NEWS
Port of Spain prison to be decommissioned after 268 years
The Port of Spain Prison will be decommissioned and prisoners transferred to the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) in Arouca, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander said. The announcement came during a post-cabinet media briefing on September 4. "The Port of Spain Prison was built in 1757 at a time when the prisons were referred to as a 'holding pen' long before light bulbs were even invented. Today, after 268 years later, the United National Congress government, led by the Honourable Prime Minister Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar has taken the historical decision to decommission the Port of Spain Prison." Read more here
Palestinian Ambassador arrives in T&T
Dr Linda Sobeh Ali, Ambassador Designate of the State of Palestine to T&T, presented her credentials to President Christine Kangaloo today at The President’s House. Following the ceremony, Dr Ali met with Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Saddam Hosein, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers, and Permanent Secretary Randall Karim. T&T formally recognised the State of Palestine on May 2, 2024, under the former PNM administration and established diplomatic relations in September 2024. The move reinforced this country’s support for a two-state solution and its longstanding advocacy for Palestinian rights at the United Nations. Officials said the establishment of diplomatic ties reflects Trinidad and Tobago’s ongoing commitment to international peace, security, and humanitarian principles. The Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs described the ambassador’s arrival as “a momentous occasion” as they officially welcomed the new Ambassador. Read more here
POLITICS
Minister: Children will be treated as law says...Non-lethal weapons for school cops
Government is making moves to introduce police officers in schools across the nation. However the police officers would not be armed with guns, but non-lethal weapons to ensure the security and safety of the students. The move was announced by Minister of Education Dr Michael Dowlath at the post-cabinet media conference at the Diplomatic Centre in Port of Spain on September 4. Dowlath said the initiative was spearheaded by the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Homeland Security. Read more here
Defence Minister defends US strike off Venezuela
Amid criticism of the US military’s handling of its strike on an alleged drug-carrying vessel off Venezuela on Tuesday, the Defence Minister says the North American nation is free to conduct its ‘war’ as it sees fit. And Wayne Sturge yesterday suggested that if the US succeeds in its campaign, this country’s murder rate could fall below 100 before the end of the United National Congress’ (UNC) term. Read more here
BUSINESS
PwC, cybersecurity expert collaborate for regional stock exchange
Top accounting firm PwC is partnering with cybersecurity researcher and practitioner Dr Dustin Fraser to conduct a feasibility study on the creation of a regional stock exchange for Caricom states. PwC announced the move in a media release on September 4. The release said Dr Fraser’s role was pivotal given his career in IT, risk management, information security and compliance leadership across several sectors. Dr Fraser is currently serving as acting chief compliance officer for Matrix Applications LLC, a New York-based fintech service bureau. Read more here
Brydens purchases 50% share in Armstrong Agencies
Local distributor AS Bryden & Sons Holdings Ltd (ASBH) has announced that it has purchased a 50% interest in Armstrong Agencies Ltd (AAL) in Barbados, creating a partnership between the two companies. This transaction was carried out through ASBH’s subsidiary in Barbados, Retail Acquisition Company Ltd (RACL), which also owns Stansfeld Scott (Barbados) Ltd. “In the transaction, RACL is both injecting additional capital into AAL to support future growth and purchasing shares from its existing shareholders,” AS Bryden stated in a release earlier this week. Armstrong Agencies Ltd is a premier Barbadian distributor representing global brands across the food, beverage, confectionery, personal care, and pharmaceutical sectors. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘A landslide by any standard’
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, using statistics, has shown how his party strengthened its grip in Guyana’s most populous region, picking up more than 6,000 additional votes in Region Four. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, the General Secretary said that across all of Guyana’s 10 administrative regions, both international and local observers confirmed that the polls were, free, fair, and peaceful. “Every international observer group that has witnessed the polls in Guyana have concluded that elections were peaceful and free and fair. The process they concluded was a transparent one although cumbersome in the count, but they recognise that was because of the thoroughness of the process. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Putin rejects Western security in Ukraine, warning troops would be target
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Western proposals for a "reassurance force" in Ukraine the day after any ceasefire comes into place, following a Paris summit aimed at finalising plans for security guarantees. French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 of Ukraine's allies had formally committed to deploying troops "by land, sea or air" to help provide security the moment fighting was brought to a halt. He did not detail any of the countries involved. Putin sought to quash the allies' initiative, with a warning that any troops deployed to Ukraine would be "legitimate targets", especially if they appeared now, even though there are no plans for an immediate deployment. Read more here
5th September 2025