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00:02Welcome back. This is not just another SOE. It was the warning coming from the opposition last week
00:10as it raised alarm following the announcement of the latest SOE.
00:16The Emergency Powers Regulations 2026 is now in effect. However, the opposition is warning
00:22the country that this is not just another SOE and they're pointing to regulation 4 as proof.
00:30The government is telling us, the people and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,
00:36that they foresee the possibility of putting in place an order to impose on any person
00:45any restrictions in respect of his employment or business, in respect of his place of residence.
00:56What is that? Is this their attempt to go zozo using a state of emergency?
01:04Regulation 4-1 also grants the Commission of Police the authority to prohibit any person
01:09from being out of doors between such hours as may be specified, although the government
01:15has not announced a curfew at this time.
01:18And in respect of your association or communication with other persons,
01:24that is a huge red flag. And now putting here as well that you may be required to notify of
01:31your
01:31movements in such manner, at such time, to such authority, or persons as may be specified,
01:37that previously was an order of the court. They are now completely getting rid of due process.
01:43But the concerns don't stop there. The opposition also highlights Regulation 11,
01:50which speaks to statements which may be deemed prejudicial to public safety.
01:54Our clear position is that this particular state of emergency is directed specifically
02:03as it relates to the issue of freedom of movement and freedom of expression.
02:09And this is a government that does not want anybody to criticize them. That's what it is.
02:15I mean, whether it be on social media, whether it is to make a little TikTok.
02:19I mean, I mean, and the media as well. And, you know, as I close, let me say this,
02:24we have just finished the carnival season. Just as how they muted the mic of Helen Francis,
02:31they want to mute the mic of every single citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. That is what this is about.
02:36The regulations also grant police powers of arrest without a warrant. However,
02:41persons may only be detained for 48 hours in the first instance, with some exceptions.
02:48The government has indicated that an increase in violent criminal and gang activity has led to the need for this
02:56SOE.
02:56How many persons have been charged under the anti-gang legislation, which exists out with the state of emergency and
03:06the last SOE?
03:07How many persons? The answer is, it's zero. Zero.
03:15There have been 63 murders to date, compared to 64 for the same period last year.
03:21Last week, the Prime Minister told CARICOM that the U.S. exercises in the region had led to a decrease
03:28in criminal activity in Trinidad and Tobago.
03:31And three days later, the opposition walked out of Parliament after a motion it brought was prematurely ended by government
03:39majority vote.
03:41While two motions concerning the new state of emergency were not debated in the House of Representatives on Friday,
03:46debate continued on a motion first raised on January 23rd by Lavantel West MP, Karim Marcel, on behalf of the
03:54opposition.
03:55When Energy Minister Dr. Rudal Munilal joined the debate, he referred to the standing orders.
04:00Mr. Speaker, given the frivolous, vexatious, ill-advised wording and intent of this motion, I believe it should be defeated
04:14fortuit.
04:14And, Mr. Speaker, in those circumstances, in accordance with standing order 52-1, I beg to move that the question
04:22be now put. I thank you.
04:23House Speaker Jagdao Singh then called on Opposition MP Keith Scotland to hear his submission on that standing order.
04:31Mr. Speaker, it is my respectful submission that to accede to this request abuses my rights as to speak on
04:43a private member's motion day,
04:45which today has been specifically allocated for.
04:52I've read these standing orders.
04:54There are two sets of standing orders which provide for closure of a debate.
05:00There is standing order 46-2, which provides that any minister may move an application to close a debate which
05:12is critical of the government.
05:13That standing order is confined to a minister moving the House.
05:19Speaker Singh said standing order 52 is a matter of general application.
05:23As he said, the jurisdiction of the Speaker is a very narrowly circumscribed jurisdiction.
05:29The way the standing orders are constructed is that once you don't meet either an abuse or a suppression of
05:38the minority, the question has to be put.
05:41In my respectful view, the evidence does not arise to an abuse of the rules and neither is it an
05:50infringement on the rights of the minority.
05:52As the Speaker is to this ruling, there were loud objections from the opposition.
05:56Member, please resume your seat.
05:59Member, resume your seat.
06:04Who is to put the question?
06:07Mr Speaker.
06:09Honorable members, I've ruled.
06:11Honorable members, the question is...
06:13Speaker.
06:14Be it reserved...
06:15Speaker, you're not willing to...
06:16Isn't there anyone on this side?
06:19Mr Speaker, it's a disgrace.
06:21A disgrace.
06:22A disgrace.
06:27It makes no distinction here.
06:30It is an abuse of the process.
06:31It is an abuse of the process.
06:32Asha, Chief Whip, have your seat.
06:37There was a vote to the end of the debate on the motion as the opposition walked out.
06:42Members, I propose to put the question.
06:46Honorable members, the question is...
06:48Be it resolved that this Honorable House take note of the socioeconomic impact of increased unemployment in communities arising from
06:58mass stimulation, renewal of contracts, and of the resulting breakdown in community and social life.
07:04And be it further resolved that this government urgently respond to this developing socioeconomic crisis by immediately providing adequate and
07:13meaningful social relief measures.
07:15All in favor, say aye.
07:17Any against?
07:18No.
07:20The no's have it.
07:21The House was then adjourned to a date to be fixed.
07:24June Brown, TV6 News.
07:27This is the past, seven days on six.
07:36Thanks for staying with us.
07:38The revised National School Code of Conduct was launched last week.
07:43A school in discipline remains an ongoing concern.
07:47The Education Ministry says after consultations and recommendations from education stakeholders and a T&T police service,
07:54the revised National School Code of Conduct was drafted and launched.
07:58In discipline remains a serious concern for teaching staff, and the ministry knows that parents want fairness and transparency in
08:06the disciplinary process.
08:08According to Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath, there were over 22,000 suspensions from the years 2022 to 2025, with
08:17a spike in violence and assaults.
08:20In our highest-risk secondary schools, violence-related suspensions were consistently high.
08:27In 2023-24, there were 875.
08:322024-25, 738.
08:36And 2025-26, 776.
08:40Possession and use-related infractions, including drugs, weapons, and vaping products, also remain significant.
08:50The school-oriented policing program has managed to curb some of those suspensions.
08:55Suspensions during lunchtime declined by approximately 15%.
09:00Suspension after school declined by approximately 25%.
09:05However, incidents during class time, with a member of staff present, increased from 401 to 544.
09:16Now, what does that tell us?
09:17It tells us, while supervision outside the classroom improved, behavioral pressure has shifted into the classroom environment.
09:29Dr. Dowlath calls policing a stabilizing measure, but not a substitute for proper leadership and management, and student support services
09:37in the nation's schools.
09:39The revised NSCC, as we will call it for short, firmly establishes zero tolerance for weapons, for assault, for drug
09:51trafficking, sexual misconduct, gang-related activities.
09:56He says it also strengthens parental involvement, which is needed.
10:00According to the Education Minister, the misuse of technology has been factored in, including that of artificial intelligence and cyberbullying.
10:09School Supervisor 3, under the St. Patrick District, Saren B. Jaram, calls the new policy comprehensive.
10:16The revised NSCC consolidates the 2018 National School Code of Conduct, the school discipline matrix, and the student reintegration protocols.
10:28He says it also offers enhancements through a four-tier discipline matrix, where offenses are categorized as minor, moderate, major,
10:37and severe.
10:38With proportionate responses for each category.
10:42Clear reintegration pathways to support students returning to school following suspension.
10:49Greater emphasis on restorative practices and behavioral support alongside appropriate consequences.
10:57Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
11:01And switching gears, hundreds of migrants lined up outside the Larigomes and Atto Bolden stadiums last week, at the start
11:09of the government's registration process.
11:12Hundreds of migrants, including mothers and children, lined up under the scorching sun outside the Larigomes stadium, enduring intense heat,
11:21as they were awaiting the registration process to be able to gain employment and live in Trinidad and Tobago freely.
11:28Some were seen carefully going over their documents and showing they had everything required.
11:33Among them was a 43-year-old mother of three from Guyana, who chose to speak to us off camera.
11:41She said she arrived as early as 5.30 a.m. and described the process as relatively smooth.
11:47Despite a minor setback when she realized that she did not have all the required documents printed.
11:54The process wasn't too hard. It's simple.
11:58You know, you put in your appointment, you come on your appointment time, you come with all your documents.
12:03Even though we had a lot of people here that didn't come with all the documents or didn't understand that
12:10we had it to photocopy.
12:11There will be two sets of documents, so it was a little bit of going and coming back and forth
12:16this morning.
12:17But apart from that, everything was smooth.
12:20She added that she was pleased that the registration was open to all nationalities and not just Venezuelans.
12:27It was very great. At first, when they just called for Venezuelans, I was a little bit annoyed because I
12:33said,
12:33Oh, gosh, it's not just Venezuelans down here. You have people from Jamaica again, all the parts of the Caribbean.
12:39But then when I saw that they called in everybody, I was excited. And finally, I said, Yes.
12:46This Jamaican migrant also expressed the satisfaction that the process was inclusive.
12:51I feel all that bad, but I didn't want the opportunity to do more stuff freely.
12:58So now I get this opportunity. I make use of it so I could go about doing business more freely.
13:05Anything like transfer money, like going to the hospital, you know.
13:12Oh, you mean like...
13:13Yeah, instead of being scared, you would go more freely.
13:17Another Jamaican shared a similar sentiment.
13:19I feel good. To be honest, it feels a way to in a country, you know, open a bank account
13:26to get certain and certain little things done without your people's trade and stuff like that.
13:34So now this is a wide and good opportunity for not for just Jamaica, but for everyone who is in
13:40Trinidad who is illegal, like myself.
13:42By midday, TV6 visited the Atta Boland Stadium, where fewer people were seen outside that compound.
13:48Although media was not permitted inside to film, individuals who spoke off-camera indicated that the process at the Atta
13:55Boland Stadium needed better organization.
13:58Some said persons with 11 a.m. appointments were still awaiting, while authorities were accommodating individuals scheduled for 9 and
14:0710 a.m. because of a late start.
14:10Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
14:13Sport is up next. Keep it here.
14:21A heavy-hearted decision.
14:24That's how former national men's head coach Dwight Yoke described his decision to step down from his role with the
14:31national football team.
14:32The former TNT captain said it was an honor and a responsibility that he carried with pride.
14:38TTFA president Kieron Edwards weighed in on the situation during an interview on I-95FM's iSports program.
14:46During the World Cup campaign, we could have afforded to pay a bit more for Coach Yoke.
14:53We know, and everyone knows that during that period of final qualification, sponsors are more on board.
15:00We know the culture of sponsors in Trinidad and Tobago is one that we are hoping to change over the
15:05next couple of years.
15:07But the sponsors were on for the World Cup campaign.
15:12The TTFA president admitted there were other issues beyond money that factored into the decision.
15:14We had discussions with Coach Yoke to look at revising his salary and his salary of his coaching staff.
15:21And we couldn't reach that conclusion in terms of keeping him on.
15:25And the decision was made by the executive to terminate the agreement with Coach Yoke on the 20th of February.
15:34The TTFA president admitted there were other issues beyond money that factored into the decision.
15:39He also gave some insight into the negotiations, including the termination of the coaching staff since December.
15:46So the discussion was around Coach Yoke and his staff.
15:49Oh, he had to come back?
15:50Yeah, to come back with his staff.
15:51So he wanted his staff.
15:53And most head coaches with men's senior teams or even women's senior teams normally travel with a few of their
16:00staff that is non-negotiable in terms of their staff.
16:03So that transpired even in numbers with his staff as well.
16:08We had some difficulty there and we parted with it.
16:12And now that he's no longer the coach, Edwards was pressured into giving his rating on Yoke's tenure.
16:17How would you rate Yoke's overall performance 1 out of 10?
16:22I can't rate it like that.
16:24No, you are personally.
16:25No, no, no.
16:26I'm not acting as a president.
16:27I'm acting as a human being.
16:29No, so personally, I can't.
16:31So there are different aspects that I judge in the videos on.
16:35But if you compile everything, I would give him, not qualifying for the World Cup, I'll give him a 5.
16:405 out of 10?
16:41Yeah.
16:41That's a high maximum, I think, actually, to be honest.
16:44As for Yoke's replacement, Derek King will be the interim coach once more alongside Hudson Charles.
16:49Right now, Derek King is the interim coach and we have to appoint a permanent coach to the men's national
16:55team.
16:55If that is Coach Derek King or a new coach, we would have those discussions.
17:00But by the time Nationally come around, we'll have a coach in place for the next year and a half,
17:06two years.
17:07Terrence Clark, TV6 Sport.
17:08And that's a wrap of the past seven days on six.
17:12I am Renessa Cutting.
17:13If you didn't catch this segment in its entirety, you can find it on our website, www.tv6tnt.com.
17:22And you can find all these stories and more on the TV6 mobile app.
17:27Thanks for choosing TV6 and you do have a great evening.
18:02Good evening and welcome to the past seven days on six.
18:06I am Renessa Cutting.
18:08Here's what made the news this past week.
18:11Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besasa received a special mention from U.S. President Donald Trump.
18:17The opposition raised concerns after the government announced another SOE.
18:23And Dwight York was replaced as head coach of TNT men's football team.
18:28As for usual, if it was happening, it was on six.
18:31Let's get right into it.
18:33Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besasa received a special mention from U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday during the opening
18:41of the Shield of America's Summit.
18:44She was one of 11 regional leaders invited to discuss security strategies as part of the U.S.A.'s newest
18:51security partnership, the Counter-Cartel Coalition.
18:55Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and I have to be very careful with this because, you know, your word,
19:03your first name is very similar to a first name that we have.
19:08But fortunately, it's pronounced different as Kamala, supposed to Kamala.
19:17A special mention for TNT's Prime Minister from the U.S. President, as he officially opened the Shield of the
19:25America's Summit, Trinidad and Tobago, along with 10 other countries from the Latin American region, were invited to be part
19:33of the summit.
19:34But on this historic day, we come together to announce a brand new military coalition to eradicate the criminal cartels
19:42plaguing our region.
19:43We're going to go heavier.
19:45So what we were doing with the boats coming in, the boats, there's not a lot of people coming in
19:51by boats anymore.
19:52We knocked down drugs coming in by sea, drugs coming in through water is down 96 percent.
20:00We're trying to find out who the other 4 percent are, because I think they're the bravest people in the
20:04world.
20:04Either that or they don't watch television.
20:07At least 151 people have been killed by the United States in boat strikes.
20:13And President Donald Trump says they're willing to attack the cartels on land.
20:18He's offering U.S. military support to the countries that have signed on to the Counter-Cartel Coalition.
20:24I mean, you're actually in danger. It's hard to believe.
20:27But we're working with you to do whatever we have to do.
20:30We'll use missiles.
20:32If you want us to use a missile, they're extremely accurate.
20:37Right into the living room.
20:40That's the end of that cartel person.
20:42But we will do whatever you need if you want.
20:45A lot of countries don't want to do that.
20:47They say, oh, sure, I'd rather not have that.
20:49I'd rather not.
20:50I believe they could be spoken to.
20:53I don't think so.
20:54Many of them don't want.
20:56And that's okay, too.
20:56You're going to do you.
20:57But if you need help, you're going to let us know.
20:59The U.S. president also hinted at possible military action against Cuba.
21:04And even suggested that he had the support of leaders in the region.
21:09Cuba.
21:09But Cuba is in its last moments of life as it was.
21:13It'll have a great new life.
21:15But it's in its last moments of life the way it is.
21:20But our focus right now is on Iran.
21:23And we'll do that.
21:25I would say, what will you do?
21:26Take about two days off, Marco?
21:28No, he won't.
21:29Maybe an hour.
21:30He'll take one hour off.
21:31And then he'll finish up a deal on Cuba.
21:35That'll be an easy one.
21:37But it'll be the entire region that we're doing that.
21:41Many of you have come today.
21:42And they say, I hope you can take care of Cuba because you've had problems with Cuba, right?
21:45You mentioned.
21:46I was surprised.
21:47But four of you said, actually, could you do us a favor?
21:52Take care of Cuba.
21:54I'll take care of it.
21:55Okay.
21:56President Trump also gave an update on Venezuela, which he says is doing much better since the U.S. exercise.
22:03Which saw former President Nicolas Maduro extracted and taken to the United States.
22:09And we've been working closely with the new president of Venezuela, Delce Rodriguez, who's doing a great job working with
22:17us.
22:19I mean, she's doing a great job because she's working with us.
22:21If she wasn't working with us, I would not say she's doing a great job.
22:24In fact, if she wasn't working with us, I'd say she's doing a very poor job.
22:29Unacceptable.
22:31Trump says it is imperative that the United States establish dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
22:37Well, earlier in the week, the government issued an advisory to the opposition and certain sections of the media
22:43in response to criticism over its refusal to disclose national security information.
22:49The government says it has observed what it describes as a coordinated campaign of misinformation surrounding national security issues.
22:58According to the Ministry of Defense, questions raised by members of the opposition and some journalists
23:03about Trinidad and Tobago's cooperation with the United States and alleged tensions involve information that cannot be publicly disclosed.
23:12The ministry says such matters relate to intelligence and security operations that are legally protected from disclosure.
23:19In its statement, government also criticized a member of parliament for Aruka Lopino Marvin Gonzalez,
23:25accusing him of raising questions that it says were designed to create public fair.
23:31The ministry further argued that while some critics claim the public has a right to know,
23:35the law allows the government to withhold information where disclosure could threaten national security.
23:41It pointed to rulings by the United Kingdom's highest courts and provisions within Trinidad and Tobago's Freedom of Information Act,
23:49which allow authorities to refuse disclosure if it could prejudice the country's defense or the work of security agencies.
23:56The ministry also noted that neither the opposition nor media organizations have sought a court order to compel disclosure.
24:03It maintains that questions relating to military assets, defense cooperation with allies,
24:08and intelligence matters will not be publicly addressed.
24:12The government is now urging both political figures and media practitioners to act responsibly
24:17when raising issues that touch on national security.
24:21Aksha Galston, TV6 News.
24:23We'll have more news when we return. Keep it here.
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