By| Jocelle Archibald | HGP Nightly News|
Trinidad & Tobago to Establish 30 Joint Army-Police Posts Under Ongoing State of Emergency
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD — Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has announced that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will construct and deploy 30 joint army-police static posts across high-crime communities over the next four months to bolster security operations during the ongoing State of Emergency (SoE).
In an official public announcement on Monday, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar explained that the decision directly responds to long-standing requests from residential neighborhoods for an increased, visible security footprint:
- Restoring Public Spaces: The joint deployment of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) aims to deter gang activity, restore community safety, and allow residents to reclaim parks and public spaces.
- Crime Statistics Update: Official TTPS metrics indicate that the national murder toll stood at 222 as of early August 2026, compared to 232 during the corresponding period in 2025. Notably, police records show zero homicides recorded nationwide for the month of July 2026, down from three in July 2025.
[ REGIONAL SECURITY & ENERGY SUMMARY ]
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[ Trinidad & Tobago Security Drive ] [ Grenada Energy Contract Cancellation ]
- 30 joint army-police posts over 4 months - Cancellation of Global Petroleum Group PSC after 18 years
- Deployed under active State of Emergency - Failure to conduct appraisal drilling at Nutmeg-2 well
- Zero murders recorded in July 2026 - Impact on Grenada-T&T Atlantic LNG gas export MOU
Grenada Terminates Offshore Natural Gas Contract With Russian-Backed Global Petroleum Group
ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA — The Government of Grenada has formally canceled its Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with the Russian-backed Global Petroleum Group (GPG), terminating the firm’s offshore exploration rights after 18 years.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell announced the decision on Monday, accusing GPG of failing to fulfill its contractual obligations and technical commitments:
- Unappraised Discovery: GPG announced a natural gas discovery at its offshore Nutmeg-2 well in 2017. However, the company failed to execute necessary appraisal wells to determine the commercial viability or exact volume of the reserves.
- Impact on Cross-Border Gas Deal: The cancellation introduces uncertainty surrounding the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago, which outlined plans to pipe Grenadian offshore gas to Trinidad’s Atlantic LNG complex and Point Lisas petrochemical plants for processing and export.
Global Oil Prices Plummet 4% Amid Diplomatic Progress in US-Iran Conflict
INTERNATIONAL — Global crude oil benchmarks dropped sharply by 4 percent on Tuesday to a three-week low, driven by optimism over potential diplomatic breakthroughs between the United States and Iran that could safeguard shipping lanes through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
- Market Movements: Brent crude futures fell by US$3.71 (4.4%) to settle at US$80.66 a barrel, reversing an earlier session peak of US$86.33. Both Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) contracts touched their lowest price levels since July 13, 2026.
- Mediated Negotiations: Price declines accelerated following statements by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Qatari Foreign Ministry officials confirming that active diplomatic talks—coordinated by Qatar, Oman, and Pakistan—are underway to exchange draft peace proposals and de-escalate regional tensions.
