of the initiative and the importance of continued collaboration with government and key stakeholders.

“This overseas recruitment drive is not just about our youth teams – it is an investment in the entire football ecosystem of TT,” Edwards said.

“By identifying and integrating eligible players early, we are strengthening the pathway to our senior men’s national team and, by extension, creating long-term benefits for our women’s national teams as well.”

Edwards also emphasised the role of institutional and governmental support in sustaining these efforts.

“Meaningful government assistance is critical in helping us create the infrastructure, logistics and long-term planning required to compete at the highest level,” he added.

“When our youth programmes are properly supported, the impact is felt across all national teams and throughout the wider sporting landscape.”

Sancho further confirmed that additional overseas-based players remain under active consideration, as the TTFA continues to monitor and engage eligible talent across multiple territories.

The residential camps form part of the TTFA’s broader strategic vision to strengthen youth national teams, improve competitiveness at the regional level and ensure that TT’s best eligible talent, both locally and abroad, are identified, assessed and prepared well ahead of major international competitions.

Pundit at Sudhir 'Wheels' Ramessar's funeral: He made good use of his life

A RELIGIOUS LEADER has urged people to make meaningful use of their lives as he reflected on the legacy of disabled rights activist Sudhir “Wheels” Ramessar on December 21 in Princes Town.

Pundit Roopnarine Maharaj was addressing mourners at Ramessar’s funeral at Broomage Road #1.

“He got this human body, but he did not waste it. He made good use of it. How many of us have this human body, but we just waste it? Coulda, shoulda and woulda, and we just didn’t,” Maharaj said.

“But he did what he had to do. He accomplished so much. He had done exceptionally well.”

Ramessar, who was born with a physical disability and used a wheelchair, died on December 19 at age 59.

The father of one was the president of the TT Paralympic Committee (TTPC) and would have turned 60 on February 27.

Maharaj said that there are many lazy people in this world. He added that many do not want to better their lives and instead blame others for their circumstances.

“They would not take their own blame. Wheels did not do that. He moved forward,” the pundit said.

He said many cannot accomplish what Ramessar had achieved in life. He encouraged people to use the bodies that God has given them to do good.

He added, “The most difficult form is the human form. The most precious form that God has given to you is the human body.”

As the nation and the world prepare for Christmas, he urged people to remember the Ramessar family.

“While you smile, others will cry. Remember, people bring gifts to you, but no one can bring a human body,” Maharaj said.

The pundit also spoke of the strong relationship that Ramessar shared with his late mother, his widow, his daughter and other relatives.

Many people paid tribute, including former president of the TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) Brian Lewis, who offered condolences on behalf of TTOC and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC).

He said the news of the death was a shock.

“We had a close and unique relationship. We spoke constantly,” Lewis said.

He said, despite other commitments, he made it from Port of Spain to attend.

Lewis added that Ramessar symbolises courage, and those who knew him knew his challenges.

He added he knows no other person in sport with Ramessar’s level of integrity and determination.

Lewis recalled speaking with Paralympic athlete Akeem Stewart, who was grieving the recent loss of his coach and now Ramessar, someone who was always there for him.

Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke referred to Ramessar as a personal friend.

“He would provide voluntary work, if necessary, just to help others,” he said.

Former foreign affairs minister Dr Amery Browne said it was emotional for him to attend the funeral, adding that he was there to share his personal reflections on an exemplary son of TT.

Browne said he always referred to Ramessar as “Mr President,” describing him as well spoken and polite.

He recalled discovering Ramessar’s deep passion for humanity, for all people with disabilities, including athletes, while attending the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“We have had hundreds of conversations, and in every one of those exchanges, Mr President only sought the betterment of others. I have never known him to ask for anything for himself or to enquire for anything on his direct behalf,” Browne said.

He described Ramessar as organised, progressive and inspirational, highlighting that he never used his physical challenges as an excuse and always saw the best in others.

Ramessar’s sister, Rehanna, said he was a loving brother who was treated with special care.

“Wheels was like a son to all of us. I love him, always will, always did,” she said, trying to hold back tears.

She said her siblings, as well as his nieces and nephews, cried more for Ramessar than they did at their father’s funeral.

The body was taken to the Shore of Peace Cremation Site (Mosquito Creek) in South Oropouche for cremation.

The global cost of selfishness

BY THE time you finish reading this piece, somewhere in the world, a child will have died an avoidable death from pneumonia.

That analysis comes from impactcounter.com, a website that analyses the effect of (mostly) US policy decisions on global public health. It takes about three minutes to read 750 words, and the site estimates that the Trump administration’s decision to defund USAID – gleefully enacted by a ketamine-addled, billionaire car salesman – has added an extra 165,238 child deaths from pneumonia to the global toll, or 3.18 additional, avoidable child deaths per minute.

The same site suggests the world will lose 467,729 children this year due to the massive cuts in US spending on foreign aid. Children who might have reasonably been expected to survive if the resources needed to treat diseases and conditions such as malaria, tuberculosis, and malnutrition had not been abruptly withdrawn.

The impactcounter.com analysis suggests it costs up to US$200 on average to treat a child for severe malnutrition. It’s estimated that shuttering the USAID nutrition programme in 2025 will cost the world the lives of an extra 155,964 children – or a little less than the combined populations of Chaguanas and San Fernando.

Two cities of children wiped out by one policy.

If you don’t like that estimate, there was an analysis published in the Lancet back in July that estimated the global impact on child mortality of the USAID cuts at around 4.5 million additional deaths of children under five by 2030 – 900,000 per year, or roughly the population of TT minus Port of Spain and environs.

For a more conservative figure, check out the Gates Foundation’s most recent Goalkeepers Report, which cites analysis suggesting the world will lose 200,000 more children to preventable conditions in 2025 than it did in 2024.

Numbers aside, it’s clear that pretty much anyone who has tried to examine the issue of global child mortality rates has reached the same conclusion: they’re going up, for the first time this century. Progress.

All over the developed world, investing in the general health and well-being of those less fortunate has fallen out of fashion. The OECD notes that official development assistance (ODA) dropped by nine per cent in 2024, and was projected to fall again this year.

This is largely because the four largest ODA funders – France, Germany, the UK, and the US – all reduced their allocations in 2024 and announced further cuts for 2025.

Last year was the first time since the mid-90s that those four countries cut their ODA budgets simultaneously. This year was the first time ever that they all announced consecutive annual ODA budget cuts.

Despite political transitions from Biden to Trump in the US, Sunak to Starmer in the UK, Scholz to Merz in Germany, and a seemingly unending procession of doomed governments in France, the world’s biggest development aid funders seem remarkably united on one point: whether governing from left, right, or centre, they’re not all that interested in funding global public health improvements.

And if you stop funding global public health improvement, then you can expect a global public health decline – starting with hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children.

Part of the reason is, of course, the economic malaise that has gripped many of the world’s richest countries. Part of it is a focus on seemingly more pressing priorities. The EU just agreed to loan Ukraine US$105 billion to help it defend itself against continuing assault from Russia. And Russian aggression combined with an erratic American foreign policy under the Trump administration is forcing many European nations to invest more heavily in their own defence.

For all its talk of cost-cutting, Trump’s government remains as happy to shower its own military and defence contractors in cash. Military hardware is not cheap. The radar currently hanging out at ANR Robinson airport can be estimated to cost around US$32 million (the US Marine Corps announced it had bought 30 units back in 2019 for a total cost of US$958 million).

Fun fact: if you accept that it costs around US$200 to treat a child for severe malnutrition, and it’s currently estimated that close to 160,000 additional children will die from malnutrition in the next year because of USAID cuts – one US$32 million radar could fund live-saving malnutrition treatment for 160,000 children.

So if you want to help some needy kids this Christmas, there’s a radar in Tobago you could usefully sell.

Wishing for Christmas magic

DEBBIE JACOB

EVERY YEAR, my brothers and I felt like kicking ourselves for believing in Christmas magic. We had our silent wishes for presents, something fun like a doll for me and toy trucks for them. We hoped to find the toys of our dreams in one of the many gifts under our tree, decorated with paper-thin, red and green glass houses, reindeer and Santas my mother ordered from some German store she found far from our remote dairy farm in Ohio.

But every Christmas was the same. We got sweaters, socks, thermal underwear, boots, mittens and other practical gifts. Every year I braced myself for my last present, which was always the same: panties with the days of the week embroidered on them. My mother put a tag on the package that said they were from my brothers, who laughed hysterically at this gift every Christmas.

Still, we fared better than my dad, who feigned surprise every year when he opened his present to find the same dress shirt still in its original packaging. My mother put the shirt in the bottom drawer of her bedroom dresser to present every Christmas.

The tags on Grandpa Gotz’s carton of cigarettes, Grandma G’s headscarf, Grandpa Bowman’s loose tobacco to roll his own cigarettes and Grandma B’s handkerchiefs read they were from my brothers and me.

I had one up on my brothers’ dreams of receiving a special present because my mother took her ruby ring from the jewellery box every Christmas and recited the story about how it had been passed down from my great-grandmother to my grandmother; then my mother, on the most dismal Christmas of their lives, when no other present was possible.

Someday, she promised, that day would come for me. When I turned 16, and my mom had embarked on a career in real estate, she surprisingly announced I would get the ruby ring Grandma G had carried from Romania to Germany and then to the US.

My mom decided to have the ring appraised. Thieves broke into the jewellery store and stole it. The store gave her a new ruby ring set with diamond chips, even though the appraisal showed the ruby was nothing more than a piece of glass. My mom needed some time to wear this new expensive ring that sparkled to impress, but felt lacklustre because it had no story.

Three months later, on my 16th Christmas, I braced myself for the usual disappointments as we opened our gifts. My mom always determined the order of gifts to open. That year, four identical large boxes remained under the tree.

Uncharacteristically, my dad passed them to my brothers and me. I removed the Christmas wrapping paper, opened the lid, pulled the crisp, crepe paper away and saw a pair of white ice skates with shiny, stainless steel blades. I stared, frozen with surprise, and couldn’t lift my hands to touch them.

My dad, a man of few words, said, “Follow me.”

He didn’t have to tell us to bring the ice skates. We weren’t leaving them out of our sight. We put on our new winter coats and gloves and trekked through the woods, with its bare birch and pine trees and thick carpet of snow to a small pond far from the house.

While my dad brushed some snow off the ice, we sat on a log to put on our skates; then we marvelled at how easily we could stand and move on the ice without falling. We didn’t know how to stop, so we just tumbled over into a snowbank and laughed.

I had never dreamed of ice skating, but I loved it from the moment I felt control on that frozen lake. This hidden pond offered a world of possibilities and unexpected sounds. A robin sang; a woodpecker’s beak knocked on a tree. Our skates registered every bump on ice that groaned and crackled, so that we skated for our lives, though we knew the ice under our feet was solid and safe. I would return to this hidden spot often, until I left home to attend university.

In tough or sad times, I often close my eyes and trace the loops my skates cut into the ice. I see my father standing nearby and smiling. I marvel at his gift for creating magical moments like these.

Sooner or later, dreams do come true. Merry Christmas, dear readers. May this Christmas deliver all the magic you need in your lives.

Appeal Court blocks Vincent Nelson’s bid to take case to Privy Council

CONVICTED King’s Counsel Vincent Nelson must now persuade the London-based Privy Council to allow him to challenge his 2019 corruption conviction after the local Court of Appeal rejected his latest bid to get leave to appeal.

Justices of Appeal Nolan Bereaux, James Aboud and Ricky Rahim, on December 19, refused Nelson’s application for conditional leave to approach the Privy Council, agreeing with the state that the matter was procedural and raised no issue to warrant a challenge before TT’s apex court.

Bereaux, delivering the oral ruling, said the Director of Public Prosecution’s decision to prosecute did not breach Nelson’s constitutional rights and that due process safeguards were fully observed during the plea agreement process.

He added that Nelson’s application was not a final appeal against his conviction and sentence but merely a request for permission to pursue one. Newsday understands Nelson intends to apply for special leave at the Privy Council.

The ruling follows a July decision in which Bereaux, Aboud and Justice of Appeal Geoffrey Henderson found that Nelson failed to establish misconduct by the DPP and had waited too long to file his appeal.

Henderson, delivering that decision, said Nelson, a UK-based tax attorney, voluntarily entered a plea agreement in 2019 and had ample opportunity to disclose any alleged promises or threats to the trial judge at the time.

Nelson was represented by senior counsel during the proceedings and raised no concerns about improper inducements, Henderson noted.

Nelson pleaded guilty in June 2019 to conspiracy to commit corruption and money laundering arising from a legal-fee kickback scheme. He was fined $2.25 million in March 2020 after agreeing to testify against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, and former UNC senator Gerald Ramdeen.

Those prosecutions were discontinued in 2022 after Nelson refused to testify until a $95 million civil claim tied to an alleged indemnity agreement was resolved. That claim has since been dismissed by the High Court, and Nelson has appealed the ruling of Justice Jacqueline Wilson.

In his application for permission to appeal, Nelson argued that former attorney general Faris Al-Rawi promised him immunity, a pardon and payment of legal fees, and that he provided a self-incriminating statement believing he was protected.

Henderson said Nelson failed to support those claims with sworn evidence from the attorney who allegedly conveyed the promises, and that the record showed Nelson acted voluntarily throughout the plea process.

On the issue of delay, the court found Nelson’s October 2023 appeal was filed more than four years after his conviction and more than three years after sentencing.

Henderson rejected explanations offered by Nelson, including illness and an expectation of a pardon, describing them as insufficient to justify the delay.

Nelson’s appeal notice was filed five years after the 14-day deadline. His attorneys, led by Edward Fitzgerald, KC, argued the delay resulted from alleged state misconduct surrounding the plea agreement.

Justice of Appeal Mark Mohammed dismissed an earlier application, last year, prompting Nelson’s renewed bid before the three-judge panel.

Fitzgerald told the court Nelson acted as a confidential informant and only provided a self-incriminating statement after assurances of immunity, a pardon and payment of outstanding fees.

“Why would he put his head in a noose unless he believed he was protected,” Fitzgerald asked, noting Nelson received £1 million ($8.99 million) days after giving the statement.

He said Nelson was “tricked,” adding: “It may have been a false promise…an overreach, but we say that a promise was made.”

The DPP’s lead attorney, Ian Benjamin, SC, countered that Nelson was a seasoned barrister who knowingly entered the plea agreement and delayed challenging it for strategic reasons.

“He wanted leverage, a ‘strong bargaining position,’” Benjamin said, describing Nelson’s affidavit as contradictory and self-serving.

Benjamin also maintained that prosecutorial authority rests solely with the DPP and that pardons may only be granted by the Mercy Committee, not the attorney general. Nelson has not yet paid the $2.25 million fine imposed by the court.

He was also represented by attorneys Naveen Maraj and Varun Debideen. Tekiyah Jorsling and Tonya Rowley appeared for the DPP.

INDY sweep Jewels of the Caribbean titles

INDY Premier Sports Club made their journey to Trinidad count as they will leave these shore with both Jewels of the Caribbean titles, as the Jamaicans had to play second fiddle when the tournament came to a close on December 21.

Indy, a club based in Indianapolis, US, won both the girls’ Under-17 and Under-20 titles at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

In the first final, the Indy Under-17s defeated Jamaica 2-0 with goals from Skylar Mueller and Olivia Jones.

In the 16th minute, Indy took the lead. Jones collected a pass on the left side, dribbled past a defender and struck a low cross into the area. Waiting at the far post was Mueller who fired a low shot past Jamaican goalkeeper London Cathey. Indy sealed the contest with a 62nd-minute goal from Jones.

In the second final, Indy edged Jamaica 1-0 as a corner kick did the trick.

A cross by captain Cadence Conrad found the head of Samantha Slade who beat goalie London Phoenix in the 38th minute, which was enough to give Indy a second title on the day.

Teacher integrity, student safety

AMONG the tabulations of teacher job abandonment and late-coming in the Teaching Service Commission’s (TSC) 2024 Annual Report is a far more startling statistic: 16 matters brought before the commission under the listing “Allegations of misconduct – sexual abuse.”

Ideally, the count should be zero, but the predatory and powerful will take advantage of their position and serious allegations must be met with a considered and clear response.

Five teachers were listed as being accused of 13 allegations, with one teacher accused of five allegations of impropriety.

For these matters to meander for more than a year is unfair to both the accused teachers and the children who have spoken up.

These matters should be dealt with expeditiously, whether it is to clear the reputations of the accused teachers or to hold them accountable for inappropriate behaviour, but the TSC faces multiple roadblocks, including the slow pace of court process and the length of time it takes before matters are heard by disciplinary tribunals.

But it is not enough for the commission to state that it “continues to give increased attention to those disciplinary matters involving the abuse of children including physical and sexual abuse.”

In August 2024, Justice Frank Seepersad, while making an order to compel the TSC to interview a secondary school teacher for a teaching role after seven years, wondered if the commission was capable of hiring, promoting and disciplining teachers effectively and efficiently.

This is a real concern, given the number of times the TSC has been brought before the courts for devastatingly long delays in addressing appointments and reviewing appeals for promotion. Enshrined bureaucracy should not hamper it from capably addressing matters involving possible sexual abuse for months on end.

The count of court matters brought to the Judiciary in 2024 is a disappointing zero. Fourteen court matters stood unheard and outstanding at the end of 2024. The blame for this cannot be laid entirely on the commission’s doorstep. The challenges facing the TT court system affects everyone awaiting justice; whether it be a minor legal matter or a murder case, all are equally unhappy in our justice system.

The education minister’s commitment to modernise policies and procedures and improve efficiency is laudable, but practical guidance to schools and meaningful collaboration with the commission on this issue should be a matter of urgency.

A body legislatively assembled since 1962 to make appointments, transfer and promote teachers, exercise disciplinary control and enforce standards of conduct cannot be institutionally crippled by bureaucracy, and stalled by the courts to the point that it cannot address sexual abuse allegations in ways that assure the safety of children and the integrity of teachers with more tangible robustness.

The Little Store creates Indian delicacies with Christmas flavours

BAVINA SOOKDEO

Tradition and culture have met innovation and creative thinking. For decades, sweets (
methai) have been closely tied to Hindu religious observances and festivals such as Divali and pujas. However, at The Little Store on Rapsey Street in Curepe, this 60-year-old family business has given those traditional delicacies a seasonal twist – one that honours their roots while embracing change.

Vinayak Sankar, general manager of The Little Store for six years, explained that the idea emerged during the covid19 pandemic. “We were just experimenting in the kitchen, and being in the puja industry, our kitchen is streamlined for manufacturing methai.

“At that point in time, the business was on a go-slow, but we were deemed essential because we do carry grocery items and all funeral supplies. So we had to find ways to keep the business alive during that trying time.”

What began as kitchen experimentation evolved into a limited Christmas line of
methai that blended traditional Hindu sweets with familiar festive flavours. “We expanded our horizons and we were able to introduce certain flavours to our lines of methai,” Sankar recalled. “One of our biggest hits were the sorrel jalebi and the butterscotch barfi.”

Sankar was quick to credit the effort behind the scenes, noting that the success of the Christmas
methai was very much a collective one. He explained that the initial experimentation became a team-building exercise, giving staff the opportunity to test their skills and explore new ideas together. “Really and truly, we must thank the staff at The Little Store,” he said. “It was a team effort – trying our skills and seeing what we could come up with – and it turned out to be a success.” He added that the willingness of staff and management to push the idea forward and trust the process played a critical role in bringing something new and exciting to the Christmas season.

Grounded in tradition

Since then, the range has grown to include coconut barfi shaped into snowmen, spiced gulab jamun balls, sorrel jalebi and most recently gingerbread roat – each designed to feel recognisable yet novel. “The gingerbread roat has been taking the market exponentially as well due to the fact that we could shape it in whichever Christmas design that we find appealing” said Sankar who noted that many people are enjoying having the gingerbread roat as part of their Trini Christmas selection of sweets.

Vinayak Sankar, general manager of The Little Store. –

“They all took some time to perfect,” Sankar laughed. The flavours that we chose were carefully selected. The purpose was really to bring a blend of a true Trini Christmas in a different way.”

Importantly, the sweets remain grounded in tradition. Sankar emphasised that the organisation was careful not to compromise the core characteristics of methai. “We maintain the authenticity… we don’t use any additives that would not allow the product to be different from any one of the trademark characteristics,” he explained. “They are eggless and free from salt so that individuals can offer them to the lord.” They are also made fresh every day.

The reaction from customers, Sankar shared, was immediate and enthusiastic. “Before even advertising these sweets, the first day it was put onto the shelves customers were so intrigued,” Sankar said. “They were really happy – they got into the Christmas spirit the moment that they saw these items being introduced.”

The response has also revealed something deeper about changing tastes and openness. According to Sankar, the Christmas methai has attracted younger customers and many non-Hindus (as The Little Store has gradually shifted toward a more inclusive, spiritual-based approach). “They were taken by surprise and actually amazed because no one ever thought about doing something like this before,” he said. “Now when they come, they know they could find something different that they can relate to.”

Opening new doors

That curiosity hasn’t been without scepticism. Sankar acknowledged that blending religious sweets with Christmas flavours raised questions for some. “Trinis are difficult people to please,” he said candidly. “Some people may have second thoughts about using Hindu sweets and blending it with Christmas flavours, but honestly, we push through and we don’t allow that to break our Christmas spirit and what our organisation stands for.”

Roat in the shapes of gingerbread, a Christmas tree and a star. –

For Sankar, the effort is less about novelty and more about reflecting the TT of today. “It’s really supposed to make you want to try a new type of delicacy that you can introduce to your friends and families when it comes to a true Trini Christmas,” he said.

Now in its third year, the Christmas methai has found its place – seasonal, experimental and temporary by design. “Unfortunately, the Christmas sweets are only available during the Christmas time,” Sankar noted, explaining that the kitchen later returns to producing traditional offerings for the rest of the year in light of the many festivals we celebrate locally.

Still, the success has opened new doors. Sankar said sales exceeded expectations and continued to grow over time, prompting the team to explore additional fusion ideas already in development. He explained that introducing new products requires patience, as each recipe must be carefully formulated and tested. Emphasising the company’s commitment to food safety, Sankar noted that every detail must be finalised before a product is standardised and certified, ensuring that everything offered for sale meets a consistent and high standard of quality.

He also pointed to developments on the savoury side of the Christmas season, noting that The Little Store’s sister company, Chatak Food Products, has recently introduced its own blend of chiblo, a familiar snack in many Trini homes at Christmas. Known as Jazz Mix, this chiblo adds a festive twist to another traditional favourite.

Reflecting on the wider meaning of the season, Sankar underscored the importance of unity and respect in a diverse society. “TT is a melting pot of different races, religions and people on the whole, so we should accept everyone for who they are and show respect unto others as we would like it to be shown unto ourselves,” he said, as he extended wishes for a safe, joyful and prosperous Christmas and New Year to the nation.

 

Family, friends remember 'quiet riot' Wilma Hendrickson

IN a moving tribute, Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) general secretary Shirlane Hendrickson delivered a heartfelt eulogy for her late mother, Wilma Hendrickson, celebrating a life marked by love, resilience, and selfless service.

Wilma died at 88 on December 12.

The memorial service, held on December 19 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at the corner of Park and Henry Streets, drew family, friends, and members of the wider community, all united to honour a woman remembered as a pillar of strength and devotion.

Shirlane, speaking before a captivated audience, blended her words with musical intonations, creating a performative style that reflected her mother’s vibrant personality and deep spiritual life.

She opened her tribute by acknowledging her mother as “the quiet riot,” a motivator, prayer warrior, and unwavering source of support whenever life’s challenges became overwhelming.

“The energy we are going to do this morning is on this indefatigable lady,” Shirlane began, emphasising the values her mother instilled: education, guidance, and dignity.

She spoke fondly of her mother’s dedication to not only her five children, including Shirlane and Diane “Lady Wonder” Hendrickson, but also her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, noting that geographical distance, some of them living in the US, never weakened her mother’s love and influence.

Shirlane recounted memories of her mother’s humour and encouragement, describing her as a woman who always pushed her children to pursue their dreams.

“She was a very funny lady, always pushing us. She made five children, but she made sure all of us pursued our dreams,” she said.

Wilma’s impact extended beyond her immediate family, touching cousins, friends, and extended family members who remembered her as a nurturing figure and trusted confidante, Shirlane said.

She highlighted her mother’s connection to local communities, from Williamsville to Chafford Courts, lamenting how she remained rooted in her culture and heritage while fostering enduring bonds with those around her.

“Mommy keeps telling us, ‘Pray in season and out of season. You have left footprints intelligently, not only in the cultural sense of time, but in all of our memories.”

Shirlane concluded with a message of enduring love and faith: “Mommy dearest, as you transition, we know you will be resting comfortably in God’s kingdom. We will all meet again and see your beautiful face. Until such time, see you then, Mommy. You are living well now. Go rest in peace.”

The tribute also celebrated Wilma’s partnership with her husband, veteran calypsonian Anthony “All Rounder” Hendrickson. Married for over 52 years, the couple shared not only a family but also a creative partnership, with Wilma co-writing songs and supporting All Rounder’s musical career every step of the way.

All Rounder said he found strength in God and encouraged all to “Walk on your own to God,” emphasising the importance of faith, perseverance, and personal integrity.

He recounted highlights from their life, including their 1960 marriage, spiritual experiences in 1985, and decades-long dedication to music. He also paid tribute to their children as he underscored lessons of humility, kindness, and generosity instilled by Hendrickson.

“Share, be humble, and be kind,” he urged, reflecting the values that guided both his personal and professional journey.

A burial at Western Cemetery in St James followed the service.

Star of Bethlehem shines brightly on St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando stage

A radiant blend of voices, movement and festive spirit filled the Dr Sister Phyllis Wharfe Auditorium on December 11, as St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando, staged its annual Christmas Song and Dance Interhouse Competition under the theme The Star of Bethlehem.

The year-end showcase was a spectacular celebration of music and dance, bringing together students from the five houses – St Joseph, St Xavier, Notre Dame, St Theresa and Blessed Ann Marie – in a spirited contest of talent, creativity and dedication. At the end of an exhilarating evening, Blessed Ann Marie House emerged the overall winners, dominating all three categories – song, dance and parang – and earning both the coveted trophy and well-deserved bragging rights.

More than just a competition, the event highlighted the discipline, passion and commitment of students who continue to shape their artistic identities through the performing arts. For the families who watched with pride and the performers who stood tall on stage, it was a night to remember – one that affirmed the school’s ongoing mission of nurturing well-rounded young women.

St Xavier infuses musical theatre and parang soca with Silent Night and De Sweetest Christmas Lime. –

What the audience witnessed was the culmination of two months of intense preparation, undertaken alongside end-of-term examinations. That dedication was evident in the polish of the performances, the confidence of the students and the joy that radiated from the stage.

One particularly remarkable aspect of the evening, as noted by master of ceremonies Michelle Dowrich, a retired teacher of the school, was the excellence of the dance performances. She pointed out that dance is not formally taught at the institution due to the absence of a wooden dance floor, yet the students rose to the challenge, choreographing and executing routines that were both imaginative and technically sound.

In the classical song category, the selections included We Three Kings by St Joseph, The First Noel by St Theresa, O Come All Ye Faithful by Blessed Ann Marie, Worship the King by Notre Dame, and O Come, O Come Emmanuel by St Xavier. Conducting duties were handled entirely in-house, with Faith Phillip of St Xavier House earning the award for Best Conductress.

The choirs’ commitment was evident, with hours of rehearsal paying off in performances that the judges described as pleasing, well-paced and dynamically engaging. One choir was singled out for excelling in balance, clarity of articulation and contrast, presenting a polished and accurate performance that showcased the colours of the vocal arrangement.

Blessed Ann Marie captivates with a vibrant soca and calypso Christmas mix featuring Black Cake and Sorrel and It’s Christmas, C’est Noël. – Yvonne Webb

In the dance category storytelling was done through movement and judges in this category emphasised clarity, execution and the importance of movement matching musical changes. “Dance is a language,” they noted, underscoring its role in storytelling and emotional expression.

Each house brought a distinctive flavour to the stage. St Joseph delivered an energetic mix including Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Carol of the Bells. St Theresa blended grace and rhythm with Little Drummer Boy and Sugar Plum Fairy. Blessed Ann Marie captivated with a vibrant soca and calypso Christmas mix featuring Black Cake and Sorrel and It’s Christmas, C’est Noël. Notre Dame offered a varied routine to tracks such as Christmas Means to Me and Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time, while St Xavier infused musical theatre and parang soca with Silent Night and De Sweetest Christmas Lime.

The parang category, judged by Dr Francesca Allard of Los Dinamicos Parang Group, was met with high praise. Allard remarked that “parang is in good hands,” noting significant improvements in quality, lead singing and overall presentation. She highlighted the joyous expressions of the performers, reminding the audience that “you cannot parang with a vex face.”

She applauded the costuming, harmonies and clarity of lyrics, offering minor technical notes regarding microphone use and adherence to traditional aguinaldo lyrics. Despite the challenges, judges agreed that every group brought heart, joy and reverence to the tradition.

Selections included Cantemos Con Alegría by St Joseph, Jesus La Razon by St Theresa, Cantando Gloria by Blessed Ann Marie, La Promesa by Notre Dame and La Dedicacion by St Xavier.

As the final notes faded and Blessed Ann Marie rejoiced, it was clear that the Star of Bethlehem had shone brightly on the St Joseph’s Convent stage, illuminating not only exceptional talent, but the enduring power of music, movement and youthful expression.

 

Venezuelan ambassador celebrates IVCC students

Álvaro Sánchez Cordero, the Venezuelan ambassador to TT, has underscored the importance of the Spanish language (Castellano) as a bridge for mutual understanding between English and Spanish speakers and for strengthening cultural ties.

He spoke on December 5 when a group of TT students from the Venezuelan Institute of Culture and Co-operation “Andres Bello” (IVCC) in Port of Spain graduated, having successfully completed the Spanish language and Venezuelan culture course.

At the ceremony held at the Venezuelan Embassy, Port of Spain, Cordero also stressed the relevance of the IVCC as a meeting place for cultures, values and shared knowledge between TT and neighbouring Venezuela.

For over 60 years, the institute has been teaching Spanish and Venezuelan culture, including its music, tradition and history.

In his address, Cordero congratulated the graduates for their perseverance, especially those who studied remotely or dedicated their weekends to learning.

The IVCC Rondalla, a musical group, pose with Venezuelan ambassador to TT , Álvaro Sánchez Cordero. – Photo courtesy Venezuelan Embassy in TT

“Thank you for studying with us at IVCC, for studying our language and our culture. You are now spokespeople for our message of peace and global solidarity, as well as worthy representatives of the historic and indelible brotherhood between Venezuela and TT,” the ambassador said in Spanish.

The ceremony featured presentations related to the academic programme of the Saturday Conversation Workshop, led by Prof Lisbeth Kong.

The students also shared their knowledge of culture, music and similarities between the two countries.

The Advanced Spanish Group, led by Prof Coromoto Fernández-Sirju, also gave a presentation, highlighting the group’s linguistic progress.

Students Jeselle Gajadhar and Dianne Persaud gave a special presentation.

The IVCC Rondalla, a musical group, under the guidance of Prof Geremías Mai Marcano, also entertained the gathering.

The group performed a Venezuelan Christmas repertoire, including Corre Caballito, Niño Criollo, Precioso Querube and Venezuela, among others.

On December 12, via its Facebook page, the embassy shared videos of the performance in a post titled The magic of our culture at the IVCC.

It added, “This performance reaffirmed the essence of the IVCC: a space where students from TT can experience, feel, and share the richness, brotherhood and festive spirit of Venezuelan culture.”

Days earlier, on December 9, the embassy shared photos on Facebook of students receiving their certificates at the graduation.

A post said, “This programme continues to strengthen cultural ties and promote meaningful exchange between both nations. Congratulations to all participants for their dedication and enthusiasm.”

Until 2015, IVCC classes were held in both San Fernando and Port of Spain.

A subsequent statement from the embassy announced that the programme at the San Fernando branch was postponed “for reasons of internal organisation adjustments and updates.”

 

Jaisarie family continues tradition of giving

The Jaisarie family from Princes Town continued its tradition of community outreach on December 13, hosting its annual Christmas treat for children at their family’s residence in Churkoo Village.

The event brought together children from all walks of life for an afternoon of food, gifts, and festive cheer, as families gathered to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.

Tents were pitched in the yard and decorated in green and red, colours associated with the festive season, creating a bright, warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Attorney Sherlana Jaisarie, who spearheads the annual initiative, told Newsday that her family remains committed to giving back to the community.

While children benefited from the initiative, the parents were also catered to.

Attorney Sherlana Jaisarie, centre , with other “helpers” at the Christmas treat. – Photo courtesy Sherlana Jaisarie

“We treated 150 children to McDonald’s Happy Meals, toys, treat bags and hot on-the-spot doubles to the attending parents,” Jaisarie said.

“It is a treat that we do annually as a way of giving back and sharing what the Lord Jesus has blessed us with.”

The event also drew support from many members of the community, including local government representative Shawn Premchand, who shared his experience in a Facebook post praising the family’s efforts and community spirit.

The councillor said he was honoured to attend the annual treat hosted by Jaisarie and her family.

“It was truly a heartwarming experience meeting and greeting the wonderful families of the community and especially seeing the joy and excitement on the faces of the children,” Premchand said.

Toys for distribution at the Christmas treat. – Photo courtesy Sherlana Jaisarie

He, too, shared that the children were treated to food and refreshments, toys, and various giveaways throughout the afternoon, “all spreading the true spirit of Christmas.”

“A special thank you to Sherlana for your hard work, generosity, and unwavering dedication to our community and our children during this festive season. Your efforts truly made a difference,” Premchand added.

The Jaisarie family’s Christmas Treat has become an anticipated annual event in the community, aimed at spreading goodwill and bringing joy to children and families during the holiday season.

 

Gaston Browne: Caricom major trade partner with Trinidad and Tobago

ANTIGUA and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said assertions by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that Caricom is an unreliable partner to TT are difficult to reconcile with the economic record, as TT earned over a billion dollars US from Caricom in 2024 alone.

He was responding to remarks by the Prime Minister where she called Caricom a “unreliable partner” and a “dysfunctional and self-destructive” organisation.

In a statement on December 21, Browne said, “TT earned more than US$1.1 billion ($7.5 billion) in foreign exchange from trade with Caricom, comprising approximately US$784.7 million ($5.3 billion) in domestic exports and US$501.3 million ($3.4 billion) in re-exports to Caricom states. Caricom was TT’s second-largest export market, exceeded only by the US.

“That trade has not been balanced. TT recorded the largest merchandise trade surplus within Caricom, and it remains the only member state to have maintained a net positive trade balance with the community consistently since the inception of Caricom in 1973.”

Browne said this outcome had been facilitated in part by the Common External Tariff, under which Caricom states, including Antigua and Barbuda, apply protective tariffs on extra-regional imports to support TT’s manufacturing sector.

“In 2024, Caricom countries collectively forwent approximately US$142.7 million ($968.6 million) in customs revenue as a result of sourcing goods from TT under CET protection, an economic sacrifice borne by Caribbean consumers in the spirit of regional solidarity.”

The 2024 Review of the Economy for TT said for the first nine months of fiscal 2024, TT recorded a balance of trade surplus of $4,915 million with Caricom countries over the nine-month period ending June 2024. It said TT’s exports to Caricom countries from October 2023 to June 2024 were $5,947.5 million.

Browne said TT’s response to crime was also supported by Caricom, as TT faces some of the highest levels of organised crime in the Caribbean.

“Regional co-operation through Caricom security mechanisms, intelligence sharing, and coordinated law-enforcement initiatives has been an essential pillar of the response. Antigua and Barbuda, like other member states, has consistently supported that collective security effort.”

He said the Caribbean Community is a partnership rooted in shared history, shared bloodlines, shared struggle for independence, and a shared determination that small states are stronger when they act together.

Browne said Antigua and Barbuda has never questioned the sovereign right of any Caricom nation to conduct its bilateral relations as it sees fit.

“Equally, no member should question the legitimacy of another Caricom state engaging responsibly, transparently, and respectfully with international partners, including the US, on matters that directly affect its citizens.”

He said Antigua and Barbuda categorically rejects the unsubstantiated assertion that its leaders have “bad-mouthed” the US, as stated by Persad-Bissessar.

“No evidence has been offered because none exists. On the contrary, Antigua and Barbuda maintains a record of close collaboration with the US, including constructive engagement on security matters, immigration, and consistent cooperation in multilateral fora such as the UN and the Organization of American States.

Browne said Antigua and Barbuda will continue to engage the US responsibly and transparently in full cooperation, while remaining fully committed to Caricom and to the dignity, sovereignty, and mutual respect that define Caribbean integration.

“Respectful dialogue with international partners is not subservience; nor is regional consultation disloyalty. That balanced approach has served our region well for decades. It should not now be diminished by rhetoric that divides where facts demonstrate the value of interdependence.”

Powder Magazine residents brace for violence again

RESIDENTS of Phase One, Powder Magazine, Cocorite, say they are once again living in fear, bracing for another shooting as criminal and illegal activity resurfaces around Building F and police patrols that once brought a sense of safety have significantly declined.

The community remains deeply traumatised by the May 4, 2024, mass shooting that left four people dead and eight others wounded, an incident residents say still haunts daily life.

More than a year later, they claim conditions are deteriorating, with loud, explicit music, alleged illegal occupancy and suspected criminal activity becoming increasingly visible, while police presence has faded.

That deadly shooting occurred around 11 pm when a dark-coloured car drove onto the compound, turned around and stopped near the entrance of Building F, where several people were liming.

Two men dressed in dark clothing exited the vehicle and opened fire indiscriminately before escaping. The victims were identified as Shaquille Ottley, 22: Antonio Jack, 57: Sadiki Ottley, 31, and Jonathan Osmond, 36, all residents of Phase One. Eight others were wounded in the hail of bullets.

When Newsday visited the community on December 21 around 9 am, loud music blared through the compound and nearby buildings, reverberating off concrete corridors.

A group of about 13 men gathered outside Building F. While some residents watched quietly from windows and balconies, many declined to speak on record, citing fear for their safety.

An elderly resident, who asked not to be identified, said she lives in constant anxiety and no longer feels safe even in her own home. She agreed to speak only from a location several buildings away from her apartment.

“The music is unbearable, and it plays from morning straight through the day. Most of it is explicit,” she said. “I call the police so many times, I just give up now.”

She said nights are the most frightening, and she avoids leaving her apartment altogether.

“In the evening the place does be cool, and I want to take a little walk around the buildings, but I’m afraid. I feel it’s only a matter of time before they shoot it up again,” she said.

Another resident, a mother of young children, said fear now dictates her family’s movements. She said she does not allow her children to visit neighbouring shops after 6 pm, and she herself feels unsafe even during the daytime.

She also alleges a ground-floor apartment in Building F is being illegally occupied and used as a base for criminal activity, a situation she believes has worsened in recent months.

“After last year’s shooting, the police were always around. You felt like someone was watching over the place,” she said. “There was peace and some sense of security. Now, you hardly see police patrols at all.”

She appealed directly to Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander to intervene, urging him to increase patrols and engage directly with residents.

“The young people in here not lost. They just need better role models and real attention,” she said. “The minister should come and walk and talk to the people, especially the young men. Bring the commissioner with him.”

Newsday also spoke with a group of young men at another building in Phase One. Initially hesitant, thinking the media were police, they declined to comment directly on alleged operations at Building F. However, they admitted gun violence is a constant concern.

“Anybody could just run in and shoot up the place,” one said quietly.

Despite their fear, they said they were unwilling to co-operate with police, claiming they feel ignored and distrustful of law enforcement and government authorities.

“Nobody doh care.”

Attempts to speak with additional residents were largely unsuccessful, as many chose not to engage. Loud, explicit music continued to fill corridors and courtyards. One resident, shaking his head, muttered, “Not even a little parang,” in reference to the persistent noise.

Following residents’ claims, Newsday contacted Housing Minister David Lee, who said he was unaware of the situation but would order an “immediate investigation” into the occupancy status of Building F.

He said he would also liaise with the Housing Development Corporation’s chairman and senior officials to determine whether apartments were being illegally occupied and whether enforcement action was required.

Newsday attempted to contact Snr Supt Sylvester Williams, who is responsible for the district, by phone and WhatsApp. Questions were posed regarding residents’ claims that police patrols have significantly decreased or ceased entirely.

Newsday also asked if police have received recent reports of illegal occupancy or drug activity at Building F and whether any long-term policing initiatives established after last year’s shooting remain active. Up to press time, there was no response.

Similar questions were sent to Alexander, including whether he has reviewed the security status of Powder Magazine and other residential “hot spots” since assuming office. He was asked how his ministry ensures sustained police presence after major crimes and what message he has for residents who say they feel abandoned by law enforcement.

Alexander initially sent five responses to Newsday’s inquiries but deleted the messages before they could be viewed. No further correspondence was received up to press time.

Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro was also contacted via WhatsApp and asked to provide data on the frequency of patrols in the Cocorite area compared with the immediate post-shooting period.

He was asked whether Building F has been flagged for intelligence-led operations and how the TTPS balances static policing in high-risk communities with broader deployment demands. As of press time, no responses were received.

As tensions rise and memories of the 2024 bloodbath remain fresh, residents of Phase One say they are desperate for visible action, not assurances.

US targets 'dark fleet' oil tanker near Venezuela

ON December 21, the US Coast Guard was reportedly chasing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, marking the second such operation this weekend and potentially the third in under two weeks if successful.

Several media houses, including Reuters, reported, citing US officials, that the guard was pursuing a sanctioned “dark fleet vessel” as part of efforts in what was described as “part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.”

At 4.51 pm on December 20, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the second seizure in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“In a pre-dawn action early this morning on December 20, the US Coast Guard, with the support of the Department of War, apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela,” the post said.

“The US will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you. Thank you to our brave men and women of the @USCG and @DeptofWar.”

In response, Venezuela condemned the second seizure in a statement posted on Telegram by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on the night of December 20.

“Venezuela categorically denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of another private vessel transporting Venezuelan oil, as well as the forced disappearance of its crew, perpetrated by US military personnel in international waters.”

The first seizure happened on December 10, in international waters, when US forces seized the large crude carrier, Skipper, off the Venezuelan coast.

Days later, on December 16, US President Donald Trump announced a blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. He added the US would not allow a “hostile regime to take our oil, land, or any other assets, all of which must be returned to the US, immediately.”

Condemning the second seizure, as it did with the first, the statement said: “This serious act of piracy is a flagrant violation of the crime stipulated in Article 3 of the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation.”

“It is also a gross violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the UN, Article 2 of the Geneva Convention on the High Seas, and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among states, and other applicable norms of international law.”

The statement said the “colonialist model” that the US government seeks to impose with these practices will fail and be defeated by the Venezuelan people.

“Venezuela will continue its economic growth, based on its 14 engines and the independent and sovereign development of its hydrocarbon industry,” it said.

“Venezuela reaffirms that these acts will not go unpunished and will take all corresponding actions, including filing complaints with the UN Security Council, other multilateral organisations, and the governments of the world.”

The statement concluded that international law would prevail, and those responsible for these serious crimes will answer to justice and history for their conduct.

The Nicolas Maduro-led administration has repeatedly accused the Trump administration of trying to overthrow his regime and seize control of Venezuela’s natural resources.

The US, however, has maintained that its military build-up in the Southern Caribbean is part of its fight against narco-terrorism.

At least 104 people have been killed in 28 strikes since early September in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has thrown her support behind Trump’s deadly fight against drugs by allowing the US military to access TT’s airports and install a radar system at the airport in Tobago.

Following the first fatal strike she said she had no sympathy for drug traffickers and that “the US military should kill them all violently.”

Calls for TTEC New East Side to be disqualified from small band finals

CALLS have been made for the disqualification of TTEC New East Side Dimension following the December 20 Panorama small conventional band semifinal, after the Tobago-based steelband was unable to perform in its drawn position of number five.

The band eventually performed in position number 19 after experiencing significant travel and accommodation challenges, arranger Kersh Ramsey told Newsday on December 21.

The decision sparked public outcry, with pan enthusiasts citing precedent. Valley Harps was previously disqualified from the medium band semifinals for failing to perform in its drawn position due to technical difficulties, while NLCB Fonclaire suffered a similar fate in a Panorama final after its instruments did not reach the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, in time for a number-one performance slot.

Some critics alleged preferential treatment, claiming the Tobago band was favoured because Ramsey is the nephew of Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore, insisting that “rules are rules.”

Ramsey-Moore did not respond to calls for comment. However, Ramsey said the band’s circumstances were exceptional and well documented in a letter to Pan Trinbago.

“The players had real issues getting to Trinidad, and when we got here, we had problems with hotel accommodation,” he explained.

“All of Friday went to waste. We could not practise. Some players arrived Saturday morning, others were placed on standby at the airport. Some people’s bags came by boat, but they couldn’t board because the vessel was already full. The captain said he was taking no more passengers.

“When those who travelled by plane arrived in Trinidad, their bags were still at the port, so they had nothing to bathe, change or even brush their teeth to go to practice. They had to wait for the boat to arrive.

“When we finally got to Cascadia Hotel, there were no rooms available for us, so we had to go to another hotel. Then we were told breakfast was not included, so we had to find breakfast on our own.”

Ramsey dismissed the public criticism, saying Pan Trinbago was fully aware of the challenges the band faced.

“People like to talk and make bacchanal. I’m not studying that. A still tongue keeps a wise head. I’ve noted the comments and reached the conclusion that if that’s your opinion, so be it. Once they don’t attack me physically, talk is cheap.

“They don’t know the issues. Pan Trinbago knows the issues. They apologised to the band and we have moved on from there. We know what we went through.”

Despite the setbacks, Ramsey said his focus remains on winning the competition.

“While other bands got to practice on Thursday and Friday, we were not afforded that luxury, yet the band still placed fourth in the semifinals,” he said.

TTEC New East Side Dimension amassed 272 points with Ramsey’s arrangement of Sparrow’s Water de Garden, maintaining its fourth-place ranking from the preliminary round. Having secured a spot in the finals at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on January 10, Ramsey said arrangements would now be put in place to prevent a recurrence of the issues encountered.

The competition at Victoria Square, Port of Spain, saw Southern Stars Steel Orchestra (D’South Band) and Uptown Fascinators Steel Orchestra maintain their lead positions in the small conventional band category.

Joint 2025 winners and defending champions Golden Hands Steel Orchestra significantly improved their standing, climbing from seventh place in the preliminaries to third in the semi-finals.

In a night filled with melodious steelpan performances, 31 bands competed for 14 available spots in the finals. However, due to multiple ties, 16 bands have now advanced.

A three-way tie for seventh place saw TT Defence Force Steel Orchestra, Fusion Steel Orchestra, and Alpha Pan Pioneers each score 268 points. TT Defence Force opened the competition with a Duvone Stewart arrangement of the late Merchant (Dennis Franklin Williams) 1882 calypso, Let Us Build A Nation Together. Fusion performed Signal for Lara, while Alpha Pan Pioneers selected Take Me Home. All three bands progressed to the finals.

Another tie occurred for 11th place between Arima Golden Symphony Steel Orchestra, which played Both of Dem, and Plymouth Bethesda Steel Sensation with Dance Floor, both securing final berths.

Road Block Steel Orchestra, West Star Steel Orchestra, and Tokyo Steel Orchestra also finished in a three-way tie for 13th place, remaining in contention for the small conventional band championship title.

The small conventional band finals will be held at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on January 10, 2026.

The 16 bands moving on to the small conventional band finals are:

Southern Stars Steel Orchestra (D’South Band)

Uptown Fascinators Steel Orchestra

Golden Hands Steel Orchestra

TTEC New East Side Dimension

Fascinators Pan Symphony

Tunapuna Tipica Steel Orchestra

TT Defence Force Steel Orchestra

Fusion Steel Orchestra

Alpha Pan Pioneers

First Citizens Tobago Pan-Thers Steel Orchestra

Arima Golden Symphony Steel Orchestra

Plymouth Bethesda Steel Sensation

Panasonic Connection Steel Orchestra

Road Block Steel Orchestra

West Stars Steel Orchestra

Tokyo Steel Orchestra

Padarath: Let Rowley stay in retirement

MINISTER of Public Utilities Barry Padarath told former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley to stay in retirement as the minister defended Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar over her “TT first policy.”

Persad-Bissessar has questioned some of Caricom’s traditional positions amid the US-Venezuela tensions, she recently dubbed Caricom an “unreliable partner” and “dysfunctional and self-destructive.” On December 20, she said, “The fact is that beneath the thin mask of unity, there are many widening fissures that if left unaddressed will lead to its implosion.

“The organisation is deteriorating rapidly due to poor management, lax accountability, factional divisions, destabilising policies, private conflicts between regional leaders and political parties and the inappropriate meddling in the domestic politics of member states.”

She had spoken after Caricom leaders, now known as the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government, called for engagement between the US, after President Donald Trump imposed restrictions on the entry into the US of people from Haiti, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda.

Rowley was livid in response in a statement he posted on Facebook on December 21, accusing Persad-Bissessar of subservience to the US.

“In all the years that I have lived during the entire life of this nation, 1962 to the present, I have never seen a more unpatriotic and recklessly incompetent leader than Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

“I have also never witnessed a more offensive statement about ourselves and our sovereign rights to agree or disagree on matters of concern to us and our wider interests and responsibilities. ”

‎‎He said for the PM to allegedly reduce TT to a vassal state, taking secret instructions from another country and issuing dire warnings to “behave ourselves” lest TT offends the US and lose our access to US visas was “to have torn up our Constitution” and declared the very idea of our existence as a nation was not worthy of defence or vision.

Rowley alleged withdrawal from pertinent Caricom issues was as close to being a dangerous fifth-columnist as TT could get.

“To wear the shame of that in the hope of reward and protection from the US is as feckless and ignorant as one can be.

“Our nation is now oblivious to history and the failings of others, to whom she now genuflects not in mutual respect but in obeisance and adoration.

‎‎He said the PM just won a special majority in a recent general election, and who now militarises TT’s islands yet refuses to come before the nation to tell us what she has agreed to in her dealings with US authorities, and who flatly refuses to stand before the local media to be questioned about her treacherous and defiant edicts.

“She even describes our urgent need to know as being ‘anti-American.’

“‎‎For the future of this country, we hope that this ends soon but it does not look too good.”

Padarath in reply declared, “Rowley should stay in retirement.”

Alleging Rowley had done nothing in his ten years as PM, Padarath said, “Watch a real leader in action.

“The government stands strongly with the honourable prime minister (Persad-Bissessar) on her comments.”

He said TT finally has a leader who was confronting the challenges TT uniquely faces in terms of national security and not sitting on the fence and just hoping for the best.

“Instead its about bold leadership, courageous decisions and strategic alliances.

“For ten years Rowley used Caricom as a boys club to advance his own personal, myopic selfish interest. Caricom was never meant to be a spineless, toothless talk-shop.

“We will not ignore the reality that the region continues to face with high incidents of gun trafficking, drug trafficking and human trafficking.

“Neither would we cajole tyranny and despotism.”

Persad-Bissessar, he said, was redefining TT’s foreign policy by decisive action to bring tangible benefits, most importantly in the spheres of national and economic security.

“Her comments are directly aligned to taking on the deep rooted problems that our nation is faced with after ten years of PNM incompetence and inaction.

“Regional solidarity is not defined by living in a utopia that the Caribbean is a zone of peace.”

Padarath said the PM is drawing the lines in the sand in terms of where TT stands.

“Therefore we are fully in support of her position of TT first.”

Man’s burnt remains found in Reform Village

DAYS after the bullet-riddled body of a man was found in Reform Village, in the Ste Madeleine Police District, the body of another murder victim was found over the weekend, near the same spot.

The police said around 5 am on December 21, officers from the Southern Division were alerted to a report of a burnt body found at Railway Road, off Reform Road in Reform Village.

On arrival, they saw a car of unknown make, model and registration number completely burnt.

The severely burnt remains of a man were found lying on the road, about two feet away from the burnt car.

The victim appeared to be a man of African descent, about five feet six inches tall.

The upper body was completely burnt, making John Doe difficult to identify.

The DMO, Dr Rajnarinesingh, viewed the remains and ordered the removal to the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital for safekeeping, pending an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

Officers from the Gasparillo and Ste Madeleine police stations, along with the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), Region Three, including Insp Maharaj, W/Sgt Chance, Sgts Smith and Dhunkarie, visited the scene.

W/Cpls Harnarinesingh and Dyer-Baptiste, together with PCs Dyeth, Noel, Bhola, Mohammed, and WPCs Simon and Knights, also visited and gathered evidence.

Harnarinesingh is leading the investigation.

This is the second murder victim found in the normally quiet community within days.

On the night of December 16, a man’s body with gunshot wounds was found in the middle of Reform Road.

Anyone with information on the murders is urged to call the HBI at 652-0495, the Ste Madeleine Police Station at 653-1023 or the nearest police station.

People can also call the police at 555, 999 or Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS (8477).

$100 for fireworks permit, $450 fine for offence

APPLYING for a fireworks permit will cost $100, while committing an offence under the Summary Offences (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act No. 13 of 2025) will incur a $450 fine.

The Summary Offences (Fireworks) Regulations, 2025 details the procedures for applying for fireworks permits, the granting of fireworks permits and the issuing of fixed penalty notices (or tickets) for fireworks offences. The Summary Offences (Fixed Penalty) Order, 2025 (Legal Notice No 467 of 2025) prescribe a $450 fine for fireworks offences.

As of December 19, 2025, it became a fixed penalty (or ticketable offence) to discharge fireworks without a permit issued by the Commissioner of Police, except on a public holiday from 8-9 pm and on December 31 between 11.30 pm and 12.30 am of the next day.

It also became an offence to discharge fireworks within a half mile radius of a public hospital. a private hospital, an airport, a zoo, a registered animal shelter, a farm where animals are reared, a forest reserve or a national park. Private hospitals include nursing homes and homes for the elderly.

The regulations say the application fee for a fireworks permit is $100. People who want to get a fireworks licence must submit an application to the commissioner of police using the approved form on the Police Service website. The permit would not be transferable. Up to the morning of December 21, this form was not found on the website. Before refusing an application for a fireworks permit, the commissioner of police must give the applicant notice of his reasons and at least 14 days to submit written representation.

They said applicants must be 18 years of age or a corporate body; satisfactory arrangements must be made with a suitably trained pyrotechnician; and suitable arrangements must be made for an emergency medical technician to be present during the discharge of the fireworks.

The regulations said the applicant must be able to comply with the act, the regulations and terms and conditions of the permit, including the safety measures specified, and the requirement to give 14 days prior notice to the fire service, the Environmental Management Authority, Civil Aviation Authority and the municipal corporation responsible for the municipality in which the fireworks are to be discharged.

Before the current amendment, anyone who discharged a firework on a street outside a town or in a place within 60 feet of the centre of a street could be fined $400. Anyone who discharged fireworks in a town outside the previous regulations could be fined $1,000.