Tag: #Government

From Managing Traffic to Transforming Transportation in Chaguaramas

~ dennisedemming ~ Leave a comment

February 12 – Letter to the Editor

We cannot continue to rely almost exclusively on private vehicles in areas that were never designed to accommodate them on a large scale. The time has come to move from managing traffic to transforming transportation.

The congestion following the Stink + Dutty fete in Chaguaramas has understandably generated concern. Assistant Commissioner Garvin Henry is correct in highlighting the structural realities of the western peninsula: a single access route, limited parking, and geography that naturally constrains traffic flow. Under such conditions, delays were predictable, regardless of how robust the operational plan may have been.

Rather than debating whether large events should be hosted in Chaguaramas, we should treat this as an opportunity to address a deeper systemic issue. The peninsula is an ideal location to pilot a modernised transportation framework.

For major events, access passes could be limited to residents and essential services, while patrons utilise organised park-and-ride facilities supported by scheduled shuttle services. Reducing private vehicle volume would significantly ease congestion and demonstrate the value of coordinated public transport planning.

Importantly, this approach should not be limited to event days. Daily traffic in and out of Chaguaramas is already challenging. Residents face routine delays, schoolchildren encounter transportation difficulties, and workers—including members of the Defence Force and Coast Guard—are affected by the persistent bottleneck.

A structured system with reliable bus scheduling, designated pick-up points, managed peak-hour access, and consistent enforcement could improve daily mobility and safety. The western peninsula could serve as a demonstration zone for how disciplined systems, structures, and processes can produce measurable change.

Too often, we respond to congestion tactically—with police deployments and temporary controls. These are necessary but reactive measures. Sustainable improvement requires systemic reform and coordinated implementation.

Chaguaramas offers a practical opportunity to model that change. If we can implement a functioning transport framework there, it could serve as a blueprint for Carnival, major festivals, and other high-density activities across the country.

The disruption was inconvenient, but it has highlighted a larger truth: we must rethink how we move. The question is whether we will continue managing traffic—or commit to transforming transportation.

Crime is not a community problem; it’s a national failure …

~ dennisedemming ~ Leave a comment

“Trinidad and Tobago could only progress if Laventille does,” Winston Dookeran said in May 2010. Have we moved beyond this idea? Have we accepted that crime is not a group problem? It is not an “Afro problem,” an “Indian problem,” or a “PNM problem.” Crime is a national problem, and it will only be solved when we accept collective responsibility and confront structural inequality and long-standing governance failures across all communities.

Too often, leaders label entire communities as criminal, even though crime is usually concentrated in specific areas. Take Tunapuna. The vast majority of residents are decent, hardworking, law-abiding mixed citizens. It has traditionally elected PNM representatives, yet its population is a true reflection of Trinidad and Tobago — ethnically mixed and socially diverse. The fact that Tunapuna voted differently in 2025 does not change who it is, nor does it redefine the community. It simply reminds us that voter behaviour and political outcomes cannot be reduced to race.

This framing matters because it shapes how we assign identity, power, and blame.

Race-based explanations also ignore economic and educational realities. If race caused crime, how do we explain Point Fortin — a predominantly Afro-Trinidadian, long-standing PNM constituency with relatively low levels of violent crime? When national leaders publicly link crime to communities, they legitimise private biases and turn them into accepted assumptions, with serious consequences.

Leadership accountability is just as critical. The Prime Minister stated that two senators had requested bribes to support a Bill in Parliament, yet did not name them. This raises troubling questions. What prompted the statement? Has this behaviour been witnessed before? Is unethical conduct becoming normalised within our political system?

If we continue to avoid these questions — structural and ethical — we will never fix our problems. Accountability must begin with leadership, and citizens must also accept their shared responsibility to act with integrity. Only then can we begin to get it right.

 #wemustdobetter.

Security Needs Answers, Not Drama

~ dennisedemming ~ Leave a comment

National security is being reduced to political drama.  Many of us followed the recent parliamentary debate on the proposed United States–linked radar installation in Tobago, simply hoping for a clearer explanation. What exactly is being built? Why Tobago? And how will this affect us? Unfortunately, those basic questions were never properly answered, leaving many citizens more uncertain than informed.

It has been widely stated that Trinidad and Tobago has, for many years, participated in Caribbean and hemispheric security cooperation under different governments. It is also worth asking whether our country already operates coastal surveillance radar systems in both Trinidad and Tobago as part of wider regional information-sharing arrangements aimed at tracking illegal drugs, weapons, and human trafficking. Similar systems reportedly exist across the Caribbean and are supported through long-standing regional agreements and partnerships with international allies.

This broader context was missing from the parliamentary debate. Instead of helping citizens understand how this installation fits into existing arrangements, the discussion focused narrowly on secrecy.

What many citizens really want answered are practical questions. Who will control the data collected in Tobago? Will local agencies have full access? Which authority will provide oversight and ensure compliance with our laws? And do we actually have the boats, trained personnel, and resources to act when threats are detected?

These questions go to the heart of sovereignty and public trust. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago deserve calm explanation, honest engagement, and clear accountability. National security is too important to be reduced to political drama.

Unveiling Giselle Singh: Innovator, Scientist, and Musician

~ dennisedemming ~ Leave a comment

 
 
Giselle Singh introduces herself as an inventive creator and empath, drawing inspiration from the divine. She discusses her multifaceted identity as a scientist, innovator, and musician, emphasizing her contributions to soul music. She shares her focus on genuine storytelling and cultivating meaningful relationships.

Giselle advocates for a living wage for artists in Trinidad and encourages aspiring creatives to follow their dreams. She reflects on the importance of creative freedom, effective listening, and the transformative power of imagination from a young age.

Protecting Our Waters: An Interview with Judith Gobin

~ dennisedemming ~ Leave a comment

Gobin calls for addressing environmental issues at their source, particularly in reducing plastic waste. She also discusses the importance of balancing career and family, emphasizing the need for support networks for working women.

Richard Ragoobarsingh. Navigating Law and the Arts

~ dennisedemming ~ Leave a comment

In this episode, Trinidadian actor, director, and lawyer Richard Ragoobarsingh takes us through his remarkable journey of balancing two distinct yet equally demanding careers.

With over 40 years in theater, he reflects on his deep love for literature and the performing arts, the challenges faced by creatives in Trinidad and Tobago, and the resilience required to sustain a life in both law and the arts. Richard highlights the power of passion, the need for greater support for the arts, and his hopes for a future where creativity is valued as much as any profession.

His story is a testament to the idea that with dedication and vision, it is possible to thrive in multiple worlds.

Minister Sinanan … How many more must die?

~ dennisedemming ~ Leave a comment

The “WRA” (We Run Arima) organized a fantastic half-marathon in Arima, creating an exhilarating experience for participants. However, the event was marred by a tragic incident: a young and dedicated photographer lost his life in an unfortunate accident. He had been passionately capturing the essence and excitement of the race, making the ending even more heartbreaking.

Though the details of the accident are not my focus, I am deeply concerned about an ongoing issue that casts a shadow over this incident. The Minister of Works, Rohan Sinanan, has held his position for the past eight years, yet the problem of illegal activities persisting on the priority bus route remains unaddressed.

Parking on the Priority Bus Route (PBR) without proper approval is a violation of the law. This raises pertinent questions: How many of the cars parked along the route at 5:00 am displayed visible approval stickers? How many driveways that provide access to homes have received legitimate authorization? Are the small apartment buildings adhering to regulations for driveways connected to the PBR? Have businesses acquired proper approval for their PBR access?

The presence of intersections lacking traffic lights further compounds the concerns. The gravity of these issues highlights a troubling reality – individuals are seemingly allowed to commit offences with the tacit approval of the Minister of Works. In legal terms, a crime encompasses any action or omission that constitutes an offence punishable by law. While the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is responsible for enforcing the law, all ministers of Government bear the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that matters within their jurisdiction are effectively implemented.

In 2017, I wrote an article highlighting 3 evils that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago permits on the PBR.  Those evils were the issuing of PBR passes to members of the “in-group” while the population endures the pain of an almost non-existent transportation system; the facilitation of houses and businesses with direct access to the bus route and the facilitation of a gas station with an entrance and exit onto the PBR.  

Recently our leaders have been talking about the lawlessness of our country, and that’s valid, but I say to them, “Don’t complain about what you permit!”  Someone permits the excessive issuance of PBR passes and that just adds to the congestion. Someone permits these illegal structures on the PBR … someone allowed the gas station access to the PBR.

 The only way to change our society is for our leaders to start doing the right thing and send a message to the entire country.  The death of this young photographer is tragic.  Minister Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport: How many more must die before you stop the facilitation of criminal activity on the PBR?