Tobago Channel 5, 65-67 Signal Hill Road, Signal Hill, Scarborough (2026)

04/06/2026

The call for a nationwide shutdown on Friday continues as social activist and organiser Alyssa Phillip urges citizens to let their voices be heard in a peaceful manner. The event marks the 18th instalment in the "19 Bullets, 19 Protests" campaign, which was initially launched to demand justice for Joshua Samaroo and Kaia Sealy. Phillip advised, "This is a call for the nation of T&T to stay home from work, to close down business places and to really show what grieves you the most within our country."

Distancing herself from claims that the justice call has taken on a political face, Phillip denied that her ire is being directed at politicians, including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She stressed that the initiative focuses on individuals taking time out to address what has angered them "not just in the past year, but in the past 11 years and even years before that." Phillip cited the longstanding unsolved matter of Akiel Chambers and several other police-involved shootings as core motivations for the demonstration.

Hoping that at least 201 people will heed the call to remain home, Phillip expressed frustration that while many citizens claim to be fed up with national issues, they often refuse to act. Despite past attempts by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to arrest her and disrupt the campaign, the activist maintained her innocence regarding any non-peaceful activity, vowing to remain vocal and continue demanding that officers be held accountable.

The shutdown, scheduled for Friday, June 5th, 2026, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm under the banner "WE STAY HOME", has also received endorsement from Umar Abdullah, the founder and leader of the First Wave Movement. Abdullah appealed to trade unions to lead a total shutdown of the country as a decisive act of resistance to protect sovereignty and preserve democracy, stating, "If the Government silences our voices in the streets, then we will silence the engines of their economy."

04/06/2026

The relatives of two-year-old Angelo Tobias-Plaza are organising a memorial service in Tobago as they continue to mourn his suspected death. A cousin of the child's mother, Kalifah Tobias, confirmed that a date for the service is yet to be finalised.

Angelo was reported missing from his Cambridge Trace, Goodwood home on 11 May. Despite extensive searches spanning land and sea by various state agencies and volunteers, the toddler's body has not been recovered. Police have confirmed that active searches have been called off unless new information surfaces.

The child's stepfather, 24-year-old Shannon Miller, has been charged with murder and remains remanded in custody. He is scheduled to reappear in court on 30 November. Tobias was also detained during the initial investigation but was subsequently released on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Speaking on the mother's well-being, her cousin stated that the young mother is "trying her best to cope with the loss of her son." The family is reportedly rallying behind Tobias to ensure she receives adequate support. Following intense public scrutiny and online threats, Tobias has deactivated her page and has not returned to her Cambridge Trace home since her release.

The tragic incident has sparked national outrage. Goodwood villagers have already held vigils, a peace walk, and an inter-faith service, which was attended by several members of the Executive Council. During a Tobago House of Assembly plenary sitting focused on child protection, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine called on Tobagonians to "look in the mirror" and take a vested interest in their communities by speaking up against wrongdoing.

A candlelight vigil calling for justice for Angelo is scheduled to take place in Port-of-Spain at 6:00 pm this Sunday.

04/06/2026

A parish priest in St James is being commended for his brave actions after confronting an intruder and preventing the theft of a sacred tabernacle during an early morning break-in.

Fr Emmanuel Pierre of St Mary’s RC Church, Mucurapo, discovered the burglary at approximately 5:00 am yesterday. Upon investigating a disturbance in the sacristy, which had been thoroughly ransacked, the priest came face-to-face with a suspect dressed in white overalls.

Fr Pierre recounted the moment he turned on the lights to confront the suspect, stating, "So I shouted loudly, ‘I caught you!’ and he sped quickly to the door to escape."

The unexpected confrontation forced the intruder to drop the church’s heavy tabernacle near the entrance before fleeing. Whilst the tabernacle was saved, the suspect and an accomplice managed to escape on foot with two monstrances—sacred vessels used in the Roman Catholic Church to display the consecrated Eucharist for adoration.

According to reports, the intruder gained entry to the building by prising open a side door located near the compound of the St James Medical Complex, where a waiting vehicle was parked for the escape.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain expressed deep concern over the incident, noting that the significant loss occurs just days before the major religious celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. In an official statement via social media, the Archdiocese stated, "We continue to pray for the crime situation in T&T."

Reflecting on the dangerous encounter, Fr Pierre maintained that he did not panic during the incident, remarking, "I was surprised, but fear didn’t come into me ... there was no fear."

The local police authorities have been alerted and investigations into the break-in are currently ongoing.

04/06/2026

Former National Security Minister Jack Warner has fiercely criticised the recently implemented no-protest zones, branding them a dangerous attempt to "muzzle" the population.

Speaking in a television interview, the former government minister openly challenged the state policies, warning that denying citizens a democratic avenue to demonstrate could lead to destructive consequences. The controversial regulations, introduced under State of Emergency guidelines, prohibit public demonstrations within 500 metres of 15 designated State institutions.

Warner maintained that public protest is a foundational element of democracy, noting that the political directorate itself came into power off the back of public demonstrations. He drew parallels to historical civil actions, stating that attempts to stifle public expression would ultimately fail because "people are hurting and they have to find ways to express themselves."

The former minister also expressed astonishment at the heavy police response deployed during a recent majority-female-led demonstration near the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The demonstration, sparked by the police shooting of Joshua Samaroo and subsequent charges against Kaia Sealy, resulted in the arrests of organiser Alyssa Phillip, Camille Caresquero, and blogger Jason Da Silva. Warner questioned the impact of such armed responses on the international image of the country and its tourism sector, stating he was "amazed and still amazed" by the scale of law enforcement presence used against approximately 100 women.

The no-protest regulations continue to face intense scrutiny, with the Opposition and a coalition of trade unions actively calling for the immediate rescission of the policy.

04/06/2026

Former Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has called on the Government to proclaim the remaining sections of the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act. This appeal follows the State's recent success before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which Al-Rawi described as a victory that could significantly strengthen the fight against organised crime and corruption.

Al-Rawi also urged Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro to utilise the legislation "with utmost vigour" when pursuing unexplained wealth and criminal assets. He criticised the Opposition United National Congress administration for its silence on the significance of the recent judgment.

According to Al-Rawi, the legislation will assist authorities in examining long-standing allegations of corruption across multiple sectors, including the Licensing Division, Immigration Division, Customs and Excise Division, and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. He stressed that the law was never intended to target politicians alone, stating that "the allegation is that there are multiple people involved."

The legislation allows authorities to pursue individuals whose wealth appears disproportionate to their known lawful income without first obtaining a criminal conviction. Responding to suggestions that only two cases have reached the courts, Al-Rawi clarified that these were deliberately selected as test cases to prove the constitutionality of the law.

With the Privy Council upholding the law, Al-Rawi stated it has "proven to be 100% in order." He noted that the legislation complements property tax reforms, land registry digitisation, and the proposed Revenue Authority to prevent individuals from concealing illicit wealth. The Ministry of the Attorney General stated a response regarding the timeline for the remaining sections would be provided at a later date.

04/06/2026

A thirty-five-year-old Venezuelan national has succumbed to her injuries following a fatal collision involving an unlicensed electric scooter and a suspected drunk driver in Cunupia.

The victim, identified as Rusimine Riaz of Mon Plasir Road, Cunupia, was returning home from a night shift at around 2:00 am on Monday when a white Nissan Wingroad struck her near the Jerningham Road Junction. Riaz, who worked at a food cart along Rodney Road in Endeavour, suffered catastrophic head and spinal injuries in the crash. The driver stopped at the scene and admitted to police officers that he had consumed alcohol, responding, "Yes sir I drink." Subsequent breathalyser testing confirmed the driver was operating the vehicle well above the legal limit, leading to his immediate detention.

Following the tragic incident, law enforcement officials reminded the public that operating unregistered electric scooters on the nation's pathways remains illegal. Angie Ramnarine, Head of La Romaine Migrant Support (LARMS), urged the migrant community to adhere strictly to local transit laws whilst simultaneously calling for legislative reform.

Ramnarine noted that while many migrants rely on affordable e-scooters for transport, safety and legal compliance must come first. "People have to obey the law as well. As they say, ignorance of the law is no excuse," she stated during an interview. She added that there needs to be greater awareness of the regulations, "especially in terms of safety. And it is an unfortunate situation where a migrant was negatively impacted, even as she was illegally using a scooter."

LARMS has appealed to the government to "soften" current regulations to allow migrants access to Trinidad and Tobago driver's licences. This advocacy follows a March 17 directive from the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, which reiterated that operating unregistered e-scooters or motorcycles without a valid permit constitutes a serious offence under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.

04/06/2026

Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen has firmly defended the National Programme for the Upkeep of Public Spaces (NPUPS), refuting persistent claims that the newly implemented initiative employs "ghost gangs".

Speaking at a constituency event in St Augustine, the Minister emphasised that the 1,600 workers deployed across 14 corporations are actively producing visible results on the ground. "I don’t run ghost gangs. The numbers might be small. But there are actual people working," Ameen stated, adding that worker productivity and corporate performance remain under continuous review to bring structure to governance.

The NPUPS initiative, which provides three-month contracts paying slightly over $200 per day, was launched nationwide following the cessation of the previous CEPEP and URP programmes in Trinidad. The ministry is currently exploring options to expand the scheme into further rural areas, such as Blanchisseuse and Matelot, following the upcoming October budget reading.

However, local government representatives have expressed mixed reactions regarding the efficacy and scale of the new workforce. Critics, including San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation Deputy Chairman Kwesi Antoine and Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi, argued that the drastically reduced manpower leaves communities unkempt ahead of the rainy season and fails to provide sustainable, long-term employment or pension benefits.

Conversely, Siparia Mayor Doodnath Mayrhoo praised the initiative as "a wonderful programme" that has successfully brought structure and cleanliness to local schools and recreational grounds, contrasting its financial efficiency and accountability with past arrangements.

The initiative remains focused on addressing immediate municipal upkeep needs while long-term structural solutions are developed across regional communities.

04/06/2026

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04/06/2026

In a significant development amid the ongoing public transport disruption, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has pledged that the Government will assist striking maxi taxi drivers "in any way possible." Describing the operators as decent, hardworking citizens, the Prime Minister expressed strong sympathy for their plight during an interview with Guardian Media.

The three-day protest action, which has seen widespread participation across Trinidad, stems from long-standing concerns voiced by operators. Key grievances include speed limits, escalating crime rates, illegal "PH" taxi operations, National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions, and a critical need for upgrades to transit hubs and terminals.

Addressing these demands, the Prime Minister noted that while some complaints are "legitimate" and can be resolved easily, others are more complex and may require additional collaborative effort. Transport Minister Zakour has reportedly been actively reviewing these issues for some time. Persad-Bissessar has strongly encouraged operators to resume dialogue and keep engaging with Minister Zakour now the three-day strike has concluded.

To alleviate the pressure on stranded commuters, the Government has implemented emergency transport measures. The Priority Bus Route (PBR) remains open to light motor vehicles, and national security vehicles have been placed on standby to assist with passenger transport. Furthermore, the Prime Minister publicly commended the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) for showing immense compassion and actively assisting citizens during the island-wide protest, stating their actions perfectly mirrored the official motto "To Protect and Serve."

04/06/2026

A grieving father has launched legal action against the Office of the Commissioner of Police, seeking answers regarding the controversial fatal shooting of his son by law enforcement officers in Moruga last year.

Sonah Lochan filed a judicial review claim after the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) denied his requests for crucial information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). High Court Judge Kevin Ramcharan has already granted leave for the lawsuit to proceed, clearing the way for a full legal challenge against the state.

The case stems from an incident on 25 April 2025 in St Mary's Village, Moruga, where Visham Singh and Shumba James were killed when officers opened fire on their vehicle. While police claimed they were returning fire after being shot at, the operation attracted significant public scrutiny. James was notably a key witness in a high-profile 2011 police killing case where six officers were ultimately acquitted in 2023. Media reports also surfaced alleging that police officers had threatened James weeks before the fatal encounter.

Lochan's legal team argues that the TTPS failed to properly consider public interest factors before withholding CCTV footage, witness statements, and photographs. The police service previously stated that disclosing the items could "prejudice the ongoing investigation."

The family remains deeply concerned over the lack of transparency, questioning whether a firearm was actually recovered from the vehicle and why Singh's home was never searched following the incident. The lawsuit contends that access to this information is vital to determine whether further legal action should be pursued over Singh's death.

The matter is scheduled to return to court for case management on 4 September, as the family continues its legal battle for accountability in one of last year's most controversial police-involved shootings.

Tobago Channel 5

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