AGP Executive Report

Courtroom Turning Point: UK judges begin hearing a final appeal on Trinidad and Tobago’s colonial-era anti-gay “buggery” law, filed by activist Jason Jones; a decision could decriminalise gay sex and set a regional precedent. Diaspora Music & Heritage: Festival International Nuits d’Afrique marks 40 years with a July 7–19 lineup spanning Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, while Trinidad steelpan pioneer Sterling Betancourt is remembered for helping shape UK music after 1951. Local Culture in Motion: Galt Gardens comes alive with diaspora music, food and traditions at a community Afro-Caribbean festival; calypso researchers warn tent attendance is slipping amid wider regional shifts. Education & Inclusion: UTT launches a mandatory course on T&T history and culture for all undergraduates from September 2026; Tobago’s Faith Graham celebrates SEA success despite visual impairment, and six blind/visually impaired students shine in SEA. People & Community Support: Children’s Life Fund steps in for 11-year-old Aaron Edwards after PM and Health Minister intervention to secure life-saving treatment. Arts & Identity: Lopinot’s heritage and cocoa-linked history gets spotlighted as the village searches for tourism renewal. Sports & Youth: TTGA defends junior golf after criticism; Trinidad athletes win in Barbados, and Sports Minister Phillip Watts secures NACAC trip funding for U18/U23 teams. Food & Business Watch: Nestlé’s dairy/juice review raises alarms for local milk farmers, while Homeland Security denies passport scarcity but still faces public calls for inventory numbers.

SEA Success & Inclusion: Six blind and visually impaired students shine in this year’s SEA exams, with the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association crediting mainstream support, in-house 3D tools, and accessible tech like AI transcribing. Culture & Education: UTT launches a mandatory course on Trinidad and Tobago’s history and culture for every undergraduate starting September 2026. Arts & Heritage Loss: Trinidad-born, Caracas-based sculptor Valerie Brathwaite dies at 87, celebrated for biomorphic forms inspired by the natural world. Sports Funding Relief: Minister Phillip Watts secures funds so Under-18 and Under-23 athletes can attend NACAC in Mexico. Legal & Rights Watch: A landmark Privy Council hearing in London on 8 July will tackle Trinidad and Tobago’s colonial-era anti-gay laws. Public Service Updates: Homeland Security denies passport scarcity claims, citing machine-readable stock and progress toward e-passports. Music Spotlight: Soca icon Denise Belfon brings her classic catalogue to Atlanta’s Rum Island Festival. Detention Appeal: Dominic Hadeed and wife Genevieve appeal a refusal to release them from detention over an alleged assassination plot.

LGBTQ+ Rights in the Spotlight: Trinidad and Tobago’s colonial-era anti-gay laws face a landmark Privy Council appeal in London on 8 July, with campaigners warning the outcome could ripple across the Caribbean. Children’s Literature & Inclusion: Award-winning author Patrice Lawrence is named Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2026–2028, promising to use reading to help young people feel seen and valued. Passport Tensions: Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander denies claims passport processing is being slowed by low stock, as separate reports say T&T’s machine-readable passport booklets are nearly exhausted. Workplace Uncertainty: OWTU says Nestlé workers are being told to prepare for every outcome after the company’s strategic review of local operations. Pan & Public Order: Pan Trinbago backs Silver Stars pan players after an alleged police scuffle during a TRIBE band launch. Youth & Learning: TTBWA hails six blind and visually impaired SEA performers, calling for higher expectations and more inclusive education. Environment & Health: Reports link Sahara dust to worsening respiratory problems for children in T&T. Tourism Push: Government targets tourism growing to US$1.7B GDP by 2030, with niche areas like cultural, sport, eco and health tourism in focus.

Tourism & Training: T&T is aiming to grow tourism to a US$1.7 billion GDP contribution by 2030, with priority niches like cultural, eco, health, sport and yachting—while the MIC Institute of Technology launches a tourism skills initiative to align training with industry needs. Regional Digital Push: The UWI and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union formalised a strategic partnership to drive regional digital development, policy and capacity-building. Child Safety in Vacation: TTPS is urging parents and guardians to keep close supervision during July/August break, stressing legal responsibility and practical home and online safety steps. Science Spotlight: Four young chemists from T&T, trained through the UWI-led TTChO programme, are set to represent the country at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan. Culture & Heritage: A new production marks 75 years since Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra’s Festival of Britain voyage, celebrating the steelpan’s rise from stigma to national pride. Community & Sports: CARICOM’s 19th Road Run/Walk in Saint Lucia drew 250+ runners, with Trinidad’s Alexia John among top finishers. Missing Person: Police are seeking help to locate 13-year-old Natania Nottingham, last seen July 4 in Ari­ma.

CARICOM Day & regional identity: A July 4 op-ed revisits the Treaty of Chaguaramas and asks why CARICOM Day isn’t a wider public holiday across the region, arguing observances shape shared memory and belonging. Venezuela solidarity: Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers led a wreath-laying for Venezuela’s earthquake victims, framing it as friendship, solidarity and hope on Venezuela’s Independence Day. Steelpan culture: A new production marks 75 years since Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) helped bring the steelpan to the Festival of Britain, spotlighting how attitudes shifted from stigma to national pride. Community learning: Oas Mayor Jan Trinidad says the Oas Municipal Library has bought updated books and will reopen in a new location to boost reading and lifelong learning. Local arts & events: TASPO’s legacy continues to inspire, while Tobago’s Ole Time Wedding is set to draw visitors ahead of the Tobago Heritage Festival. Public service & policing: The TTPS recruitment drive aims to grow ranks over five years, with public debate on whether numbers alone can improve crime-fighting. Justice & detention: Dominic and Genevieve Hadeed’s High Court filings renew scrutiny of preventive detention and prison conditions.

UWI Partnerships for Care: UWI St. Augustine signed MoUs with the North West Regional Health Authority and the Princess Elizabeth Home for Handicapped Children to expand healthcare delivery, dentistry training, internships and biomedical/digital health research. Steelpan Storytelling: A new production marks 75 years since TASPO’s Festival of Britain voyage, tracing how the steelpan rose from stigma to global pride. Co-ops in Focus: Trinidad and Tobago marked the International Day of Cooperatives, highlighting 219 registered cooperatives (including 124 active credit unions) and pushing youth-led innovation within the movement. Tobago Heritage Spotlight: In this week’s I Love Tobago, we visit Moriah as the community prepares for the Tobago Ole Time Wedding ahead of the Tobago Heritage Festival. Regional Culture & Sport: The 19th CARICOM Road Run/Walk in St. Lucia drew athletes across 15 territories, with Dominica’s Curvin Leatham and Raedian Felix among standout performers. CARICOM Day Debate: A Caribbean Court of Justice president renews the call to make CARICOM Day a national holiday, arguing it strengthens shared memory and belonging. Justice & Detention: Dominic and Genevieve Hadeed’s court filings renew scrutiny of preventive detention, with claims of political motivation and renewed concerns about prison conditions. Police Recruitment: TTPS recruitment plans for the next five years are framed as a bid to grow ranks and rebuild public trust. Lifestyle Calendar: Morning Mimosas returns as a daytime brunch-and-music festival, while Sargam The Band relaunches its next chapter with young cultural ambassadors. Dance for the Region: Regional Dance Classics comes to Couva on July 26 with Trinidad and Tobago dancers plus regional competitors.

Police Recruitment Drive: TTPS plans to hire 2,316 new officers, aiming to grow ranks to 10,200, as aspiring candidates are invited to answer the call to serve. Prison Conditions Debate: The Hadeed case is again spotlighting long-running concerns about detention conditions and medical support under PDOs. Public Threats Crackdown: New reporting on alleged death threats and assassination plots against T&T leaders renews attention on how online threats are handled. Education & SEA Pressure: SEA stress and wider education challenges stay in focus, with stories highlighting how exams affect children and families. Cultural Calendar: Sargam returns with a relaunch and new young ambassadors, while Regional Dance Classics is set for July 26 in Couva, bringing Trinidad and Tobago dancers together with Barbados. CARICOM Day Question: A fresh op-ed asks why CARICOM Day isn’t a holiday across the region, tying the debate to the Treaty of Chaguaramas and shared identity. Lifestyle & Community: Morning Mimosas lands at Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, and Tobago Heritage Festival’s purpose is revisited as a community education and cultural tourism push.

Tobago Heritage Festival: Bindley Benjamin says the festival, created in 1987, was meant to educate people on Tobago’s history and heritage—then act as a launch pad for Carnival cultural tourism. Carenage Fisheries & St. Peter’s: The Carenage Expo brought fishing communities together to celebrate St. Peter’s week, push marine conservation, and spotlight sustainable growth in the fisheries sector. SEA Results Celebrations: Thousands marked SEA 2026 results with family joy, while the Education Ministry honoured top performers, including three students who scored 100% (final rankings subject to review). Tobago SEA Standout: Signal Hill Government Primary produced the island’s top SEA student, with the division naming top ten performers and noting mark-querying concerns. Nestlé Update: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Government will engage Nestlé after the company announced it’s reviewing operations; Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo says jobs and local factory activity are being monitored. MiLAT Suspension: Educators and youth advocates fear the suspension of the Military-Led Academic Training programme could leave vulnerable young men without a key crime-prevention pathway. Digital Banking for Seniors: BATT ran a workshop to help older adults spot scams and use digital banking safely, warning fraudsters are increasingly using AI. CARICOM Day Push: CARICOM leaders, including Philip J. Pierre and Carla Barnett, urged stronger regional unity and action to deliver real benefits for Caribbean people. Sports & Youth: Tobago’s Primary School Cricket Programme wrapped at Shaw Park, reaching thousands of students across Trinidad and Tobago. Tobago Health Conference: Scarborough General Hospital hosted 14 minor surgeries during the Caribbean College of Surgeons’ Tobago conference, benefiting local patients. Church & Community: Farley Augustine reflected on the Mt. St. George deaconess murder case and said he may have been introduced to the killer earlier this year.

Education Wins: SEA 2026 is being celebrated across Trinidad and Tobago as three students hit perfect 100% and the top nine were honoured, with officials pointing to improved national mean scores in key subjects. Tobago Spotlight: Signal Hill Government Primary School is confirmed as the island’s top SEA performer, with students also set to celebrate alongside placements at Bishop’s High School. Youth & Safety: MiLAT’s suspension is raising alarms among educators and youth advocates, who fear vulnerable young men could lose a major anti-crime lifeline. Government Watch: The PM says ministers will engage Nestlé after the company flagged a review of its local dairy and juice operations, while Finance says jobs and factory operations are being monitored. Diplomatic Controls: A diplomatic passport crackdown is underway, with hundreds flagged as holding documents despite not meeting criteria. Community & Culture: Carenage’s St Peter’s Festival ramps up with food, music, and the blessing of fishermen and boats. Local Life: Seniors in Santa Cruz got hands-on help to spot banking scams, including tactics using AI. Crime & Justice: Tobago is in shock after the murder of deaconess Neisha Roberts, with a suspect arrested after a cross-island manhunt.

SEA 2026 Spotlight: Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath announced three students scored perfect 100% in the Secondary Entrance Assessment, with national mean gains in Mathematics and English—crediting targeted support for priority primary schools. Carenage St Peter’s Festival: The coastal community gears up for St Peter’s Day with a full weekend of faith and culture, including the blessing of fishermen and their boats led by Archbishop Jason Gordon. Tobago Sports & Youth: Tobago’s Primary School Cricket Programme wrapped at Shaw Park, reaching 3,951 students across Trinidad and Tobago, while Store Bay vendors completed a quality workshop to lift food safety and visitor standards. Tobago Health: Scarborough General Hospital hosted 14 minor surgeries during the Caribbean College of Surgeons’ 24th conference, boosting skills for local patients. Education & Opportunity: UWI confirmed its 4th OneUWI postgraduate conference (Nov 18–21, 2026) and highlighted top student presentations. Community & Culture: The Tobago Heritage Festival logo story spotlights African, European and Amerindian roots through its symbolism. Justice & Safety: A High Court sentencing left parents calling it “lifelong pain” after the 2017 murder of 13-year-old Videsh Subar; meanwhile, a Tobago murder probe continues after THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said he may have met the alleged killer.

Caribbean Culture on the Move: KestheBand made history by becoming the first soca band to fully sell out New York’s Forest Hills Stadium, turning the night into a big Caribbean diaspora celebration. Local Community Care: Courts Optical and United Way expanded “United for Vision,” screening hundreds of students and pushing free eye exams and prescription glasses to remove barriers to learning. Creative Industries & Tourism: Trade, Investment and Tourism Minister Satyakama Maharaj says T&T can position itself as the Caribbean’s creative hub, using culture to drive year-round tourism and jobs. Politics & Public Life: Former PM Stuart Young says he was told to return his diplomatic passport despite not requesting it, while he insists he’ll respond only through due process. Youth, Sports & Opportunity: NAAATT reversed its earlier withdrawal and will send athletes to the NACAC U18/U23 meet in Mexico after Sports Minister Phillip Watts secured funding. Child Welfare: The People’s Ministry settled TT$36.04m in audited Children’s Authority debts to keep care and protection services running. Justice & Safety: An ex-soldier received a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and sexually assaulting two boys. Regional Solidarity: Government-organised aid for Venezuela is set to move via the Galleons Passage as relief efforts continue after major earthquakes.

Children’s Well-Being: The Ministry of People, Social Development and Family Services has settled TT$36.04m in audited Children’s Authority debts, including security, works at the National Care and Empowerment Centre, and janitorial services—aimed at keeping care and protection running smoothly. Exam Stress Support: A child psychologist urged parents of SEA candidates to keep routines calm, validate feelings without feeding anxiety, and remind students that one exam doesn’t define their worth. Education & Culture: UTT and NCIC renewed their MoU to expand Indian cultural research, with plans to boost education and economic opportunities around Indian arts, cuisine innovation, and instrument manufacturing. Creative Industries & Tourism: Trade Minister Satyakama Maharaj said creative industries can drive year-round tourism and growth, pitching culture as an exportable “industry” with a transatlantic hub vision. Rastafarian Rights at CARICOM: CARICOM leaders moved to address discrimination and marginalisation against Rastafarians, with Prime Minister Terrance Drew set to lead a regional committee and consultations. Youth & Tobago: Tobago’s Junior Tourism Secretary Shania Phillip shared her push to spotlight Tobago heritage and use technology to inspire young people. Community Health Access: ‘United for Vision’ is expanding free eye care for students via Courts Optical and United Way T&T, with screenings already underway and prescription glasses planned.

Education & Equity: UNESCO says Trinidad and Tobago’s SEA still sorts children too early, risking unequal school placement even as access expands; Education Minister Dowlath counters with claims of “significant improvement,” citing an AI past-papers platform and wider school Wi-Fi rollout. Youth & Community: Tobago’s Shania Phillip is crowned Junior Tourism Secretary, pitching tech-led ideas to inspire young people; in Trinidad, Salmonberry Preschool seeks new students as it keeps a decades-long early childhood tradition alive. Culture & Heritage: President Christine Kangaloo hosts students for “Freedom Morning Come” at President’s House, turning Emancipation Day history into a youth learning moment; Blue Lake Museum unveils fresh exhibits with new baskets, quilts and local history items. Local Life & Safety: Rising global copper prices are linked to more copper theft and related crime; a South Oropouche man is arrested in Port-of-Spain after a Tobago woman is stabbed to death. Law, Rights & Accountability: TV6/OCM ordered to pay $350K+ for defamation over an ISIS-linked report; SWWTU says it’s moved to senior counsel for an activist’s Labour Day arrest case. Youth Program Politics: Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles calls for MiLAT reversal after its suspension, while Defence Minister Wayne Sturge says it’s only paused pending review.

Youth & Crime Policy: Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles says the Government should reverse the suspension of the Military-Led Academic Training (MiLAT) programme, calling it a blow to youth development and crime prevention, while Defence Minister Wayne Sturge insists MiLAT is only temporarily suspended and under review. Legal & Media Accountability: A High Court ordered TV6/One Caribbean Media to pay over $350,000 in compensation after a defamation case tied to allegations of a customs officer’s ISIS links. Rastafari Rights at Regional Level: CARICOM will convene a meeting and set up a committee (including Trinidad and Tobago) to tackle discrimination and marginalisation faced by Rastafarians in education, employment and public life. Local Safety & Community: Police investigate the stabbing death of 39-year-old Neisha Roberts in Mt St George, Tobago, with reports pointing to a possible domestic dispute. Health & Men’s Well-being: Flow Trinidad hosted an awareness session on andropause, urging more open discussion to reduce stigma and encourage men to seek support. STEM & Youth Creativity: NIHERST’s FIRST Tech Challenge tournament showcased robotics talent from across Trinidad and Tobago, highlighting teamwork and innovation. Digital Economy Push: Public Administration and AI Minister Dominic Smith says T&T’s digital transformation must be built with government, business and citizens working together. Culture & Tradition: Dove’s Dirt Oven Delights in La Savanne announced it will close for now, citing health and choosing quality of life over business.

Commonwealth Literature: Jamir Nazir’s The Serpent in the Grove—once accused online of being AI-written—has won the overall Commonwealth short story prize, after the Commonwealth Foundation reviewed drafts and confirmed AI wasn’t used. CARICOM & Rastafari Rights: CARICOM will convene a regional meeting and set up a committee (including T&T) to tackle discrimination and exclusion faced by Rastafarians in education, employment, and public life. STEM for Youth: NIHERST and Shell hosted the FIRST Tech Challenge 2026, with teams from across T&T building and programming robots. Digital Economy: Public Administration and AI Minister Dominic Smith says T&T’s digital transformation can’t be government-only, and points to VerifyTT and plans to digitise more services. Local Food Culture: Dove’s Dirt Oven Delights in La Savanne announced it’s closing for now, sparking tributes for preserving a beloved tradition. Community & Culture: Rodman Public Library announced July activities including science kits, a Minecraft scavenger hunt, and a steel drumming workshop. Regional Trade: T&T moved closer to Mercosur associate membership, with talks aimed at boosting manufacturing trade opportunities. Migration & Human Rights: An advocate criticised the Government’s explanation for delays in residency processing, saying migrants who followed the rules shouldn’t be penalised. Arts & Memory: Tributes continue for Tobago soca icon Oscar B, who died at 57.

Military & Youth Education: Defence Minister Wayne Sturge says the MiLAT programme is “not closed” but temporarily suspended while the Government reviews how to restructure it, amid fears for nearly 200 trainees and about 50 staff. Legal & Service: Four serving members of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment were admitted to the Bar as attorneys, adding to the growing number of legally qualified personnel in uniform. Immigration & Court: Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says he will issue a Minister’s Permit to let Canadian blogger “Chris Must List” return to Trinidad and Tobago to face his sedition trial after deportation in 2024. Community Aid: Venezuelan migrants in T&T are rallying to send relief to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela, collecting food and medicine through donations and local collection points. Local Business & Food Culture: The High Court allows the historic Breakfast Shed to remain open pending a full trial in January 2027, preserving a near-century-old food hub for vendors and patrons. Regional Culture & Rights: CARICOM will convene a meeting to examine discrimination and marginalisation affecting Rastafarians, with a committee including Barbados, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Arts & Heritage: Pan Trinbago’s Steelpan Fusion Fest brought together 800+ youth steelpan players across Trinidad and Tobago, celebrating the next generation of the steelpan movement. Tobago & Music Loss: Soca icon Oscar B (Tobago) has died at 57 after complications from a stroke, with tributes and a healing concert planned in his honour. Disaster Relief (Central Trinidad): 59 central Trinidad households received $462,007.75 in disaster relief and minor home repair grants, including roof and furniture repairs ahead of the next rainy season. LGBTQIA+ (Regional): In Guyana, Pride is framed as a protest for LGBTQIA+ equality, with calls for legal and policy change to match social progress. Tech & Governance: Minister Dominic Smith pushes AI-driven transformation and digitisation of key services through VerifyTT and plans to streamline citizen-state processes. Safety Education: The CMO’s lightning safety contest for children is now internationally recognised through inclusion in a new disaster preparedness book.