Carib Scope

标签： Trinidad and Tobago

特立尼达和多巴哥

  • PNM gets $490m more than UNC

    PNM gets $490m more than UNC

    A sharp political dispute over municipal budget allocations has erupted in Trinidad and Tobago, as Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has publicly refuted claims from People’s National Movement (PNM)-controlled local governments that their operating funding has been cut, releasing official 2027 draft budget data that shows the opposition party’s municipal corporations received hundreds of millions of dollars more in public funding than governing United National Congress (UNC)-led bodies.

    Addressing the controversy on yesterday, Persad-Bissessar pushed back against weeks of complaints from PNM-led municipal corporations, who have argued that the national budget shortchanged their local governments ahead of the upcoming fiscal cycle. Citing official figures pulled from the Ministry of Finance’s 2027 Draft Estimates of Expenditure, the prime minister laid out a clear breakdown of total allocations that directly contradicts the PNM’s narrative. Across the seven PNM-controlled municipal corporations, total 2027 allocations reach approximately $1.29 billion, compared to just $799 million allocated to the seven UNC-led corporations. That marks a gap of $490 million more in public funding for PNM corporations, and both blocs saw allocation increases from 2026 revised estimates: PNM corporations received a collective $276 million raise, while UNC corporations got a $183 million increase.

    Persad-Bissessar leveled harsh criticism at PNM leadership for their complaints, arguing the opposition’s local governing bodies have a long track record of mismanaging public funds for political gain. “They got almost half a billion dollars more than the UNC but still complain. It doesn’t matter if you give the PNM corporations every cent of the budget, they will find a way to either thief, waste or fete it out, with nothing to show,” she told local outlet the Express. The prime minister further alleged that PNM corporations have systematically diverted public funds for decades to engage in political patronage, claiming funding is funneled to unstaffed “ghost worker” positions and overinflated contracts awarded to PNM financial backers.

    In a provocative closing remark, Persad-Bissessar also called out voters in PNM-controlled municipalities for tolerating the alleged mismanagement, saying “The constituents in those PNM corporations like it like that, so enjoy.”

    Beyond the collective totals, the 2027 draft estimates, published on page 268 under Head 42 of the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government’s portfolio, show that every single municipal corporation in the country received a funding increase for the upcoming fiscal cycle. Overall national spending on local government bodies has jumped 27% from the 2026 revised total of $1.654 billion to $2.104 billion for 2027, a net increase of roughly $449.7 million.

    Among PNM-run corporations, the Port of Spain City Corporation secured the largest single allocation of any local government in the country at $295.3 million, a $60.9 million increase from its 2026 revised allocation of $234.4 million. The PNM-controlled San Fernando City Corporation followed as the second-highest recipient with a $212.3 million allocation, up $55.2 million from 2026’s $157.2 million. Other PNM allocations include $222.4 million for the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation (a $47.4 million increase), $217.3 million for the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation (a $43.5 million increase), $123.4 million for the Diego Martin Borough Corporation (a $24.7 million increase), $114.3 million for the Arima Borough Corporation, and $104.8 million for the Point Fortin Borough Corporation.

    For UNC-run corporations, the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation received one of the bloc’s largest allocations at $147.8 million, a $32.6 million increase from 2026. Other notable allocations include $122.7 million for the Siparia Borough Corporation (a $28.2 million increase), $111.2 million for the Princes Town Regional Corporation (a $29.3 million increase), $109.8 million for the Chaguanas Borough Corporation (a $27.5 million increase), $114.9 million for the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation (a $25.2 million increase), $100.4 million for the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation (an $18.1 million increase), and $93.3 million for the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation (a $22.2 million increase).

  • Aboud to pay adviser $25,000

    Aboud to pay adviser $25,000

    A Trinidadian High Court justice has delivered a landmark ruling in a long-running investment dispute, ordering prominent local businessman and environmental advocate Gary Aboud to pay $25,000 in compensatory damages to investment adviser Lawrence Mollenthiel. The ruling, issued Monday by Justice Devindra Rampersad, also requires Aboud to cover $3,868.15 in accrued interest and a majority of Mollenthiel’s legal fees, after finding that a 2017 agreement forcing Mollenthiel to accept personal blame for a $10 million investment loss was signed under explicit duress and is legally unenforceable. Alongside dismissing the entire original lawsuit brought by Aboud, his wife Merylle Mahabir, and her sister Natalie Mahabir, the judge also ordered the three claimants to split a total $297,243.75 in court costs for the defense, with Aboud responsible for more than 79% of that sum.

    The legal fight centered on losses from the now-collapsed offshore Kijani Commodity Fund, where the three claimants collectively invested more than $11 million between 2012 and 2013. Aboud contributed the largest single sum, a $10 million transfer made in February 2012. Merylle Mahabir invested a further $644,000 in 2013, while Natalie Mahabir put approximately $63,344 into the fund after an earlier investment through Friends Provident International left her with a partial shortfall.

    In their original lawsuit, the three claimants argued that Mollenthiel, who runs the advisory firm Investment Designs Ltd, had misrepresented his professional credentials, framed the Kijani fund as a safe, insured vehicle capable of delivering guaranteed high returns, and improperly misdirected their investments through unagreed offshore shell companies and insurance-linked structures. They pinned full blame for the fund’s collapse and their subsequent losses on Mollenthiel’s professional negligence, and centered their claim on the 2017 agreement that purported to confirm his personal liability and commitment to compensate Aboud for his losses.

    Mollenthiel has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing, countering that he only acted as a licensed intermediary to help clients access offshore investment products, handling only administrative paperwork, compliance checks, and onboarding logistics. He maintained that all investment decisions were made independently by the claimants, that he never controlled their invested funds or managed their portfolios, and never misrepresented Kijani as a zero-risk asset with guaranteed returns. In his counter-claim over the 2017 incident, Mollenthiel told the court he had attended a meeting at Aboud’s office expecting a neutral discussion of the dispute, only to be confronted by Aboud, a companion identified only as “Abdullah”, and other unidentified individuals. He testified that a cutlass was displayed openly on the meeting desk, explicit threats were made against him and his family, his car was blocked in the parking lot to prevent an early exit, and he was held against his will for nearly four hours until he signed the liability agreement.

    Aboud refuted all claims of coercion, arguing that Mollenthiel had attended the meeting voluntarily, kept his personal mobile phone with him throughout, and was free to make calls and leave at any time. But Justice Rampersad rejected Aboud’s narrative, noting that voluntary attendance and access to a phone did not equate to free agreement to accept personal liability for the entire investment loss. The judge gave significant evidentiary weight to a message Mollenthiel sent to contacts just days after the meeting, in which he detailed the duress, threats, and unlawful detainment immediately after the incident. Rampersad also highlighted that Aboud failed to call Abdullah — a long-time personal friend who was present at the meeting and co-signed the 2017 agreement — as a witness to corroborate his version of events.

    In his final assessment of the original investment claims, Rampersad found that the evidence presented did not prove Mollenthiel or his firm had wrongfully seized or retained the claimants’ funds. He also confirmed that all formal investment documents provided to the claimants explicitly outlined the insurance-linked investment structure and included standard warnings about the inherent risks of offshore investing. Having upheld Mollenthiel’s account of the 2017 meeting as the most credible, the judge invalidated the liability agreement and ruled in the investment adviser’s favor on all counts.

  • Keshorn: I owe it to Sean

    Keshorn: I owe it to Sean

    Hundreds gathered at San Juan’s Himalaya Club on Prizgar Road yesterday to mourn the sudden passing of Sean Roach, a prominent Trinidad and Tobago business leader, sports administrator, and beloved mentor to 2012 Olympic javelin champion Keshorn Walcott. Roach died unexpectedly on October 5 at 46, with reports indicating he suffered a heart attack, though official details of his death have not been publicly released.

    As the son of Langston Roach, a business icon inducted into the Trinidad and Tobago Business Hall of Fame, Sean Roach built an impressive professional legacy of his own: he served as CEO of family-owned Langston Roach Industries Ltd, and previously held the position of chairman at Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT). But for Walcott, Roach was far more than a business figure – he was a guiding force, lifelong friend, and the quiet architect of the Olympic champion’s career, a point Walcott emphasized during his moving eulogy.

    Walcott first met Roach 15 years ago, when the businessman visited the athlete’s family home in Toco to discuss securing a university scholarship for Walcott’s older brother. Even then, 15-year-old Walcott, used to being overlooked as the youngest sibling, refused to be left behind. Though he was initially wary of the stranger in his home, a late-night conversation that stretched past midnight convinced the young javelin thrower to take a leap of faith. With only a few dollars between the two brothers and little more than a shared dream of athletic success, Walcott and his sibling left home to pursue professional sports, with university education planned as a safety net if their athletic ambitions fell through.

    “That decision was one of the biggest risks of my life,” Walcott told mourners. “But the unexpected happened – I won Olympic gold just months after I took that chance.”

    Over the 15 years that followed, what began as a mentor-mentee relationship grew into a deep brotherhood that shaped Walcott far beyond the javelin field. Meeting Roach and his family introduced Walcott to a new kind of unconditional love and support: he recalled being uncomfortable with the warm, long hugs Roach’s grandmother gave him at first, having never grown up with that level of physical affection. The experience ultimately taught him a new kind of family bond, one aligned with the core principle Roach lived by: “Each one help one.”

    Walcott noted that Roach’s guidance was quiet, often unspoken, and his impact far less visible to the public than it was to those he helped. “A lot of people see my achievements and all the things I’ve been able to accomplish, but they wouldn’t know that behind so much of it was him,” Walcott said. “The person standing here today is the result of so many things you poured into my life over the years, most of which you probably never realized.”

    The Olympic champion shared that Roach’s sudden death has left an unfillable void, not only for Roach’s wife, children, and extended family, but also for him. He now faces the unthinkable reality of navigating life without being able to call Roach for advice, even on small matters he could resolve on his own. “Navigating this life without you is going to be tough, and I know I’m never going to have all the answers,” Walcott said. “But the conversations, the moments that I may have taken for granted, because I never imagined a day like this would ever come, those will be the answers in the hardest of times. I know he will keep guiding me through the memories and lessons we shared.” Walcott closed his tribute by promising to honor Roach’s legacy by ensuring his children always know how deeply their father loved them.

    Jason Roach, Sean’s younger brother and CEO of Rojan Marketing, also shared reflections on his brother’s life, recalling that Sean chose to return to Trinidad and Tobago after graduating from Florida International University (FIU) to work alongside their father in the family business, turning down the chance to build an independent career in the United States.

    Born March 8, 1976, Sean Roach developed his passion for track and field during his time at Tranquillity Secondary School, competing in sprints, long jump, and high jump before continuing his athletic career at FIU. At the university, he set multiple track records, including a 400-meter record of 47.15 seconds that stood for 25 years, only being broken in March 2024.

    Jason explained that Sean’s athletic background shaped his approach to business and leadership. One of his core management mantras was: “You cannot go where you have not seen” – a principle that emphasized visualizing goals before pursuing them, then raising expectations once a goal was achieved. Jason, who worked as Sean’s personal administrative assistant for several years, shared that his brother had a rare gift for connecting with people, nurturing their growth, and building cohesive teams. Even when Jason was fired from the company for a mistake, Sean helped him build a plan to earn his job back, demonstrating the same commitment to lifting others up that he extended to athletes like Walcott.

    For Sean Roach, Jason added, family was the central pillar of his life, and his definition of family extended far beyond blood relatives. From immediate relatives to colleagues, community members, and young athletes he mentored, Roach embraced everyone as part of his extended family. “He truly embraced everyone as his bigger family,” Jason said.

  • Tobago eyes 60,000 Carnival visitors

    Tobago eyes 60,000 Carnival visitors

    As Tobago gears up to welcome an estimated 60,000 attendees for its 2026 Carnival, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has outlined a comprehensive set of preparations addressing critical infrastructure, financial restructuring, and cultural preservation, according to updates shared at a recent stakeholder press conference hosted by Tobago Festivals Commission Ltd.

    Zorisha Hackett, THA Secretary for Tourism, Antiquities and Creative Industries, opened the briefing by highlighting ongoing coordination with local utility providers to stabilize essential services amid the expected surge in temporary visitors. The threat of persistent drought through December 2026, officially warned by the local Met Office earlier this week, has elevated water supply security to a top priority, alongside consistent electricity and reliable high-speed internet connectivity. Hackett emphasized that the THA is proactively engaging utility stakeholders to lock in consistent service, preventing disruptive fluctuations that could dampen the festival experience for attendees and organizers.

    On the financial front, Hackett revealed that the 2026 Tobago Carnival, scheduled to run from October 30 to November 1, carries an approved $12 million budget secured early this year through the THA Executive Council. She also outlined significant progress in cleaning up historical debt that has weighed on the festival for years: accumulated outstanding obligations dating back to the first iteration of the standalone Tobago Carnival have been cut sharply from more than $29 million to under $5 million. This legacy debt has already forced difficult fiscal tradeoffs, including the cancellation of a planned local jazz event earlier this year to reallocate funds.

    To address lingering liabilities and prevent future debt accumulation, Hackett announced sweeping new financial oversight reforms for the Tobago Festivals Commission. Moving forward, the body will invite all stakeholders to submit any outstanding unpaid invoices after each Carnival to identify overlooked liabilities and settle accounts promptly, with a long-term goal of launching every new festival completely free of carryover debt from previous events.

    Beyond logistics and finance, event leaders are refocusing the festival on its local cultural roots. Working with Kevon McKenna, president of the Tobago Promoters Association, the THA is implementing a new mandate to increase visibility for local performers and Tobago-born musical talent. While the policy stops short of barring promoters based in neighboring Trinidad from hosting events – a reflection of the unified national framework of Trinidad and Tobago – event organizers are pushing promoters to prioritize local content to ensure the festival authentically represents Tobago’s unique cultural identity rather than becoming dominated by outside acts.

    Details of event programming were also shared at the briefing. Kadion Moore, chairman of the Tobago branch of Pan Trinbago, the national steelband organization, confirmed that the group would participate in the upcoming festival’s signature Steelpan and Powder event, scheduled for Carnival Saturday night on October 31. This year’s event will be held as a tribute to iconic calypso artist Slinger Francisco, widely known by his stage name Mighty Sparrow. The confirmation comes just weeks after Pan Trinbago threatened to boycott the 2026 festival over $1.7 million in unpaid fees from the 2025 event, a dispute that was resolved after the outstanding payment was delivered.

    Organizers also announced two key additions to this year’s programming: mud mas, a traditional folk Carnival tradition, will be granted a much more prominent role in the 2026 festival, with dedicated mud activation stations placed along the Carnival parade route, particularly in the Roxborough region. In a historic first, the 2026 event will also launch an inaugural road march-style competition, adding a new core attraction to Tobago’s annual Carnival celebration, now in its fifth year of operation.

  • Sparrow fans disappointed

    Sparrow fans disappointed

    When fans of legendary calypso icon Slinger Francisco, better known by his stage name Mighty Sparrow, traveled across Trinidad and Tobago to pay their final respects at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) on Tuesday, many left with unmet expectations. What had been advertised as a public viewing of the beloved performer’s body turned out to be a ceremony featuring a permanently sealed casket, leaving dozens of admirers who had hoped to see the icon one last time disappointed.

    Among the attendees was 61-year-old percussionist Anselm Callender, who traveled from St Margaret’s Village in Claxton Bay for the event. This was not Callender’s first visit to SAPA in 48 hours: he stopped by on Monday to sign the official condolence book, and returned early Tuesday morning, arriving by 10:30 a.m. ready to say his final goodbye. For Callender, the connection to Sparrow runs far deeper than casual fandom. In 1983, he got his first break as a professional musician stepping in to back Sparrow at the Palms Club’s Miss Mahaica Show, when the star’s regular percussionist failed to show up for the performance.

    “It was the first time I ever backed a major artist,” Callender recalled. “When I walked on, he just looked at me and said, ‘young boy, you ready?’ The drummer told me to just follow his lead, and that’s how it happened.” Like many fans, Callender praised Sparrow’s thoughtful, accessible lyricism, naming the iconic track *Education* as his all-time favorite. “Every song he sang made sense. A young person or an elder could understand it. He never sang nonsense,” he said.

    Seventy-year-old Maren Alexander of Gasparillo shared Callender’s disappointment. She had made the trip to SAPA alongside a close friend, after jumping at the chance to see the legend one last time. “When I heard about the viewing, I told my girlfriend, ‘We’re going, we’re going to see Sparrow’,” Alexander told reporters. “But all we got to do was sign the condolence book. I came to see the man’s face, and I didn’t get to. That’s the hurtful part.” Alexander, who had followed Sparrow’s career since she was a young girl, celebrated his iconic stage presence and his enduring legacy as a cultural icon for Trinidad and Tobago. “He knew how to work a crowd. He would dance, he would go all across the stage, he kept the energy going the whole time,” she said. “He put our country on the map. Even though he was born in Grenada, he’s one of us. He’s a Trini through and through.”

    While visitors were not able to view Sparrow’s body, the event did feature a constant soundtrack of the legend’s most beloved hits for attendees to enjoy.

    Renowned Moko Jumbie master Junior Bisnath attended the viewing with a custom commemorative banner honoring the “Calypso King”, which he invited other visitors to sign before gifting it to the Francisco family. Bisnath, who has created tribute banners for nearly every iconic calypsonian who has passed in recent decades — including legends like Roaring Lion and Lord Kitchener — called the work a duty to Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural heritage. He thanked the national government and the Ministry of Culture and Community Development for their work to repatriate Sparrow’s body after his passing.

    The banner is covered in vintage photos of Francisco spanning his decades-long career, as well as documentation of his countless victories as Calypso King and Road March champion. Bisnath emphasized Sparrow’s unmatched contribution to global calypso, noting his masterful command of language and willingness to tackle nearly every social and political topic in his music. “He used the English language so versatilely that he could say one word and mean something entirely different,” Bisnath explained. “He sang on almost every topic you can imagine. That’s what makes Sparrow the Calypso King — the King of the world, really.”

    Also in attendance at SAPA was Ancel Roget, president general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), who was joined by a contingent of union members. Roget used the moment to call on the national government to issue a formal national honor to Sparrow, noting that the legend had brought more international recognition to Trinidad and Tobago than any politician ever could. Roget explained that Sparrow was far more than just an entertainer: his music consistently centered the struggles of working-class Trinbagonians, which led the OWTU to award him a formal labor honor back in 2015.

    “On October 29, 2015, we took the decision to give Sparrow an award on behalf of all Trinidad and Tobago’s working people,” Roget told reporters outside the venue. “Through all his songs and all his lyrics, he really addressed the issues of the small man. He sang about labor issues, about the harm capitalism causes to everyday people and the masses.” Roget added that he was grateful for the chance to have met Sparrow personally, and that the icon had a lasting impact on his own life.

    Sparrow passed away last month at his home in New York City at the age of 91. Following the SAPA viewing, his body will lie in repose for public viewing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain. Per a formal request from the Francisco family, the public is asked not to take photographs or record video during any of the public viewing events.

    On Friday, a national procession will kick off at 10 a.m. from Port of Spain’s Independence Square, traveling along Frederick Street for a national, public and cultural farewell. A formal tribute program will follow at NAPA from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., featuring performances from steel orchestras, moko jumbies, traditional masquerade groups, and other local cultural performers, alongside dedicated tribute installations. The Ministry of Culture confirmed that arrangements are being made to allow the public to view the tribute celebration from the Grand Stand at Port of Spain’s Queen’s Park Savannah, with additional logistical details to be released in the coming days.

  • UNC ‘WAGING WAR’

    UNC ‘WAGING WAR’

    A coalition of eight leaders from People’s National Movement (PNM)-controlled municipal corporations gathered at Port of Spain’s City Hall on Wednesday to voice vehement opposition to the newly unveiled 2027 national budget, arguing that discriminatory, deep funding cuts have crippled their ability to deliver core services to local residents. The joint press conference, hosted by Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne, comes as the PNM-led local governing bodies decry unfair budget allocation for the second consecutive year, with leaders framing the cuts as a politically motivated attack on constituents living in opposition-held districts.

    Point Fortin Mayor Clyde James opened the discussion by laying out the stark disparities in this year’s allocation: all PNM-governed corporations combined received just TT$31.6 million in total development funding, a sum smaller than the TT$37 million allocated solely to the United National Congress (UNC)-controlled City of Chaguanas. The disproportionate gap has reinforced claims that the national UNC administration is deliberately sidelining opposition-led local governments ahead of upcoming local government elections.

    Alleyne, who led the protest at City Hall, detailed the devastating trajectory of cuts to Port of Spain’s development budget over just two years, revealing an 87% overall reduction that has left the national capital unable to advance critical planned projects. The capital’s development allocation fell from TT$19.75 million in the 2025 fiscal year to TT$4.1 million in 2026, and dropped again to just TT$2.6 million for 2027. Alleyne emphasized that the meager allocation will derail critical drainage upgrades, delay planned improvements to public facilities, and leave the corporation unable to settle outstanding payments to contracted vendors.

    He noted that as the country’s administrative, commercial, and political hub, Port of Spain serves more than 200,000 daily commuters who travel into the city for work and business, placing far greater strain on its roads, waste management systems, and recreational infrastructure than residential districts alone. Against this, the 2027 allocation amounts to just 1.2% of the total national development budget for local government, a figure Alleyne called indefensible.

    Comparing the current budget to the PNM’s own decade in national power, Alleyne said that during PNM administrations, funding allocations were deliberately balanced across all local corporations, with roughly 50% of total funding going to both PNM and UNC-controlled districts, even in periods of divided government. No opposition-led corporation ever faced the extreme underfunding PNM-led bodies are grappling with today, he added. When asked about next steps to challenge the allocation, Alleyne confirmed he plans to join a mass march with trade unions scheduled for October 30 to push for funding adjustments.

    Diego Martin Mayor Akeliah Glasgow-Warner doubled down on the accusation of political retribution, arguing that the UNC is waging a direct war against ordinary residents of PNM-held districts, not just the opposition party itself. “The UNC is not simply waging a war against PNM-controlled corporations. They are waging a war against the people of Trinidad and Tobago who happen to live in PNM-controlled corporations,” she said. She highlighted that Diego Martin, a borough chronically prone to flooding, received only TT$400,000 total for all drainage projects, translating to just TT$40,000 per district—far less than the average TT$175,000 cost to build a single small drain. Glasgow-Warner also called on Kenwyn Phillip, chairman of the only UNC-led corporation that faced minor cuts, Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, to publicly question the government’s funding decisions, noting the cut suggests the UNC already expects to lose the district to the PNM in upcoming elections.

    San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris raised urgent concerns over outstanding payments to contractors, revealing his corporation owes more than TT$8.8 million for completed work dating back to 2025: TT$1.42 million for 2025 projects and more than TT$7.45 million for 2026 work. While Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo has formally committed to settling the outstanding debts, Parris questioned how the corporation can meet its obligations with its drastically reduced 2027 allocation, warning that unpaid contractors could soon pursue costly legal action against the municipal government. He also noted that funding for vehicle and equipment replacement fell from TT$800,000 in the last fiscal year to just TT$160,000, an amount too small to replace any of the corporation’s already depleted service fleet, further undermining the delivery of municipal services.

    Closing out the press conference, San Juan/Laventille chairman Richard Walcott labeled the current UNC administration a “wicked government”, criticizing cuts to recreation funding that will eliminate all capacity to upgrade local recreational facilities after existing commitments are fulfilled, stripping young people of opportunities to access improved public spaces.

  • TTMA wants timely VAT refunds: ‘It’s not a favour’

    TTMA wants timely VAT refunds: ‘It’s not a favour’

    At the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) annual post-budget forum held yesterday at Port of Spain’s Hyatt Regency, TTMA President Emil Ramkissoon has made clear that timely Value-Added Tax (VAT) refunds are not a discretionary concession for local manufacturers – they are the rightful property of operating businesses.

    Ramkissoon explained that persistent delays in disbursing owed VAT refunds have created crippling cash flow disruptions for local manufacturing firms. When these funds are released on schedule, he argued, manufacturers are able to channel the capital back into critical growth-focused investments: from upgraded industrial machinery and facility expansions to cutting-edge technology adoption, expanded inventory, and employee skills training. This cycle of reinvestment, he noted, directly drives higher production output, which in turn boosts the country’s export capacity. Greater export volumes generate much-needed foreign exchange, which ultimately strengthens and stabilizes the entire national economy.

    This ripple effect is why the TTMA has long pushed for systematic reforms to VAT refund processes, including structural changes that prevent the accumulation of unpaid arrears and prioritize fast-track refunds for export-focused manufacturers. Addressing the new modernized VAT framework announced in the 2026/2027 national budget – a shift from last year’s proposal to introduce a sales tax – Ramkissoon expressed cautious support for the long-awaited updated system, but stressed that industry stakeholders cannot afford further delays, as VAT policy remains a make-or-break issue for TTMA member firms.

    Beyond VAT reform, Ramkissoon praised the budget’s decision to cut excise tax by 25% for both locally manufactured and imported alcoholic beverages, excluding products that already receive preferential tariff treatment under existing national trade agreements. He also celebrated the shift from volume-based to ad valorem (value-based) customs duty calculation for alcohol products, a reform the TTMA has actively lobbied for over the past year. However, he called on the government to extend the same 25% excise tax cut to the domestic tobacco sector. Ramkissoon pointed to existing industry data showing that 12.8% of the tobacco market is currently made up of illicit trade, a problem exacerbated by the sector’s high tax burden. He did, however, voice approval for the government’s proposed new measures to crack down on illicit trade, including increased resourcing for the national Anti-Illicit Trade Task Force and the rollout of the new Customs Recordation and Information System.

    Turning to economic performance, Ramkissoon highlighted the Finance Minister’s recent announcement that the non-energy manufacturing sector grew 11.6% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, with the food, beverage and tobacco subsector posting an even stronger 20.5% expansion. He also welcomed a slate of new budget measures designed to improve the overall ease of doing business in the country. These include mandatory e-filing through the Board of Inland Revenue’s GenTax platform, upgrades to the Integrated Tax Processing System, and enhanced information sharing between tax and customs authorities.

    Ramkissoon also drew attention to the restructuring of EXIMBANK outlined in the new budget, outlining a series of key improvements the reforms will bring: a revised capital allocation framework that expands access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and domestic manufacturers; the introduction of clear, transparent eligibility criteria for funding alongside stricter reporting requirements; caps on capital allocations to individual entities to ensure broader distribution of resources; dedicated financing access for qualifying SMEs; and a prioritization of businesses that either generate foreign exchange through exports or reduce the country’s reliance on costly imports.

  • Tobago eyes two Senate seats

    Tobago eyes two Senate seats

    A landmark constitutional overhaul put forward by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar would secure Tobago two guaranteed representation slots on the Senate’s Independent benches, marking a historic shift in the island’s standing within the national parliamentary structure.

    Persad-Bissessar unveiled the plan during a formal ceremony marking the commissioning of the new East Terminal at ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago, confirming that pre-discussions with Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine had earned his full backing for the measure, even as the government acknowledges the proposal must still clear a structured parliamentary approval process. Local media outlet The Express reports the constitutional amendment will require a special majority vote in parliament to move forward, a high bar that leaves the final outcome dependent on cross-party support from sitting legislators.

    Currently, the country’s constitution only enshrines guaranteed representation for Tobago in the lower House of Representatives, where the island holds two constitutionally protected elected seats. If approved, the reform would extend this guarantee to the upper Senate for the first time in the nation’s history. Under the existing framework, the President holds full discretionary power to appoint all nine Independent senators with no mandate to include Tobagonian representatives, even though a small number of Tobagonians have held Independent Senate seats in past and current iterations of the body.

    The proposed amendment would not expand the total number of Independent senators, which remains capped at nine. Instead, it would mandate that the President must appoint a minimum of two Tobagonians from those nine positions, embedding geographic equity for Tobago directly into the nation’s founding legal document. Persad-Bissessar framed the change as a critical step toward closing long-standing representation gaps, extending the same equity principle her government applied to recent local government reforms in Trinidad.

    Earlier this year, the administration passed legislation to expand Trinidad’s local government system from 14 to 17 municipal corporations, creating three new boroughs and upgrading Chaguanas to official city status, changes designed to correct historic inequities in resource allocation and community representation. “We passed that to get greater recognition, equitable recognition, and the allocation of resources to communities throughout Trinidad,” the prime minister noted, arguing that the same commitment to fairness must now apply to Tobago. Echoing a shared regional sentiment, she added, “Because as Farley told us, when Tobago wins, Trinidad wins. And when Tobago and Trinidad wins, everybody wins. Everybody wins.”

    For decades, Tobago has held constitutional protection for two seats in the House of Representatives, a provision that recognizes the island’s unique identity within the republic and ensures its residents have a guaranteed voice in the elected lower chamber. Today, those two seats are held by David Thomas of Tobago East and Joel Sampson of Tobago West, both members of the Tobago People’s Party. “It’s not guaranteed which party will win them, but you’re guaranteed to have two people, Tobago and Trinidad people, sitting in the House of Representatives,” Persad-Bissessar explained, noting that the existing constitutional arrangement left a critical imbalance: no parallel guarantee existed for Senate representation.

    “While Tobago is guaranteed representation in the House, the Constitution provides no corresponding guarantee for representation in the Senate. Today, I am pleased to announce that my Government proposes to introduce legislation in our Parliament to amend our Constitution to guarantee Tobago two Senate seats. And this will be in addition to your two guaranteed seats in the House,” she said. Acknowledging the legislative road ahead, she added, “We will have to see how the parliamentarians vote.”

    This reform comes amid a publicly strained relationship between Persad-Bissessar and the current cohort of Independent senators, whom she has repeatedly criticized for voting down key government legislation, including controversial special operations policing measures and public procurement framework amendments. By reshaping the composition of the Independent bench to require two Tobagonian appointments, the reform could alter the voting dynamic of the upper house, though the prime minister framed the change solely as a step toward equity.

    To contextualize the proposal, it is important to outline the existing structure of Trinidad and Tobago’s Senate. The 31-member body is entirely appointed by the President, with breakdown as follows: 16 government senators selected on the advice of the Prime Minister, 6 opposition senators selected on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and 9 Independent senators appointed entirely at the President’s sole discretion. Unlike politically aligned senators, Independent senators are chosen from outstanding leaders across economic, social, community, and professional fields, with no requirement for consultation with political leadership. All Senate appointees must be citizens of Trinidad and Tobago over the age of 25, meet statutory disqualification requirements, and vacate their seats when parliament is dissolved; the President also holds discretionary authority to revoke Independent Senate appointments at any time. Currently, only one Tobagonian, attorney Candice Jones-Simmons, holds an Independent Senate seat, with two other prominent Tobagonians having served in the role in previous years.

    If passed, the reform will cement Tobago’s equal standing in national governance, aligning the island’s representation with the national anthem’s call for Trinidadians and Tobagonians to stand “side by side” as the islands of the blue Caribbean Sea.

  • 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.

  • Light bills to get heavier

    Light bills to get heavier

    Trinidad and Tobago’s government has laid out a sweeping set of revenue-raising reforms in its 2027 national budget, designed to cut the country’s fiscal deficit nearly in half while shielding low-income households from additional tax burdens. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo presented the package of measures to Parliament this week, with most provisions set to take effect starting January 1, 2027, and a small number launching in March of that year.

    The core goal of the reforms is to shrink the national fiscal deficit from an projected $7 billion to $3.639 billion in 2027, collecting roughly $985 million in additional annual revenue from corporate and petroleum sector taxes alone. To achieve this, the government is targeting high-consumption households, luxury goods, non-compliant taxpayers, and profitable businesses, while protecting low- and moderate-income households from new costs.

    One of the most visible provisions for everyday residents is a new electricity surcharge for high-volume residential users. Starting in January 2027, households that consume more than 3,000 kilowatt-hours per billing cycle will pay a 5-cent per kilowatt-hour surcharge, applied only to consumption that exceeds the 3,000 kWh threshold. Tancoo explained that just 10% of the country’s residential users exceed this threshold, leaving 90% of households completely unaffected. The measure serves two policy goals: it encourages widespread energy conservation, and the $17.8 million in annual revenue it generates will fund ongoing electricity subsidies for low-consumption, low-income households.

    The budget also overhauls the tax structure for imported alcohol, restructuring duties to support local manufacturers while raising more revenue from high-end imports. While the government has cut existing excise rates by 25% for all alcoholic beverages including imports, it will replace the current volume-based customs duty system for non-preferential imported alcohol with an ad valorem system that calculates duties based on product value. This shift means premium luxury alcoholic products such as champagne will see significantly higher duty charges, a change Tancoo framed as a targeted luxury tax that drew support from government benches during the budget address.

    Niche tax changes target a range of other sectors and consumer groups. Classic, antique, and vintage vehicle collectors will face steeper Motor Vehicle Tax rates, with hikes of 100% for classic vehicles, 50% for antiques, and 25% for vintage models. New regulations governing importation, registration, and use of these vehicles will also be introduced, though Tancoo noted the changes are intended to support the long-term growth of the niche vehicle restoration, automotive tourism, and cultural events sectors. For public health, vaping products will face a new 20% customs duty starting in 2027, and the government will ban sales of all vaping products to people under 21. Tobacco regulations will also be tightened: possession of 10,000 or more tobacco products will now count as prima facie evidence of illegal distribution, and importers bringing in 800 or more cigarettes will be required to hold an official license.

    The bulk of new revenue will come from changes to corporate and petroleum sector taxation. Petroleum companies will see the Unemployment Levy, which has not been adjusted since 1989, rise from 5% to 8% of taxable profits, generating an estimated $155 million in additional annual revenue. For all businesses, new restrictions will limit the use of accumulated losses from previous years to offset no more than 75% of current chargeable profits, a change projected to raise $430 million annually. Withholding tax on distributions to non-resident individuals and companies will also increase from 8% to 10%, with the rate for non-resident parent companies rising from 3% to 5%, adding another $25.1 million to government coffers.

    To close longstanding tax loopholes, the government has introduced two key amendments to the Income Tax Act. First, it will clarify withholding tax rules for payments to non-residents for management, technical, and other specified services, closing a gap that previously allowed some remotely supplied services to avoid withholding tax entirely; this change alone is expected to generate $300 million annually. Second, businesses will no longer be allowed to claim tax deductions for expenses incurred while earning tax-exempt income, a measure projected to raise an additional $75 million. Foreign digital and remote service providers that serve customers in Trinidad and Tobago will also be brought into the country’s VAT system, requiring non-resident suppliers to register via a simplified electronic portal, collect VAT, and remit payments to the state. This change ensures equal tax treatment for local and foreign service providers, and is expected to generate $18 million annually when it takes effect March 1, 2027.

    Enforcement and administrative reforms will also strengthen tax compliance. The maximum penalty for false declarations under the Customs Act will double from $125,000 to $250,000 starting in January 2027. A new $100 penalty will be applied for every two months a VAT return remains overdue, and a new $100 fee for VAT Clearance Certificates will be introduced. Electronic filing through the Inland Revenue Division’s GENTAX system will become mandatory for all taxpayers, replacing manual paper submissions to improve efficiency. Registered members’ clubs will receive greater cash flow flexibility, however, allowing them to file taxes quarterly rather than annually. Additional administrative changes include removing non-VAT-eligible government entities from the VAT system to cut down on improper refund claims, updating licensing and ethical requirements for customs brokers and clerks, and establishing a new appeals tribunal for tax and customs disputes.