Expression
Canadian YouTuber charged with sedition
Canadian YouTuber Christopher Hughes, known online as “Chris Must List,” faces charges of sedition in Trinidad and Tobago following the publication of videos allegedly featuring gang members criticising the government. Hughes, who arrived on the island in mid-May 2024, began filming in areas affected by gang violence, which gained substantial viewership. On 28th May 2024, authorities detained Hughes and formally charged him under the Sedition Act, alleging that his content “incited public discontent by providing a platform for criminal expressions.” Under the country’s legal framework, sedition charges apply to individuals believed to incite hatred against the government.
According to experts, the Sedition Act is a piece of colonial-era legislation and has faced criticism from journalist and independent senator Sunity Maharaj, who described it as “a law in search of a crime.” Maharaj argued that “the value and usefulness of a law depends on its fitness for purpose and enforceability.” She further explained that the Act was originally enacted during a period of significant worker unrest in the British colonial era, aiming to restore control by suppressing free speech and curtailing the spread of ideas through publications. Maharaj also noted that, in 2020, a local ruling temporarily removed the Act from the statute books, deeming it “vague, uncertain and prone to arbitrary application” — a decision that was later overturned by the Court of Appeal, with the Privy Council upholding this appellate judgment.
Hughes and other journalists engaged in similar practices have been criticised for what some describe as “parachute journalism”— entering regions with minimal local knowledge, producing stories based on brief experiences, and then, in most cases, returning to their home countries. Unlike most, Hughes now faces judicial consequences in Trinidad and Tobago.
Released on bail on 3rd June 2024, Hughes has been permitted to leave the country on the condition of returning for court appearances. If convicted, he faces up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of TTD 25,000 (approximately USD 3,600).
Peaceful Assembly
Several peaceful protests were recorded from April to September 2024. Some of them are summarised below:
- On 6th April, a small group of retirees of the Telecommunication Services of Trinidad & Tobago (TSTT), formerly known as TELCO, protested outside Royal Bank to demand the release of funds aimed at enhancing pensioners’ income. This action followed an unproductive meeting with bank representatives, prompting union leaders to intensify their calls for action. The dispute between TSTT and its pensioners, which dates back to 2012, has involved ongoing legal proceedings.
- On 20th April, dozens of members of the opposition United National Congress protested outside the Couva Hospital, calling on the government to use it for its intended purpose as a Children’s Hospital. The protesters, led by Siparia Mayor Doodnath Mayrhoo, Chairman Ryan Rampersad, and Vice Chairman Shanti Boodram, referenced Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s statement suggesting that if the facility had operated as a children’s hospital, the recent deaths of 11 infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Port-of-Spain General Hospital might have been prevented.
- On 6th May, residents of upper Cunapo in Sande Grande protested over lack of water for two months. Following the demonstration, pipe-borne water service was restored to the area.
- On 13th May, dozens of residents of Charuma Village in Biche staged a protest over lights for their recreation ground, a concern they've raised for 17 years without resolution. Protesters, carrying placards, blocked two sections of the Cunapo Southern main road. They also highlighted the deteriorating condition of the pavilion, which poses safety risks, and voiced concerns about unemployment and inadequate drainage in the community. Community activist Terry Francis urged authorities, including the Minister of Sport, to address these longstanding issues.
- On 28th May, dozens of street vendors in Chaguanas protested a municipal police crackdown on illegal vending activities. The demonstration saw vendors blocking the main road with burning debris, temporarily halting traffic to express their frustration over enforcement measures aimed at curbing unauthorised street sales. The protest came in response to increased police activity targeting street vendors operating outside the market, where they compete with licensed market vendors. Following the protest, the Chaguanas Mayor Faaiq Mohammed addressed the issue, encouraging street vendors to pursue legal vending options, noting that booth spaces are available inside the market.
- On 6th June, Biche residents protested dilapidated roads and demanded immediate repairs to a deteriorated 15-mile stretch of road linking Sangre Grande to Rio Claro. They described the route as nearly impassable, with extensive potholes and areas where vehicles scrape the road surface. Despite past efforts by community members to patch sections of the road themselves, they reported minimal assistance from local authorities or the Ministry of Works and Transport.
- On 10th June, dozens of vendors of the Debe market protested over stall relocation to accommodate haberdashery vendors. Chanting, “We not Taking That!” they voiced frustration over plans to relocate vegetable vendors to the front while positioning haberdashery stalls in the centre. Farmer Esther Maharaj, a vendor for 30 years, argued that the change would reduce their visibility to customers, as most bypass the market’s entrance. Maharaj suggested the clothing vendors be placed in the auditorium behind, emphasising that the market was designed for agricultural produce, not retail goods. In response, Namdevco’s CEO Nirmala Debysingh met with vendors to address their concerns. The vendors also presented a petition with 600 signatures, requesting intervention from Agriculture Minister Kazim Hosein.
- On 25th June, workers at CCN TV6 protested outside their Independence Square offices, rejecting the five per cent increase offer for the period 2020 to 2024. Lead negotiator Wesley Francis from the Bankers, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) said the protest, held during break time, aimed to pressure the company into considering a better offer. While some non-wage issues have been settled, the union seeks more than the current five per cent offer, far from the requested 20 per cent increase.