Trinidad and Tobago’s bicameral parliament is set to hold simultaneous sessions on December 9, with both the House of Representatives and Senate convening at 1:30 PM. The Senate will deliberate on the Finance Bill 2025 while the House debates the Summary Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking the second such dual sitting within a week.
The proposed fireworks legislation establishes a comprehensive permit system administered by the Commissioner of Police, with specific exemptions for holiday celebrations. The bill permits fireworks without permits on public holidays between 8-9 PM and on December 31 from 11:30 PM to 12:30 AM on New Year’s Day. The legislation explicitly prohibits fireworks discharge within a half-mile radius of animal shelters, zoos, farms, forest reserves, national parks, hospitals, and airports.
This legislative activity follows the December 5 simultaneous sessions that addressed the Finance Bill and the Home Invasion (Self-Defence and Defence of Property) Bill, 2025. Government officials, including Leader of Government Business Barry Padarath and Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales, have characterized the concurrent sittings as procedurally normal.
The Finance Bill implements revenue measures initially proposed in Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s October budget presentation, including immediate customs duty increases on alcohol and tobacco products. Additional measures scheduled for January 2026 implementation include National Insurance System rate increases, electrical surcharges for commercial customers, and banking sector levies.
The legislation has sparked political controversy, with former finance minister Colm Imbert condemning the measures as “an avalanche of new taxes” and “wickedness” in social media statements. Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles similarly criticized the provisions as “ill-conceived” measures that would “inflict further pain” on citizens. Minister Tancoo has dismissed these criticisms, maintaining the government’s position on the fiscal measures.