T&T Parliamentary Opposition...sigh
Al‑Rawi wonders why Alexander needs a US list to ID drug suspects, because apparently we’re supposed to run our security state on psychic vibes now. He acknowledged that sharing intel with the US is “routine,” and then, in the same breath, pretended it’s scandalous that the government might not already have an identical list lying around courtesy of its own networks. Shocking that national security could possibly involve… coordination.
“Oh look,” the intelligence reportedly said, “your party met gang leaders at a hotel in T&T and tried to cut a deal.” The deal, unsurprisingly, did not go as planned: Trinidad and Tobago ended up with the enviable ranking of fourth in murders per capita. Only sixth in crimes per, well, never mind the math. The subtext here is priceless: maybe the current government didn’t trust the mysterious list you were carrying, since the CEPEP program apparently showed gang leaders loved those comfy little contracts and even chucked 5% back to the ministers whose party won the seats. Lovely circulation of public funds.
Then, as if on cue, the US government announced it had a list and would share it. How convenient. The plot thickens, or implodes, depending on your preferred brand of national drama.
Imbert warns an oil price spike could be a “double‑edged sword.” Translation: hooray for extra revenue, but boo for higher import and shipping costs that will inevitably land in consumers’ laps. Former finance minister Colm Imbert urges caution about the global oil bump driven by tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran. He called the price jump “a double‑edged sword,” which is a pleasant, vaguely ominous way to say “maybe some good, maybe more pain.”
Meanwhile, the minister in charge shrugged that prices will bring T&T an extra US$4 million a month. That windfall, however, is neatly eaten alive by increased import costs and the inconvenient detail that the previous administration shut down the refinery. Timing is everything, isn’t it?
John is to inspect the Tobago runway in two weeks, and by "inspect," she means stare at the asphalt and ask the magical question: Why open an airport without a runway? Last March, Dr. Keith Rowley (days before his resignation) hosted a “practical opening” of the Tobago airport terminal. Cheerful optimism followed: former finance minister Colm Imbert promised passenger flights by July 2025. Ambitious! As of March 2026, still not open.
Reality, however, trudges in. John notes many critical works remain undone. Groundbreaking revelation: you can’t have an airport if the runway isn’t finished. Paving is “underway.” The building might be substantially complete, but apparently the tiny detail of an actual runway is essential to the whole enterprise. Who knew?
Central Block PoS General Hospital: $1.3 billion and practically complete (practically being the key word). The new Central Block still isn’t open. Rowley held a commemorative ceremony for the “practical completion,” complete with plaque unveiling and a guided tour limited to the ground floor and a single “model ward” on level five. The rest? Ongoing internal work. Equipment? Not yet. Patients? Not yet. Operational? Definitely not yet.
As of March 2026, it’s still not finished. But hey, celebrate the plaque. Symbolism is cheaper than functioning health care.
And now the opposition loudly objects to the government’s crime plan after a decade in government that left the country with over 5,000 murders. That’s right: the same people who governed for years and apparently couldn’t be bothered to produce a plan are now aghast that someone else would publish one. Logically, why announce a crime plan? To “notify the criminals,” apparently, because why on earth would transparency be useful?
If you ever wondered why they’re in opposition, there’s your answer: a bewildering combination of misplaced confidence, half‑finished projects, and impeccable timing for public outrage.
Sarge