标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The Trinidad and Tobago government faces mounting criticism from trade unions over its selective approach to back pay disbursements, with only Public Services Association (PSA) members receiving promised payments before Christmas. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo confirmed on November 5 that no arrangements had been made for other unions to receive portions of the $3.8 billion in outstanding back pay owed to public sector workers.

The announcement has sparked outrage among union leaders representing thousands of workers. Contractors and General Workers Trade Union (CGWU) president Ermine De Bique-Meade expressed profound disappointment, accusing both Tancoo and Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindial of ‘playing games with the lives of workers.’ She revealed that members had made financial commitments based on previous assurances of pre-Christmas payments.

Similarly, TT Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) president Crystal Ashe appealed directly to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for intervention, questioning the government’s prioritization of PSA agreements finalized mere days before the December 2 announcement while leaving other unions waiting since April ratifications. Ashe emphasized that teachers, curriculum officers, and school supervisors are experiencing genuine financial hardship due to the protracted delays.

During Friday’s House of Representatives sitting, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar reaffirmed her government’s commitment to the PSA agreement, promising a ten percent settlement and partial back pay distribution before Christmas. However, she notably omitted any mention of other trade unions’ outstanding agreements, leaving many workers facing what union leaders describe as a ‘bleak, blue Christmas’ despite previous government assurances.

In a significant move to strengthen law enforcement capabilities, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar presided over a ceremonial handover of refurbished police vehicles to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) on Friday. The event, attended by Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin and other TTPS officials, marked the initial phase of an ambitious vehicle restoration initiative.

Upon assuming office last April, the newly formed government uncovered a startling reality: approximately 500 police vehicles sat idle across various locations in Trinidad, rendered inoperative due to minor mechanical issues. Some vehicles had been non-functional for months, while others had been gathering dust for years, primarily requiring basic repairs such as tire replacements, brake fixes, and other manageable mechanical adjustments.

This chronic shortage of operational resources had severely compromised the police service’s effectiveness in addressing criminal activities throughout the nation. In response to this critical situation, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar issued directives for immediate action.

The Vehicle Maintenance Corporation (VMCOTT) launched an accelerated repair program that yielded remarkable results within just one week. The first batch of ten fully restored vehicles represents the initial installment of fifty vehicles scheduled to return to active service before the Christmas holiday period.

These revitalized vehicles will immediately reinforce frontline operations, enhancing the TTPS’s mobility and emergency response capabilities during the traditionally crime-prone Christmas season. During a parliamentary address on Friday evening, the Prime Minister revealed that the total value of the repaired vehicles amounts to $3 million, while the restoration costs totaled approximately $70,000—a fraction of their operational worth.

The government has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to equipping the TTPS with necessary resources to ensure public safety. Beyond the anticipated delivery of forty additional refurbished vehicles before Christmas, projections indicate that over 100 more vehicles will be restored in the early new year. Simultaneously, VMCOTT is conducting similar repair operations for vehicles belonging to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to national security infrastructure enhancement.

A brewing crisis over back pay disbursements has exposed deep divisions between Trinidad and Tobago’s government and public sector unions. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo confirmed on December 5th that only Public Services Association (PSA) members would receive partial back pay before Christmas, leaving other unions empty-handed despite previous agreements.

The announcement, made outside the Red House before a House of Representatives sitting, immediately drew fierce criticism from union leaders. Contractors and General Workers Trade Union president Ermine De Bique-Meade expressed profound disappointment, accusing both Tancoo and Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindial of “playing games with the lives of workers” at the San Fernando City Corporation.

Simultaneously, TT Unified Teachers’ Association president Crystal Ashe appealed directly to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for intervention, referencing her frequent claims of unparalleled affection for the nation’s workers. Ashe emphasized that teachers had honorably accepted a five percent salary increase for 2020-2023 back in April, yet nine months later, no payment mechanisms had been established.

The situation grew more contentious when Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar addressed the Lower House later that day. While reaffirming her government’s commitment to paying PSA members their promised ten percent settlement—including a Christmas cash advance against the $3.8 billion total arrears—she notably omitted any mention of other unions’ pending agreements.

This selective approach has created widespread frustration among workers who made financial commitments based on government assurances. Union leaders argue that the delayed payments effectively diminish the purchasing power of earned wages, particularly concerning during the holiday season when financial pressures intensify. The developing situation suggests growing tensions between the administration and public sector workers that may escalate without prompt resolution.

Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives approved the comprehensive Finance Bill 2025 following extensive parliamentary deliberations that extended into Friday evening. The legislation, which passed with a simple majority vote without requiring division, introduces sweeping amendments across 21 distinct legislative frameworks.

The landmark bill establishes novel taxation structures while substantially elevating penalties for violations impacting public health and safety protocols. It further modernizes regulations governing border control processes and enhances disclosure requirements for imported goods to strengthen national security protections.

Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo spearheaded the legislative initiative alongside six additional contributors including San Fernando East MP Brian Manning and Caroni Central MP David Lee. The debate culminated in committee-stage modifications before final approval.

Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles delivered scathing criticism during deliberations, characterizing the legislation as fundamentally misguided. “These measures will paradoxically intensify public hardship rather than alleviate economic pressures,” Beckles asserted. She condemned the framework as resembling a “punishment plan” that imposes extreme burdens on citizens.

The Opposition Leader specifically challenged new landlord registration mandates and property description requirements, arguing these constitute effectively disguised housing taxes. Beckles further questioned the interplay between proposed surcharges and existing business levies, demanding clarification on property tax reimbursement timelines.

Beckles recalled previous governmental positions against taxation, accusing current leadership of dishonesty regarding operational smoothness since assuming power. Parliamentary proceedings will resume on December 9th for deliberation of the Summary Offences Amendment Bill 2025.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has revealed that the recently negotiated 10% settlement for the Public Services Association (PSA) effectively translates to a 15% compensation package when comprehensively calculated. The announcement was made during her December 5 address in the House of Representatives, marking a significant breakthrough in a decade-long wage dispute.

The government has committed to distributing $3.8 billion in back payments exclusively to PSA members before Christmas, addressing what the Prime Minister characterized as “a long-standing injustice” toward public servants. Persad-Bissessar emphasized that the settlement demonstrates her administration’s commitment to ensuring state workers “are treated with dignity and fairness.”

Providing historical context, the Prime Minister contrasted her government’s approach with that of the previous administration. She noted that under her earlier leadership (2011-2013), public workers received a 14% increase, while subsequent years under the PNM government saw stagnant wages from 2015 through early 2022. The former administration’s initial offer of a mere 2% over eight years, later revised to 4% over six years, was met with strong opposition from the PSA.

The union had particularly objected to the treatment of cost-of-living allowances, warning that such approaches would undermine future bargaining processes. The dispute eventually reached the courts by mid-2023, and when the government changed hands in 2025, no resolution had been achieved.

Persad-Bissessar framed the settlement not as an expense but as a “carefully managed stimulus” that places resources in the hands of burdened workers. She positioned the payout as “an investment in productivity, in human dignity and in more inclusive national recovery,” signaling a renewed focus on public sector compensation under her administration.