August 16th, 2025
​By Cari Chandler-Martin

​Finding out that someone has moved onto your land without your consent can be stressful — and even more so when they refuse to leave. Whether it’s a stranger, an extended family member, or even a former friend, the law in Trinidad and Tobago gives landowners specific rights and options.

This article explains the legal position and the steps someone can potentially take to protect their property.

August 11th, 2025
​By Cari Chandler-Martin

​In a society grappling with surging home invasions, violent robberies, and growing fear among homeowners, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has introduced what may become one of the most consequential legal reforms in decades: the Home Invasion (Self‑Defence and Defence of Property) Bill, 2025. Commonly described as the “Stand‑Your‑Ground Bill,” this proposed legislation seeks to remove the duty to retreat and codify protections for homeowners who use force—including deadly force—when defending themselves and others from unlawful intruders.

June 4, 2025
By Cari Chandler-Martin

A tax amnesty is a time-limited opportunity offered by the State that allows taxpayers to pay outstanding taxes without having to pay accrued penalties and interest. It’s essentially a financial reset—a legal way to clear your debts to the tax system without facing the full cost of late payment.

May 6, 2025
By Christine St. Marie

​​Mediation, in my view, is not very popular in the legal sphere in our region. Once there is a legal conflict, one is more likely to think of litigation. Many are not even aware that they can seek Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which includes mediation.

But what is Mediation?
Mediation, as defined by the Mediation Act No.8 2004 (“Mediation Act”) of Trinidad and Tobago, is a process in which a Mediator facilitates and encourages communication and negotiation between the mediation parties and seeks to assist them in arriving at a voluntary agreement.

April 29, 2025
By Christine St. Marie

​“Let the hand receiving it be ever so chaste, yet if it comes through a corrupt polluted channel, the obligation of restitution will follow it.”- Lord Commissioner Wilmot in the case of Bridgeman v Green (1757) Wilm 58

Under What Circumstance Can a Deed Be Set Aside in Trinidad and Tobago?
In this article, we examine the legal circumstances under which a Deed may be set aside in Trinidad and Tobago. The term "setting aside" refers to a court-ordered process that renders a previously executed Deed invalid or ineffective. When a Deed is set aside, it is treated as null and void—either from the beginning (void ab initio) or from the date of the court's ruling—meaning it has no legal effect. This may occur for various reasons, including fraud, misrepresentation, undue influence, mistake, or lack of capacity.

Let’s explore the legal grounds on which such an action may be taken, the procedures involved, and relevant case law or statutory provisions that govern these situations.

April 16, 2025
By Christine St. Marie

​​A crucial factor that is often missed when seeking Judicial Review is the timeframe
within which it should be done. The purpose of this article is not so much to delve into the administrative law remedy of Judicial Review itself but to look at the specific aspect of its timeline as governed by the Judicial Review Act Chapter 7:08 (“JRA”) and the Part 56 of Civil Procedure Rules ("CPR") 1998 as amended.

April 12, 2025
By Christine St. Marie

​Do you have a relative who lived and died overseas, leaving property in Trinidad and Tobago? Do you know that it is possible to distribute the said property, once a general Grant of Representation has been obtained in the jurisdiction where the said relative died through a process referred to as “Resealing the Grant”.

April 5, 2025
By Cari Chandler-Martin

​As digital technologies continue to reshape the way we communicate, shop, work, and socialize, the protection of personal data has become increasingly critical. For years, Trinidad and Tobago has lagged behind global standards in data privacy. The Data Protection Act, 2011 (Act No. 13 of 2011), although enacted over a decade ago, has only been partially proclaimed. However, recent government movements signaled a renewed urgency to bring the law fully into force by late 2024. This article explores the contents of the Act, how it affects everyday citizens, the significance of its delayed proclamation, and what Trinidadians and Tobagonians need to know going forward.

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​The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced an extension of the Tax and National Insurance Amnesty until May 2, 2025. Initially established by the Finance Act of 2024, the amnesty was originally set for October 1 to December 31, 2024, and had previously been extended to March 31, 2025. This latest extension provides taxpayers and employers additional time to regularize their tax and national insurance obligations without incurring penalties or interest.

​The recent viral video of a newborn in a plastic pouch at a Trinidad and Tobago hospital has sparked widespread concern, prompting an official response from the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA). The footage, which captures a premature infant in distress, raises serious legal and ethical questions regarding medical negligence and patient rights in our country.