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  • Uroy Joseph sentenced to 22 years in prison in Arthur James murder case

    Uroy Joseph sentenced to 22 years in prison in Arthur James murder case

    A Freetown man has been handed a 22-year custodial sentence for his role in the 2021 killing of Arthur James, whose charred remains were recovered in local undergrowth following his death. The penalty was issued on a Tuesday morning, weeks after a jury found Uroy Joseph guilty of acting as an accessory after the fact to the murder.

    Joseph’s trial, overseen by Justice Ann Marie Smith, centered on his claim that he only participated in covering up the killing out of mortal fear. He told the court he arrived home to discover James bound and his two cousins — Zamir and Obasic Ogarro — armed with firearms. According to his testimony, he had no intention of joining the plot, but the cousins threatened to kill him if he did not comply with their demands.

    Joseph recounted that he was forced to help move James’ body into a vehicle, before being ordered to carry out additional tasks with a second car. He also asserted that he reached out to law enforcement soon after the incident, cooperating fully with investigators and sharing key details about how the murder unfolded. Prosecutors confirmed during the proceedings that Zamir Ogarro, Joseph’s cousin, was the primary attacker who fatally struck James in the head with a pipe, an act Joseph claimed to have witnessed firsthand.

    Originally, Joseph was set to stand trial alongside both Ogarro cousins, but the pair died before the case could go before a jury. Despite Joseph’s claims of coercion and cooperation, the jury ultimately refused to accept his version of events, returning a guilty verdict that has now led to a decades-long prison term.

  • The UWI Five Islands graduates first Master of Public Health class

    The UWI Five Islands graduates first Master of Public Health class

    On October 10, 2026, a landmark moment unfolded in Caribbean higher education and public health development, as eight experienced health professionals crossed the graduation stage at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda to become the inaugural graduating class of the campus’s Master of Public Health (MPH) programme. The ceremony marked the campus’s second annual graduate graduation event, honoring students across disciplines including the School of Health & Behavioural Sciences, the home of the new MPH degree.

    Of the eight trailblazing graduates, seven are practicing registered nurse-midwives and one is a medical doctor, all of whom completed the rigorous two-year academic programme that launched alongside the 2024/2025 academic year. When the programme first opened for enrollment, 15 students joined the initial cohort, with the eight graduates successfully fulfilling all degree requirements including a capstone research project. Seven of the graduates received full financial support through government scholarships from Antigua and Barbuda, with additional backing from the nation’s Ministry of Health, Wellness, the Environment and Civil Service Affairs. The graduating cohort includes Tanasha Roberts, Chelle Thomas-Humphrey, Miasha John-Carr, Roselia Carriere-Joseph, Elaine Davis, Joyann Richardson-Fiedtkou, Nollareen Andrew-Richards, and Dr. Jonathan McComie.

    In his address to the graduating class, guests, and university community, Professor C. Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-chancellor and campus principal at UWI Five Islands, emphasized the critical role the programme plays for the Caribbean subregion. “We congratulate the inaugural cohort of MPH Graduates,” Robinson said. “As we confront the Triple C Crisis in our region, equipping our health professionals with the knowledge and practice to help build and strengthen the infrastructure in our twin island state and across the subregion is critical.” He went on to explain that the MPH programme is a core component of a broader regional strategy to boost workforce and institutional capacity in high-priority sectors across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with public health topping the list of needs.

    Sir Molwyn Joseph, Antigua and Barbuda’s former health minister who attended the celebratory ceremony, noted that the creation of the MPH programme at UWI Five Islands grew directly from intentional policy planning during his tenure to expand local healthcare training capacity. “The Ministry’s support for the programme, and the discussions that led to its addition to the offerings at The UWI Five Islands Campus during my tenure, were part of capacity building in the health sector,” Joseph explained.

    For the graduates themselves, the two-year journey was marked by unique personal and professional challenges that tested their resilience. All eight students began their postgraduate studies in September 2024 while holding active full-time roles in patient care across Antigua and Barbuda’s communities, balancing clinical shifts and long working hours with academic coursework and research requirements. Many of the graduates also balance caregiving responsibilities for their own children, fitting study sessions into late nights, early mornings, and weekends when they were not on duty at clinics or hospitals. The cohort shared that periods of illness, professional exhaustion, and self-doubt created obstacles along the way, but collective peer support carried the group through tight deadlines, demanding semesters, and the rigorous capstone research process.

    The graduation of this first MPH cohort aligns with the School of Health and Behavioural Sciences’ ongoing expansion of postgraduate training opportunities tailored to the unique needs of the Caribbean. In addition to the new Master of Public Health, the school already offers a Master of Science in Non-Communicable Disease Management, a programme designed to address the high burden of non-communicable illnesses across the region that places major strain on local healthcare systems.

    Established in 2019 as the fifth official campus of The University of the West Indies, UWI Five Islands has quickly become a major hub for accessible, world-class higher education across the Eastern Caribbean. As part of the UWI system, which holds consistent top rankings in global university assessments from Times Higher Education (THE), the campus upholds the system’s long legacy of academic excellence while prioritizing programmes that directly address regional development priorities. The campus currently offers more than 45 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across four specialized schools: the School of Humanities and Education, School of Business and Management, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, and School of Science, Computing and Artificial Intelligence. It also hosts the Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy (COBE), a leading research hub focused on marine science and sustainable ocean economic development, a critical sector for small island developing states across the Caribbean.

  • Camillo says ‘What Gets You Vex’ radio show helped foster ‘negativity’

    Camillo says ‘What Gets You Vex’ radio show helped foster ‘negativity’

    Following his election defeat in November after two consecutive terms in office, former East St. George Member of Parliament and ex-finance minister Camillo Gonsalves has drawn a clear line in the sand between his approach to political discourse and that of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) ruling New Democratic Party (NDP). In a recent guest appearance on the opposition Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) Star Radio’s *Morning Comrade* program, Gonsalves pledged that his on-air appearances would avoid the culture of unrelenting negativity that he says the NDP cultivated while it was in opposition, and continues to perpetuate today in government.

    Gonsalves recalled that during the NDP’s time out of power, party members appeared daily on radio programs to stoke public anger and criticism. He specifically called out the former Hot 97FM show “What Gets You Vex”, a program that invited listeners to call in daily and share what was frustrating them. While the privately owned urban radio station has never publicly aligned with any political party and has criticized both major parties during their tenures in power and opposition, Gonsalves argues that the show’s format normalized a cycle of complaint that the NDP weaponized for political gain.

    This culture of constant negativity, Gonsalves argues, has followed the NDP into government, where officials now spend much of their time dismissing SVG’s potential, pushing out political opponents, and framing the country’s future in pessimistic terms. In contrast, Gonsalves says the ULP has a responsibility to deliver a message of grounded optimism to SVG’s people, even when the party highlights policy missteps or areas in need of improvement.

    Gonsalves emphasized that unbroken negativity creates a self-reinforcing toxic cycle, where constant criticism erodes public trust and turns citizens against one another. “If all you hear is negativity, all you will be is negative,” he argued, noting that SVG’s people have far too much potential to allow setbacks to turn them into what he called “negative crabs in a barrel, pulling down one another”. He added that even when addressing serious challenges facing the nation, the ULP will start and end its messaging with positivity, offering the public a constructive alternative to the ruling party’s persistent pessimism.

    Gonsalves also took a moment to reflect on what SVG has to be grateful for, praising the country’s natural beauty and the warmth of its people. “We give thanks for where we are: peaceful, loving, harmonious,” he said, reinforcing his belief that a positive tone is not just a rhetorical choice, but a necessary foundation for building a better future for all Vincentians.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Relaunches Universal Health Coverage Programme, Advances National Health Insurance Preparations

    Antigua and Barbuda Relaunches Universal Health Coverage Programme, Advances National Health Insurance Preparations

    The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has officially restarted work on building out its national Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework, marking a critical milestone in the government’s push to deliver equitable, affordable care for all residents. Officials have positioned National Health Insurance (NHI) as the central policy tool to reach this goal, aiming to eliminate the financial barriers that prevent many people from accessing life-saving essential care.

    On October 12, 2026, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs brought together the UHC Steering Committee for an inaugural working meeting at the John E. St. Luce Finance & Conference Centre. The gathering officially relaunched the UHC initiative, with key agenda items including formalizing the committee’s membership and core responsibilities, standing up specialized technical subcommittees, and advancing foundational preparatory work to guide the program’s design and rollout.

    High-level stakeholders in attendance included Health Minister Michael Joseph, Medical Benefits Board Chairman Sir Lionel Hurst, Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) CEO Kevin Silston, Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Hildred Simpson, alongside senior technical leaders from both the Ministry and the MBS.

    In his opening address to the committee, Minister Joseph reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to building a healthcare system that delivers higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and financially sustainable care for every person across Antigua and Barbuda.

    “At its core, Universal Health Coverage is centered on people,” Joseph stated. “It guarantees that every Antiguan and Barbudan can get the high-quality, appropriate care they need without falling into financial hardship. This core principle must anchor every part of our work moving forward.”

    The minister emphasized that UHC is far more than just a new financing model for healthcare; it demands a comprehensive overhaul of how health services are structured, funded, and delivered across the country. He acknowledged that while the government has already made significant progress in expanding service offerings, strengthening health institutions, and investing in training for medical workers, critical gaps remain. These gaps include uneven access to care across populations, insufficient financial protection for households facing unexpected medical costs, and an inflexible system that struggles to adapt to the evolving health needs of the public.

    Joseph also took time to clarify a common point of confusion between the two policy concepts: UHC is the government’s overarching national goal, while NHI is the primary mechanism selected to achieve that vision. The current plan calls for transforming the existing Medical Benefits Scheme into the new National Health Insurance Programme, a shift designed to expand access to essential care, cut down on out-of-pocket medical spending that burdens households, and strengthen financial safety nets – especially for the country’s most vulnerable groups.

    Minister Joseph stressed that the final program must be tailored specifically to Antigua and Barbuda’s unique national context, while also meeting strict standards of fiscal responsibility, administrative functionality, and long-term sustainability. He paid tribute to earlier foundational work completed by the Health Economics Unit of the University of the West Indies, noting that the current effort builds on that existing research. The Steering Committee’s immediate priority is to review that earlier body of work against the country’s current social, economic, and demographic context, identify unaddressed gaps, and develop actionable, practical policy recommendations.

    Moving forward, the full Steering Committee will oversee and coordinate all stages of the UHC development process. The newly formed technical subcommittees will dive deep into key priority areas, including sustainable healthcare financing, the scope of covered benefits, system governance, required legislative updates, and models for service delivery. Their findings and analysis will shape the final recommendations for the structure and operations of the new NHI program and broader UHC framework.

    Joseph further underscored the critical importance of broad-based stakeholder participation throughout the development process. He noted that the program must draw on the specialized expertise of frontline healthcare workers, institutional leaders, and technical specialists, while also centering the perspectives and needs of patients, local communities, employers, and working people.

    Three core guiding questions will shape all deliberations moving forward: First, what essential health services should every resident be guaranteed access to? Second, how can these services be funded in a way that is both fair and financially sustainable over time? Third, how can the system protect vulnerable groups while upholding high standards of care and accountability for all stakeholders?

    The government has set an aggressive but achievable timeline for the initiative: all design and preparatory work for the program is targeted for completion by the end of 2027, with full implementation scheduled to launch in January 2028. The Steering Committee will consolidate all stakeholder input and technical analysis into a unified national framework for government consideration, while the Ministry of Health will support required policy decisions, regulatory approvals, and pre-implementation preparations.

    Acknowledging that the country operates with limited public resources and must balance competing national priorities, Joseph stressed that all recommendations must be rooted in robust evidence, and the final system must be built to last for generations.

    The official relaunch of the UHC development process represents a major step forward in Antigua and Barbuda’s multi-year effort to advance universal healthcare. With NHI as its core mechanism, the initiative aims to deliver stronger financial protection for households, expand access to life-saving essential services, and build a more equitable, sustainable national health system for all residents.

  • UWI Global Campus Celebrates Class of 2026 at Five Islands Graduation Ceremony

    UWI Global Campus Celebrates Class of 2026 at Five Islands Graduation Ceremony

    On Saturday, 10 October 2026, The University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus marked a landmark moment of achievement as hundreds of its distance learners crossed the graduation stage at the UWI Five Islands Campus, capping off years of deliberate effort and personal sacrifice. Thousands of guests, including proud family members, supportive friends, university faculty and community well-wishers, filled the venue to cheer on the new graduates and honor their relentless perseverance through their academic journeys.

    Graduates from three distinct academic faculties were recognized during the ceremony: the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Humanities and Education, and the Faculty of Sport. The cohort earned degrees spanning undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a notable share of undergraduate students collecting First Class Honours, and many postgraduate graduates walking away with Distinction or Merit classifications for their outstanding academic performance.

    As the UWI system’s flagship online learning institution, the Global Campus was designed to expand access to higher education across the Caribbean, currently serving enrollees across 16 regional nations. Its flexible model was built specifically to accommodate working adults, allowing learners to advance their education without stepping away from their full-time jobs, family care responsibilities, or local community ties. This year’s graduating class embodied that mission: the vast majority of graduates balanced full-time employment, caregiving duties, and active community service alongside their course requirements, making their academic success all the more extraordinary.

    One standout graduate is Malika Ward-Gomes, who served as the 2025/2026 Past Chapter Chair of the UWI Global Campus Guild of Students Antigua Chapter. Ward-Gomes earned a Master of Science in Management Studies with a concentration in Human Resource Management, graduating with Merit. Her achievement shines a light on the unique dedication of student leaders, who commit hundreds of hours to supporting their peers while pushing forward with their own academic goals.

    The Antigua Chapter of the UWI Global Campus Guild of Students issued a formal statement of congratulations to the entire 2026 graduating cohort. “Today we celebrate not just degrees, but the determination, resilience and commitment behind each one,” the organization noted. “Our graduates have shown that with sustained effort, success is within reach. We are so proud of you.”

    Looking ahead, the Antigua Chapter has planned a follow-up event to recognize top-performing students: its annual Honour Roll Ceremony and Guild Induction, scheduled for Sunday, 15 November 2026. The event will honor students who earned outstanding academic marks across the first and second semesters of the 2025/2026 academic year, and welcome the new cohort of student guild leaders for the coming term. To the entire UWI Global Campus Class of 2026, congratulations on this transformative achievement.

  • Browne accuses Parker of hypocrisy after she says criminals have politicians on speed dial

    Browne accuses Parker of hypocrisy after she says criminals have politicians on speed dial

    A sharp political clash has erupted in Antigua and Barbuda’s legislative arena, after an opposition senator’s bold claims about criminal influence peddling through political connections drew a blistering personal counterattack from the country’s sitting prime minister.

    The confrontation unfolded during upper house debate over the proposed Firearms Amendment Bill 2026, where opposition Senator Malaka Parker made a series of stunning allegations linking organized criminals to top Antiguan political figures. Parker told the Senate that many known criminals store politicians’ contact information on speed dial, allowing lawbreakers to evade legal consequences with a single phone call. She claimed that suspects taken into police custody are often released by the next day through nothing more than a politically connected phone intervention.

    The senator also opened up about a deeply personal tragedy to back up her claims, recalling the 2018 killing of her own brother. She alleged that the man convicted of involvement in her brother’s death was later granted an early release from prison and a delayed deportation order, privileges she attributed to his access to an unnamed politician. At no point during her Senate address did Parker publicly name the politician or the released prisoner in question.

    Shortly after Parker’s remarks were covered by local outlet Antigua News Room, Prime Minister Gaston Browne launched a scathing response, directly accusing Parker of rank hypocrisy. In a public post shared alongside coverage of Parker’s comments, Browne turned her own accusations back on her, claiming that Parker has long been surrounded by criminal figures within her own immediate inner circle, and that it is Parker who has these criminals on her personal speed dial.

    Browne also brought forward an unsubstantiated side allegation: he claimed Parker herself once arranged an airport meeting for a male associate she described as one of her “babes,” unaware that the man was already wanted by police and would be arrested on arrival. Browne closed his response with a folksy rebuke, writing “Gal, when you live in glass house … don’t throw stones,” adding, “Pick the beam out of your eyes before criticizing the yampee of others.”

    Notably, the prime minister provided no public evidence to back up his counterclaims, and declined to name the man he referenced in his airport allegation. As of press time, neither Parker’s original accusations nor Browne’s counter-allegations have been independently verified by third-party journalists or investigative bodies.

  • Volledige lading 385 ton illegaal ingevoerde rijst onder politiebewaking bij FAI

    Volledige lading 385 ton illegaal ingevoerde rijst onder politiebewaking bij FAI

    In a regulatory enforcement action unfolding at the Port of Nickerie, Suriname, authorities have completed the offloading of 385,000 kilograms (385 tons) of undeclared parboiled rice imported by local trader Bhagwatpersad Ramadhin, moving the entire shipment to a secured storage facility operated by the state-owned Food and Agriculture Industries (FAI). Initial unloading of a portion of the cargo began last Friday, with the remaining stock retrieved from the vessel on Monday, and the entire consignment is now under constant police guard to prevent unauthorized distribution.

  • Govia says forensic lab is operating, four people in training

    Govia says forensic lab is operating, four people in training

    A heated parliamentary debate over the proposed Firearms Amendment Bill in Antigua and Barbuda has spilled over into a public dispute over the state of the country’s national forensic laboratory, a key piece of infrastructure for fighting gun-related crime. During the closing remarks of the debate, ruling party Senator Shenella Govia pushed back against criticism leveled by opposition Senator Jonathan Wehner, who dedicated a large portion of his address to questioning the functionality and progress of the lab, while arguing that the bill’s focus on harsher penalties does not go far enough to address the root of the country’s gun crime crisis.

    Govia offered new details about the facility’s current operational status, confirming that the lab is already up and running from its permanent location in a two-story building situated in Coolidge, in close proximity to the area’s main police station. To bring the facility up to modern operational standards, the national government has poured more than one million Eastern Caribbean dollars into upgrading its technical equipment, and the lab currently has at least one full-time forensic analyst on staff, with four additional new recruits undergoing on-site specialized training to expand the facility’s workforce capacity.

    Admitting that the facility has not yet reached the government’s long-term operational goals, Govia framed the current progress as a meaningful foundational step forward. “We’re not where we want to be, but it’s a start,” she said, noting that the lab’s performance has already improved significantly compared to earlier phases of development. She also called out Wehner for diverting attention from the actual text and proposed changes in the amendment bill, arguing that his focus on the forensic lab meant he failed to adequately engage with the substance of the proposed legislation.

    Wehner’s core argument, which preceded Govia’s closing response, centered on the idea that cracking down on gun crime requires more than just stiffer sentencing for offenders. He asserted that meaningful progress depends on boosting overall investigative capacity across law enforcement, alongside targeted proactive measures to prevent crime from occurring in the first place. Govia did not push back entirely on this broader point, acknowledging that additional sustained investment in the national police force remains a critical priority. She pointed to recent investments already made to strengthen law enforcement, including the purchase of new police vehicles completed in the previous year as part of ongoing capacity-building efforts.

    Outlining the core purpose of the Firearms Amendment Bill, Govia explained that the legislation is designed to send an uncompromising message to individuals who use firearms to intimidate and terrorize communities across Antigua and Barbuda. She expressed confidence that the enhanced penalties laid out in the amendment will act as a meaningful deterrent to gun-related offending, and confirmed her full support for moving the bill forward.

  • Azruddin Mohamed says police attempted to kill him, planted gun in vehicle

    Azruddin Mohamed says police attempted to kill him, planted gun in vehicle

    In an early morning incident on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, Azruddin Mohamed, leader of Guyana’s main opposition party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), has made serious allegations against local law enforcement, claiming officers attempted to assassinate him by shooting at his vehicle and later planted an illegal handgun to frame him.

    Mohamed made the claims in a live broadcast streamed from Kitty Police Station on his sister’s Facebook page, where he detailed what he says was a coordinated attack against him. According to his account, police first fired between five and seven shots at his vehicle on Barr Street in Kitty, followed by a second round of gunfire on Vlissengen Road. He claims officers shot at the vehicle a total of three times with the clear intent to kill him.

    “The bigger picture is not the gun that was planted — the bigger picture is that an officer aimed a firearm at us to kill us,” Mohamed stated during the broadcast. “I could have been killed before any gun was ever planted in the vehicle.”

    After the vehicle was stopped, Mohamed says police first conducted an initial search that turned up no contraband. Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, Head of Special Branch, even confirmed the vehicle was cleared following a search of all four doors at the Vlissengen Road location, according to Mohamed. It was only after a second search involving a sniffer dog that officers claimed to find a handgun tucked under the accelerator pedal. Mohamed and his legal team insist this weapon was placed there by police.

    Mohamed’s sister, who was present during the incident, has also voiced concerns that law enforcement sought to plant a murder weapon in her brother’s vehicle. Siand Dhurjon, Mohamed’s lawyer, has backed up these allegations, confirming that no weapon was found during an initial five-minute search of the vehicle. Dhurjon has questioned how the weapon could suddenly appear under the accelerator — a part of the vehicle that would have been accessed during driving — and has directly alleged that an officer placed the gun in the vehicle after the vehicle was detained.

    Following the discovery of the weapon, Mohamed and one of his employees were taken into custody and handcuffed at Kitty Police Station, where the above remarks were recorded. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Guyana Police Force has not issued any immediate statement or comment in response to the allegations.

  • Relief for vulnerable

    Relief for vulnerable

    On a historic parliamentary sitting at Port of Spain’s Red House, Trinidad and Tobago’s Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo presented a $63.368 billion 2027 national budget centered on a progressive framework: putting more disposable income into the pockets of low-income and vulnerable citizens while expanding revenue collection from high earners, large businesses and heavy consumers.

    Titled “A People-Centred Approach: Investing in Communities, Transforming the Economy and Securing a Sustainable Future”, Tancoo’s two-and-a-half hour budget address laid out targeted relief for groups that have gone more than a decade without financial support, paired with long-term investments in youth development, public services and accessible wealth-building opportunities. Before the presentation, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar joined Tancoo to unveil the official budget statement to assembled lawmakers and onlookers.

    Built on conservative commodity price assumptions aligned with ongoing global market volatility, the 2027 budget pegged benchmark oil prices at US$77 per barrel—an upward adjustment from the 2026 budget’s US$73.25 projection—and natural gas prices at US$5 per MMBtu, up from 2026’s US$4.25. Total projected revenue for the fiscal year stands at $59.729 billion, with total expenditure reaching $63.368 billion, resulting in a projected fiscal deficit of $3.639 billion. The largest three budget allocations prioritize core public services: $8.061 billion for health, $8.033 billion for education and training, and $7.321 billion for national security.

    For the nation’s sister island Tobago, the government earmarked a total combined allocation of $3.473 billion for fiscal 2027—equal to 5.48% of the entire national budget. This includes $2.756 billion allocated directly to the Tobago House of Assembly, plus an additional $716.5 million for cross-ministerial projects and services benefiting Tobago residents.

    Opening the most impactful provisions for vulnerable households, Tancoo announced a $250 monthly increase to three core social assistance grants, marking the first raise for these groups in 12 years, since the first Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration. The increase will go into effect January 1, 2027, benefiting roughly 124,000 senior citizens receiving the Senior Citizens’ Grant, 13,637 families on Public Assistance, and 28,000 adults and children eligible for Disability Assistance. The additional support will cost the national treasury an estimated $555 million annually, a cost Tancoo defended as a critical investment in the nation’s most financially vulnerable citizens.

    Retirees will also receive targeted tax relief, with the annual personal tax allowance for eligible retired public officers and qualifying pensioners rising from $90,000 to $102,000, effective January 2027. This adjustment will provide a total of $11 million in collective tax relief, allowing pensioners to keep an extra $12,000 in annual pension income before crossing the taxable threshold. The change follows the 2026 fiscal policy decision to make all private pensions fully tax-free, and addresses longstanding concerns from retired public servants who continued to face tax liabilities on higher pension incomes.

    Young people are a core focus of the budget’s transformative investments, with new funding allocated to expand technical vocational education and training (TVET) in secondary schools and introduce paid work experience programming. A $16.3 million investment will upgrade workshops, provide new equipment and distribute practical learning materials across 56 secondary schools, with 22 institutions prioritized for full infrastructure upgrades. The funding will expand training access for students in high-demand trades including carpentry, plumbing, electrical technology, welding, automotive repair, air conditioning and refrigeration, agriculture, computer-aided design and steelpan manufacturing, while also supporting teacher training, curriculum development and career guidance services.

    For students aged 16 and older, the new $2 million Real Experience and Development for Youth (READY) programme will place approximately 1,300 participants in four-week paid internships during the 2027 July-August school break. Interns will be placed with government ministries, the Tobago House of Assembly and participating private sector organizations, earning a $1,500 stipend while gaining training in workplace ethics, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and job search skills. For young people interested in agriculture, the government will expand the existing Agricultural Internship Programme from 30 to 100 spots, offering hands-on experience in farming, agro-processing, agricultural technology and distribution, with exploratory support for interns looking to launch their own agricultural businesses. A new Farm Business Formalisation Programme will also provide registered farmers with a one-stop service for land tenure clarification, business registration, financial management training and access to financing.

    To expand accessible wealth-building opportunities for ordinary citizens, the government introduced two new retail bond initiatives designed to open up government securities investment to small-scale investors. The Government Savings Bond Programme will allow individuals to invest in amounts starting as low as $1,000, with options for fixed interest rates, varying maturity terms and investments in both local and US currency. A separate Retail Government Securities Programme will offer bonds in small denominations starting at $5,000, held electronically via the Trinidad and Tobago Central Depository and listed on the local stock exchange. Exact interest rates and official launch dates have not yet been announced.

    To offset the cost of targeted relief and expand overall national revenue, Tancoo announced a series of new revenue measures aimed at high consumers, large businesses and importers, alongside tighter tax enforcement to close longstanding loopholes. Key measures include a new surcharge for households consuming more than 3,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per billing period, higher customs duties for high-value imported alcoholic beverages under a revised classification system, and increased Motor Vehicle Tax rates for owners and importers of classic, antique and vintage vehicles. Adjustments to the broader tax regime will also increase contributions from petroleum companies, large businesses and non-resident investors. To crack down on tax evasion, the budget introduces mandatory electronic tax filing, stiffer penalties for false customs declarations, and stricter oversight of businesses using loopholes to reduce their tax liabilities.

    In a notable relief for motorists, Tancoo confirmed that the government would maintain the current price of super gasoline, absorbing higher international oil price pressures rather than passing costs directly to consumers. Throughout his address, Tancoo repeatedly emphasized the government’s delivery on campaign commitments, repeating the refrain: “We promised. We delivered. More to come!” Following the presentation, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar publicly congratulated Tancoo on the budget framework, capping a day of political activity that saw lawmakers greeting supporting constituents gathered outside the Red House.