By| Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
— While the region pauses to celebrate Phagwah, a darkening security landscape in the Caribbean and a worsening energy crisis in the Middle East have taken center stage. From a fresh State of Emergency in Trinidad to a parliamentary row in Jamaica, here is your Tuesday evening news wrap.
Trinidad & Tobago: State of Emergency Declared Amid Gang War and Threats
In a drastic move to curb a surge in localized violence, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that President Christine Kangaloo has declared a State of Public Emergency (SoE), effective immediately as of today, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
- The Trigger: The decision follows a “troubling increase” in violent crimes, specifically mass shootings linked to organized gangs.
- The Intelligence: Security briefings revealed credible threats of planned attacks targeting police officers, prison officers, and members of the legal services.
- National Security: The National Security Council warned that without this intervention, escalating reprisal attacks would continue to threaten the general public safety. This new SoE comes just weeks after a previous emergency period ended on January 31st.
Jamaica: Deputy Speaker Rebuked for “Intemperate” Outburst
A heated exchange within the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has resulted in a formal rebuke for Deputy Speaker of the House, Heroy Clarke.
- The Incident: During a session last Wednesday, Clarke reportedly disrupted proceedings with what colleagues described as “intemperate” remarks.
- The Dispute: Clarke appeared agitated by questions regarding infrastructure directed at the National Water Commission (NWC), arguing that the queries were misplaced and belonged in the Infrastructure and Physical Development Committee.
- The NWC appeared before the oversight committee to discuss recovery and repair efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Global Energy Crisis: Oil Prices Skyrocket as Middle East Conflict Widens
The global economic recovery is facing its most significant challenge yet as crude oil benchmarks surged by 8% today. The spike is a direct result of the escalating U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, which has now physically impacted fuel shipments.
- Current Benchmarks:
- Brent Crude: Rose to $83.79 a barrel.
- West Texas Intermediate (WTI): Increased to $76.54.
- Supply Instability: Fears are mounting over the Strait of Hormuz as Iran launched strikes against Gulf energy infrastructure and vessels. Simultaneously, Israel’s expansion of military operations into Lebanon has heightened the risk of a total regional blockade of fuel exports.
