Rowley's government signed SOFA on Dec 10, 2024.

Accustomed to signing symbolic agreements, successive T&T governments may never have expected the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to actually take effect. Introduced in 2007, ratified in 2013, and repeatedly renewed since, the latest version, signed on December 10, 2024, removed its expiration date altogether.

The U.S. Embassy, not the T&T Government, disclosed this amendment, reportedly catching former Prime Minister Dr. Rowley off guard. When a report suggested SOFA could permit U.S. troop deployment amid tensions in Venezuela, Rowley angrily denied that T&T would serve as a foreign military platform. Yet, U.S. personnel are already present under SOFA, which grants them sweeping privileges and immunity, effectively placing them under U.S. rather than local law.

That puts the former government in a precarious position, simultaneously aligning with Washington while courting Caracas. Regardless of denials, SOFA makes T&T a logistical extension of the U.S. military, exempting American forces from local taxes, duties, and jurisdiction.

The time for ambiguity has passed. Prime Minister Kamla must now be transparent with citizens about the full implications of SOFA and what it truly means for Trinidad and Tobago’s sovereignty and security, since Rowley is clueless!!!!!!

Sarge

The idiot's government signed a document, and he is clueless about it, with his comments.

Editorial

The stupidity of Keith Rowley.

THE INVITATION issued on behalf of Keith Rowley ahead of his November 17 media conference at his home in Diego Martin opened most unusually.“The Office of the Former Prime Minister cordially invites members of the public and media to a press briefing,” it said.If you’ve never heard of the “Office of the Former Prime Minister,” you are not alone. It doesn’t exist. Under the Constitution there is just a prime minister and an opposition leader. As a private citizen, Dr Rowley is free to employ staff. But the uppercase “O” was a dismaying misnomer.

For, it signals the former PNM leader’s resolve to institutionalise his post-retirement penchant for weighing in, solicited or not, in public discourse.Notably, Dr Rowley has called press conferences at his residence on November 17, October 10 and July 21, in addition to his frequent Facebook posts, one of which began with the unconvincing claim, “I have been trying very hard to stay out.”

Messaging was not the former prime minister’s forte. But he seems unwilling to let it become Ms Beckles’ forte, too. His constant interventions hinder her ability to define a new approach to speaking with the public in the wake of April 28. That speaks volumes about Dr Rowley’s political judgement or lack thereof. Moreover, it mars his overall governance legacy.Former US presidents like Barack Obama nowadays stay engaged in public life. Kamla Persad-Bissessar was boisterous after she was voted out in 2015. But Mr Obama is the exception, not the norm. And Ms Persad-Bissessar was opposition leader. Dr Rowley is not. He should let Ms Beckles do her job.

Here is Rowley's comments...

It shows how clueless he was when in the position of PM for a decade.😡

Rowley, stfu....

SOFA....

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT

Trinidad and Tobago has an updated Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States, which came into effect on January 1, 2025. The new SOFA, signed in 2024, allows for military-to-military engagement and troop deployment. It updates the 2007 agreement to align with current U.S. and T&T laws, clarifies that U.S. law enforcement officers can carry firearms and wear their uniforms in T&T, and grants U.S. military commanders the authority to discipline their personnel deployed in the country. 

 Introduced in 2007, ratified in 2013, and repeatedly renewed since, the latest version, signed on December 10, 2024, removed its expiration date altogether.

Key aspects of the agreement

• Military-to-military engagement: The agreement facilitates cooperation between the military forces of both countries, including the deployment of U.S. advisory and logistical personnel.
• Troop deployment: It allows for U.S. troops to be stationed in Trinidad and Tobago and for U.S. military personnel to deploy there in response to natural disasters.
• Legal and disciplinary authority: The SOFA grants U.S. commanders the authority to discipline their own servicemen and requires the Trinidad and Tobago government to waive its right to exercise criminal and civil jurisdiction over U.S. personnel for alleged crimes.
• Immunity for civilians: Civilian employees of the Department of Defence, as well as military personnel, are also eligible for immunities under the agreement, although it does not cover civilian contractors.
• Logistics: It provides for U.S. military vessels, vehicles, and aircraft to be waived from certain fees at ports and airports. U.S. military personnel are permitted to move throughout the country, in uniform and armed, subject to restrictions from the T&T government.
• Disputes: Disputes will be resolved through consultations between the two parties, rather than third-party adjudication. 

Questions

What are the differences between law-enforcement activities vs military intervention?

What is the difference between military defence of a "homeland" vs an unprovoked invasion of a sovereign state?

"Everyone's talking about crime but tell me who are the real criminals" Peter Tosh Equal Rights.

Calling people stupid, who's the real...

@sgtdjones

""the stupidity of Keith Rowley",you couldn't describe him better.Anyway soon after he lost the elections this MB was in tears because KPB and her UNC brushed the PNM aside.I pointed out that SOFA deal to them but nobody seem to care they just keep running dey mouth about KPB,that is all they were vex about,they wanted bull head Rowley,they will understand in 5 years time.They like a man who can empty the Treasurey just like Eric and his gang did some years ago.Thanks for your post.

@granite

the stupidity of Keith Rowley",you couldn't describe him better.

Always quick to call people stupid. Even their paid trolls who can barely put together an intelligible sentence flood social media wth this narrative of perceived intellectual superiority.

I wonder what the basis is for this?

a man who can empty the Treasurey

Empty the treasury? ... You UNC cult members love to project, distort and deceive.

Notwithstanding soaring oil and gas prices, In 2010 the UNC/PP met a surplus in cash balance at the Treasury of $6.5BN and left a deficit of 8.5BN in 2015

Can you imagine if they had to deal with 2020 oil prces and a pandemic?

I don't even know how you all can unashamedly defend a group of corrupt kleprtomaniacs, many of whom are either before the courts or have been prosecuted. Even their appointed speaker of the house has served time for corruption.

@notinsular

Imbert say the 2.6 billion was a computer mistake.I am no "cult member"I started showing interest when I read about all those crimes and home invasions not forgetting kidnapping,what I found revolting was Rowley mocking people who complained about crimes in Trinidad.I would have given some thought of coming back to TT ,now though, I won't take the chance.At the moment the Opposition is a mess Beckles is not fit to lead anybody let alone the Opposition.

After 55 years in England I had lost interest in everything apart from their football,apparantly TTFA can't even run TTs football,plenty illegal moves until FIFA shut dem dong for5years,government give China to run the Pitch lake,Rowley nearly sell the Refinery,tell me man, what could your Trini rulers do apart from emptying the Treasury, for over 50 years PNM rule and look at Laventille and many other parts of TT,no jobs no proper homes,schools rotting and falling to pieces,I can go on but I done,The UNC are fixing all the mistakes made by 10 years of Rowley rule.Let's see how tings go for the people of Trinidad sake .

@granite

Imbert say the 2.6 billion was a computer mistake

Are you that gullible to repeat the debunked campaign lie that "Imbert and dem tief 2.6 billion" ..Really?!

You think there is some vault that a minister can go in, Tom Cruise style and pull out 2.6 billion dollars?

You don't think that after all this time in office Kamla and co wouldn't have hauled the "criminals" before the courts?

This was in fact an error made by and subsequently identified by accountants at the central bank in 2023.

This occurerd whie implementing a new IT system. As soon as UNC won the election, all talk about missing 2.6 B disappeared, except from the online sycophants who ran with the lie. No investigations, no arrests. The auditor general ( a relative of UNC official) withdrew her complaint.

The propaganda machinery really knows how to control the sheep!

@notinsular

No mate I don't think that something massively went wrong with any ministers but the fact remains they were unable to say what happened,don't you think the people want to know.Trinidad is regarded as one of the countries with a lot of educated people in the Caribbean,why is it not possible to explain,that is a joke.I can assure you if that happened under the UNC rule Police wudda been involved,they would have locked up everybody and half the population would have been in uproar.You have to admit that Rowley is exactly how ex PM Patrick Manning described him.He wasn't suited to be a PM and also some of his so called Ministers were useless,Hinds,AlRawi,Imbert and Camille Regis Robinson shouldn't be in politics.I hope TT recovers from almost 50 years of PNM mis-management,the last 10 of Rowley was the worst.I believe the UNC will win the next electionbecause they PNM look and sound lame.The UNC will become better and their secret weapon is Mr.Sean Sobers,he will be the next PM of TT ,he looks like one and sounds like one.I wish you and all Trinis a Happy XMas and a great New Year. Respect

@granite

You see why Ignore Posters...

SOFA was introduced in 2007, ratified in 2013, and repeatedly renewed since; the latest version, signed on December 10, 2024, by the Rowley Government, removed its expiration date altogether.

Introduced by Manning, then UNC, then Rowley.

Rowley was head of T&T National Security when he was PM....Rowley called a press conference at his residence on November 17, 2025, denying SOFA and its terms and conditions.... How did he not know of such as the Head of National Security for over a decade?

See my notation of why he is stupid!!!!!

Here comes the US Embassy with an explanation:

The U.S. Embassy, not the T&T Government, disclosed this amendment, reportedly catching former Prime Minister Dr. Rowley off guard. When a report suggested SOFA could permit U.S. troop deployment amid tensions in Venezuela, Rowley angrily denied that T&T would serve as a foreign military platform. Yet, U.S. personnel are already present under SOFA in T&T, which grants them sweeping privileges and immunity, effectively placing them under U.S. rather than local law.

He is calling press conferences as the Office of the Ex-PM... such a title does not exist.

Now the auditor general notices an error in the fiscal statement: a $2 billion-plus error. She was terrorized by the finance minister for not signing the fiscal statement.

She was denied an audit at the Central Bank, where it was explained such occurred. It went to the Privy Council, and it was embarrassing, the comments by the Law Lords and Dames.

What was the Rowley government trying to hide? The present government recently gave her permission to audit the Central Bank.

Soon we shall see her comments.

Sarge

@sgtdjones

Now the auditor general notices an error in the fiscal statement: a $2 billion-plus error. She was terrorized by the finance minister for not signing the fiscal statement.

Oh gosh a do a modicum of research and speak the truth for once nah Jeez!

it is now well established that an accounting error was made by officials at the Central Bank on February 8, 2023, because of a failure of software associated with a new electronic cheque clearing system introduced by the Central Bank in 2023.

This error found its way into the public accounts when they were submitted to the Auditor General in January 2024.

Again, for the avoidance of doubt, this accounting error was not discovered by the Auditor General’s office.

Instead, it was discovered by personnel in the Budget Division doing their usual year-end review of the fiscal outturn for 2023, after the accounts were submitted to the Auditor General.

The grunts at central bank communicated the errror to the auditor general and tried to have her submit a revised report that reflected the error. She refused to do so. They pleaded with the line miister (Imbert) to try and persuade the Audiror General to correct the record. He attempted to do so, even though he didn't need to get involved at all. Again she refused and that's where the back an forth between the 2 ensued and the whole thing became political and went all the way to the prive council,

But let me go through some of the gory details:

The actual error was a stupid one that, IMHO the operations people at central bank should have been shown the door.

Implementing the new online cheque clearing system required the transfer of data from a legacy database (most likely COBOL based) to an Excel-based analysis and reporting suite. Problem was that, in a particular instance the data storage formats of the two applications involved were different , and required the division of dollar amounts in the source database by 100 during data transfer. This was not done.

AS a result  tax refunds had been overstated by the Central Bank on February 8, 2023 by a factor of 100, ie, $26 million in refunds was incorrectly posted as $2.6 billion in refunds,

I could understand this perhaps being overlooked during initial testing of the new application, but how on earth such an error could persist through to a final implementation is ludicrous. The CIO and operations team at the CB should have been out job hunting immedialtely after this!!

This issue was ventilated in the press, but of course it's not as "sexy" as the political brouhaha with Imbert and the AG and so was relegated to page 5 type analyses.

Bottom line there was no "missing" $2.6B in the sense that anything was stolen or hidden.