Cabinet must treat the unchecked expansion of gambling across Trinidad and Tobago as a national social emergency, as thousands of citizens are now trapped in escalating debt, borrowing from financial institutions and informal lenders, leading to asset seizures, threats to life, and the silent collapse of families; what began with small scale “play whe” outlets has now infiltrated every bar, shop, and community, normalizing addiction and driving a surge in Gambling disorder, with devastating consequences including broken marriages, children dropping out of school, repossessed homes and businesses, and deepening poverty that is largely hidden due to shame; urgent policy intervention is required through strict regulation and reduction of gambling outlets, enforcement against illegal moneylending practices, national public education campaigns, and the establishment of accessible treatment and rehabilitation programmes, as failure to act decisively will further erode the social fabric and economic stability of the nation.
Gordon Laughlin
Westmoorings
