Latest posts by Flora Thomas
World Mental Health Day: In Trinidad & Tobago, a call to deal with bullying after a student's suicide
Harassment at work affects mental health and quality of life. But what happens when “work” is school, harassment takes the form of bullying, and there's seemingly no place to turn?
In Trinidad & Tobago, a violent start to the new year
While much of the violence is attributed the drug trade and its ripple effects, the country also grapples with incidences of violent home invasions, kidnapping and femicide.
Trinidad & Tobago's state telecommunications provider is hacked, raising questions about data protection laws
Social media users were getting panicky about their personal data being released onto the dark web, even as cybersecurity experts were saying there was nothing to be done about it.
What is contributing to St. Lucia's spike in violent crime?
Gang violence, allegedly linked to the drug trade, is rising in St. Lucia. Citizens remain vigilant after a series of homicides occurred mid-March in the town of Vieux Fort.
A mother confesses to killing her child in Trinidad & Tobago, prompting discussion on violence, depression, poverty and mental health
"There is a lot of speculation [with] blame on state agencies [but] no one, unless familiar with the situation should be making any judgement."
Trinidad & Tobago's failure to act on decades of abuse allegations has done unspeakable damage to children in state care
The findings of a recent task force charged with investigating allegations of child abuse at children's homes has raised the ghost of a decades-old task force report that lay buried.
Another horrific murder/suicide in Trinidad & Tobago revives discussion about domestic violence
The country's police chief admitted, "We have a problem and we need to deal with it. We have something inherently wrong in society […] serious challenges in communities and within families."
Yet another Trinidadian woman is abducted, murdered and dumped, leaving citizens frustrated and fearful
Cudjoe went missing after reportedly travelling in a car her friends had hired, circumstances unsettlingly similar to the manner in which Bharatt and another young woman, Ashanti Riley, were abducted.
Chaotic attempt to remove Trinidad & Tobago's president demonstrates how ‘the country was the real loser’
Trinidad and Tobago's landscape of tribal politics recently culminated in a motion—which ultimately failed—to remove the country’s sitting president from office.
A month after vaccine mandate protests, opposition figures arrested in St Vincent & the Grenadines
After the prime minister was injured during an August protest, a woman was arrested for the assault. Four opposition members/supporters have since been charged in relation to the protests.
Social media outcry halts ‘revitalisation’ plans for Trinidad park, but approach to public consultation remains a challenge
"Since TT is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, CCSJ calls for sustainable, responsible, environmentally responsible revitalisation of our city."
Weak public consultation approach draws questions about plans to ‘revitalise’ beloved Trinidad park
Plans allegedly include replacing the existent grass with AstroTurf in order to utilise the park's potential as “a public wellness and sports hub in the heart of our capital city.”
Journalist working remotely in Barbados shares her experience of street harassment
"Local women said to me, ‘But that’s how Caribbean men are.’ One said if I wanted to live in the Caribbean I would have to accept that."
Instagram question on the intersectionality of Pride and religion in Trinidad & Tobago raises issue of gender ideology
While Trinidad and Tobago's Roman Catholic archbishop agrees that we're all children of God, he has called gender ideology "neo-colonialist," raising the ire of some LGBTQ+ activists.
Barbadian pop superstar Rihanna gets flak for wearing pendant of Hindu god in lingerie post
While some social media users felt the photo was disrespectful and tone deaf, others thought the controversy was much ado about nothing.
Calls to legislate ‘private hire’ vehicles and stop victim-blaming as another woman is murdered in Trinidad & Tobago
Ashanti Riley was last seen getting into a Private Hire (PH) car, but she never arrived at her destination.
Are some citizens being targeted more than others when it comes to Trinidad & Tobago's COVID-19 legislation?
Many fear that inconsistencies regarding who is brought before the law for breach of COVID-19 protocols is adding to public confusion, which could result in further flouting of the legislation.
Trinidad & Tobago NGO identifies treatment of women as key issue in upcoming elections
The histories of several electoral candidates have prompted the gender rights organisation Womantra to highlight "the need for urgent and collective attention to end violence against women in politics."
It's been 30 years since the attempted coup in Trinidad & Tobago
"Given that an unequivocal apology may never be obtained, we citizens must be the drivers of effecting our own reconciliation."
Police raid on rehab centre in Trinidad reveals inhumane conditions
Scores of people were found caged and mistreated in a rehabilitation centre that at one time received millions of dollars in government assistance.
Former news anchor threatened for speaking out on crime in Trinidad and Tobago
Tired of the spiralling crime in her community, former national news anchor Coleen Holder continues to speak out, despite death threats against her.