The Caribbean regional media landscape continues to grapple with deep-seated financial strain, as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most prominent print publications becomes the latest outlet to downsize its workforce to maintain operational viability.
The Trinidad Express, a long-standing major news organization in the twin-island nation, has notified the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) of its planned restructuring initiative that will shrink the outlet’s editorial department from 33 current positions to just 26. The cuts target seven roles across the newsroom: two sub-editors, one night editor whose position will be eliminated entirely, and four reporters. Three of the affected reporters are based in the capital Port-of-Spain, with the fourth stationed in the southern city of San Fernando.
As the official representative body for Trinidad Express staff, BIGWU has moved to formally contest the restructuring decision, with the union emphasizing its commitment to ensuring all applicable labor regulations and legal procedures are strictly followed throughout the process. In a public message shared with affected and remaining employees, the union acknowledged widespread workplace anxiety sparked by the job cut announcement, but offered reassurance that union leadership is actively negotiating with newspaper management to advocate for staff interests.
The layoff announcement arrives just weeks after One Caribbean Media, the parent company that owns the Trinidad Express, published its first quarter 2026 financial results reporting a net profit of $4.36 million. Despite this positive quarterly bottom line, company chairman Faarees Hosein has acknowledged that the broader media sector still faces severe headwinds from a challenging advertising market. Hosein did note that there are early indicators of gradual industry recovery, adding that parent company leadership remains focused on ongoing cost-cutting measures and efficiency improvements across all its holdings.
The Trinidad Express’s restructuring is far from an isolated incident, reflecting a broader crisis that has swept through traditional media across the entire Caribbean region. For years, legacy news organizations have seen growing pressure as marketing budgets and advertising revenue shift steadily from print and broadcast outlets to digital and social media platforms, leading to consistent revenue declines for traditional outlets.
This trend has already forced multiple outlets across the region to scale back operations or close their doors permanently in recent months. Earlier this year in January, another major Trinidadian newspaper, Newsday, ceased all operations entirely, leaving dozens of journalists and support staff unemployed. Industry analysts note that unless traditional media organizations are able to build sustainable new revenue models to replace shrinking advertising income, further layoffs and closures are likely across the Caribbean in the coming years.