Property Matters – Procuring State Housing – Part 2

Too many of us are witnessing lawsuits used not only as instruments of justice, but as instruments of pressure and silence. There is an increasing effort to silence our citizens. I have come across a global term that more people need to know — SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). SLAPP suits are growing as more citizens stand up, speak out, and demand accountability. This is a conversation we can no longer avoid here in our beautiful country.

I am currently involved in a legal matter scheduled to be heard in 2027. More recently, I have been informed that I am being sued again. While I will engage the legal process as required, there is a broader issue here that goes far beyond any one case.

In a small society like ours, speaking publicly already carries risk. When legal action is used in ways that discourage participation, the effect is entirely predictable. People step back. They say less. Silence begins to replace scrutiny. And that is not a healthy direction for any country that claims to value democracy and free expression.

A SLAPP is not always about winning on merit. It is about burden — legal costs, time, stress — and the quiet message that speaking up may come at too high a price. Whether any particular matter meets that definition is for the courts to determine, but the emerging pattern should concern every one of us.

This is not about one individual or one dispute. It is about the kind of society we are choosing to become.

Do we engage disagreement, or do we suppress it? Do we strengthen our systems, or do we use them selectively?

We often speak about governance, accountability, and national development. Those are not slogans. They require space — space for discussion, for critique, and yes, for discomfort. If our legal processes begin to feel like tools to manage or mute that space, then we must pause and honestly ask ourselves what we are doing and why.

Our systems were designed to protect participation, not discourage it.

The call to action is simple and practical. Let us begin the process of introducing clear anti-SLAPP protections in Trinidad and Tobago — through public consultation, legal review, and legislative reform. Our Law Association, civil society organisations, and policymakers must take this issue seriously and bring forward concrete recommendations. A good first step would be a national public forum where citizens, legal minds, and policymakers can sit together and begin this conversation in earnest.

Let us, as citizens, insist on protecting the space for public participation — especially when the conversations are uncomfortable.

If we want a stronger country, we must be willing to protect the voices that help shape it.

Silence is not peace. It is the beginning of decline.

Sometimes the conversation is neither loud nor dramatic. It is just there, and you are talking, but not really connecting. Such relationships are creating a particular kind of distance that can have a negative impact. Conversations feel tense, repetitive, or carefully managed. You may find yourselves having the same argument again and again or avoiding it altogether. And somewhere along the way, a quiet question begins to surface: “How did we get here?”

Many couples believe they are struggling because of communication. But often, the issue isn’t just what is being said—it is what is happening deep down. An argument about small daily frustrations can carry deeper feelings about being unheard, misunderstood, or unimportant. Over time, these moments build. Reactions become stronger. Patience becomes thinner. Or silence replaces conversation altogether.

What’s happening isn’t simply disagreement. It’s disconnection. And disconnection can be difficult to name, especially when everything on the surface looks “fine.”

That’s why many couples wait. They wait until things feel worse before seeking support. They tell themselves it will pass or that they should be able to fix it on their own. But support is not only for when things are falling apart. It can be a way to understand the patterns you’re caught in—and to begin shifting them before they become more entrenched.

In my work, grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), I work with couples to slow down and explore what is beneath the surface of their interactions. The data shows that when you understand what is really happening, something important begins to change.

Interested in learning more or working together? Reach out to Dennise directly:

📧 dennisedemming@gmail.com 💬 WhatsApp: +1 (868) 761 9426 📅 Book Online: https://calendar.app.google/smCTsbWPAEPKs2ck7

This article was originally published on Valentía and Grit: https://valentiandgrit.com/blog/sometimes-it-s-not-the-argument-it-s-what-is-underneath-it

ResetLife Solutions is a safe, supportive space dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate life’s challenges with clarity and confidence. Founded by Dennise Demming — a licensed therapist based in Trinidad and Tobago and a Walden University graduate with a Master’s in Couples Therapy — ResetLife Solutions offers professional, compassionate therapy tailored to where you are in life.

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