标签： Trinidad and Tobago

A funding dispute has emerged between Tobago’s regional administration and Trinidad and Tobago’s national government over the proposed 2027 fiscal budget allocation for the island, with Chief Secretary Farley Augustine of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) saying he is deeply let down by the reduced share of national resources the island is set to receive.

Under the national budget plan released by Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, the direct THA allocation for 2027 stands at TT $2.7 billion, down from TT $2.9 billion in the 2026 fiscal cycle. This direct allocation drops Tobago’s share of the overall national budget to 4.35%, a fall from the 5% mark the island secured last year. Tancoo has pushed back on this framing, however, noting that an extra TT $716.5 million in targeted spending across multiple national government departments will go toward Tobago-focused projects and public services. When combined with the direct allocation, this brings the island’s total public resourcing to TT $3.473 billion, which the finance minister says equals 5.48% of the total national budget.

Speaking at a parliamentary press briefing on the day of the budget reading, Augustine argued the cut is especially disappointing given the recent cooperative dynamic between the THA and the central national government. While he acknowledged that the 2027 allocation is not the lowest Tobago has received in its history, he said the regional administration entered the budget process with clear expectations of maintaining the 5% share secured the previous year. “After a high of 5% last year, we were hoping to be at least sustained at that level. It did not happen,” Augustine stated.

The biggest point of concern for Augustine is the sharp drop in capital development funding: Tobago is set to receive just around TT $150 million for development projects in 2027, down from roughly TT $201 million last fiscal year. Augustine stressed that the island needs consistent, increased investment to upgrade crumbling infrastructure and advance long-term growth, and called for a permanent, constitutionally enshrined funding formula to guide future allocations. That formula, he argued, should be rooted in clear demographic and economic metrics, starting with Tobago’s share of the national population, which stands at roughly 5.1%. He also highlighted the significant new oil and gas exploration and expansion activities set to take place in Tobago’s maritime waters, which will generate major new revenue for the entire country and justify a larger allocation for the island.

Despite his broader criticism of the budget, Augustine did offer praise for specific provisions, including the increased grant funding allocated to vulnerable populations, especially senior citizens. To offset the impact of the reduced direct allocation, Augustine said the THA will now be forced to re-evaluate its policy priorities and scale or restructure planned spending to align with the available resources. As a long-term strategy to reduce the island’s reliance on central government funding, the THA will also ramp up efforts to attract new private sector investment. Flagship initiatives include the development of Tobago’s first purpose-built marina, a project designed to boost tourism and stimulate broad-based economic growth across the island.

Augustine confirmed that Tobago’s regional representatives will continue lobbying for a larger, fairer share of national resources, while also advancing the THA’s long-running push for greater constitutional autonomy. A public launch of that autonomy initiative is scheduled for the end of November. The Chief Secretary emphasized that the disagreement over budget allocations will not derail productive dialogue between the THA and the central government, noting that respectful disagreement is a core test of any functional working relationship. “The test of any relationship is the ability to remain respectful when you disagree,” he said.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles delivered a scathing rebuke of the newly unveiled 2026/2027 national budget during a press briefing held yesterday at the Red House, dismissing the fiscal plan as hollow, un ambitious and disconnected from the everyday struggles of the public.

Beckles, who will lead the Opposition’s opening contribution to the budget debate scheduled for Friday, raised sharp questions about the governing administration’s stated commitments to economic growth and job creation. She argued that Finance Minister Davendrenath Tancoo’s budget address offered no clear, actionable roadmap to advance the country’s development, leaving critical priorities unaddressed.

Central to Beckles’ criticism was the claim that the budget fails to alleviate the growing financial hardship facing large swathes of the population, arguing that new policy measures introduced by the current government are only deepening public distress. In a pointed quip, she noted that the public is still waiting for a meaningful budget, dismissing the entire document as entirely lacking in long-term vision.

The Opposition Leader pointed to multiple gaps across key policy sectors. Beckles said the budget was expected to outline the governing United National Congress (UNC)’s achievements from its first year in office, but instead offered no new projects or investments in two critical areas: public education and affordable housing. She also pushed back against the government’s repeated promises of expanded opportunity for youth, noting that the budget contains “absolutely nothing” targeted at young people seeking employment and upward mobility.

On infrastructure, Beckles highlighted that the largest new project announced in the entire budget is a TT$20 million road upgrade in Chaguanas, the municipality that the current administration has proposed granting city status. “The government talks constantly about transforming the national economy, but where are the transformative projects to deliver that change?” she asked.

Beckles also drew attention to reduced funding allocations for Tobago, arguing that the cut will hamper the island’s ongoing development efforts, labeling the overall budget as “lazy” in its lack of ambition.

Beyond policy, Beckles called on the UNC to step away from its longstanding criticism of the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration. With the UNC already 18 months into its term of office, she said the government can no longer rely on blaming its predecessor for gaps in delivery, and called for concrete data to back up its policy claims.

In a separate contentious point, Beckles expressed deep disappointment that the 9:30 a.m. start of Friday’s budget debate directly conflicts with the funeral of legendary calypso icon Slinger “Mighty Sparrow” Francisco. She raised questions over whether the scheduling was a deliberate political strategy, designed to force Opposition MPs into a conflict between attending the national tribute for Sparrow and fulfilling their parliamentary duties for the debate. Beckles argued that if Opposition members chose to attend the funeral, their absence from Parliament could open the door to unanticipated procedural outcomes.

The Aringa Member of Parliament added that the Opposition was already denied an opportunity to deliver an official statement honoring Sparrow on the floor of Parliament the previous week. She explained that Opposition lawmakers had no advance notice that Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin would be addressing Sparrow’s passing, leaving them unable to pay their own formal respects.

While Beckles said she and other Opposition members deeply regret being unable to attend the iconic calypsonian’s funeral to honor his legacy, she confirmed that the entire Opposition caucus will be present in Parliament to fulfill its duty for the budget debate. She closed by extending formal condolences to Mighty Sparrow’s family and loved ones on behalf of the entire Opposition.

Hours ahead of Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s scheduled presentation of the 2026/2027 national budget to Parliament, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has announced a major policy shift in the allocation of state resources, targeting misuse of public funds and reorienting spending toward productive, law-abiding citizens.

In a public statement shared across her official social media channels one day prior to the budget address, Persad-Bissessar framed the change as a long-overdue rebalancing of national priorities. The government will move away from systems that have enabled systemic misuse of public assistance, wasteful spending, and incentives for laziness, and redirect state revenue toward supporting productive economic activity and residents who contribute honestly to national progress, she explained.

“The Government will rebalance society in favour of the law-abiding, hard-working, honest citizens and away from rewarding laziness, illegality, irresponsibility and negative behaviours,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

While Persad-Bissessar stopped short of naming specific public assistance programs slated for adjustment, or outlining exact cuts or new policy measures set to be unveiled in the budget, her comments confirm that revisions to state spending frameworks and public welfare administration will feature prominently in the upcoming fiscal plan. She argued that national revenue should be directed to fueling economic growth and supporting workers who earn their incomes through honest work, rather than enabling bad faith actors who exploit public systems.

The Prime Minister called out widespread abuse of public resources, noting that some individuals have repurposed temporary welfare programs, public sector contracts, government assistance schemes, and public agency roles into long-term streams of personal illicit income. “These schemes are funded from the taxes of hardworking citizens who go out every day to improve their lives and contribute positively to our success as a society,” she said, adding that taxpayers should not be forced to continue funding indiscipline, deception, fraud and corruption that drains public coffers.

Persad-Bissessar also argued that some long-term recipients of state support remain trapped in hardship specifically because of poor work ethic, dishonest conduct, and negative attitudes toward self-improvement. “As your Prime Minister, I cannot allow the country’s progress to continue to be held back by those who refuse to take personal responsibility to improve themselves despite receiving incentives, contracts, benefits, and assistance from the State for years,” she stated.

Beyond the reallocation of welfare resources, the Prime Minister drew a clear distinction between her administration’s approach and that of previous governments, noting that her team has abandoned the long-standing practice of governing primarily to win upcoming general elections. Instead, she said, the administration’s core focus is on building lasting “peace, discipline, wealth and opportunities for seven generations into the future.”

As the country waits for the official budget release, independent economist Dr. Jamelia Harris has outlined key accountability measures the public should expect from the fiscal plan. In an interview with local outlet the Express on the eve of the presentation, Harris said the government must deliver a clear report on its progress toward past policy commitments, lay out a concrete path to revive economic growth, and explain how proposed policies will directly improve everyday citizens’ quality of life.

Harris specifically called for measurable updates on promises made in the previous national budget, centered on three core priorities: sustainable, high-quality job creation, broad economic diversification, and modernization of the country’s tax revenue collection systems. She noted that while the government identified sustainable job creation as a top fiscal priority for 2026, the past year has instead brought widespread job losses and rising unemployment rates. With the Prime Minister reaffirming job creation as a core goal, Harris said she expects the Finance Minister to detail both the past year’s achievements and a clear roadmap for creating fair, decent employment moving forward.

“I am interested in job creation, but job creation that is of good quality and fair,” Harris said.

The economist also highlighted that national labour force participation has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, dropping from roughly 60% before the COVID-19 outbreak to a steady 55% in the years since. She urged the budget to include targeted measures to both create new jobs and encourage more eligible residents to re-enter the labour market.

Harris also called for increased transparency and scrutiny for large-scale planned development projects, including the proposed steel plant, new data centre facilities, and initiatives under the government’s national economic revitalization plan. While these projects carry potential long-term economic benefits, she argued that the government must allocate funding for independent impact assessments that examine not just projected gains, but also wider economic, social, and environmental consequences before finalizing investment decisions.

Additionally, Harris pressed for an official update on the government’s prior commitment to strengthen tax administration by modernizing the Inland Revenue Division and the Customs and Excise Division. She noted that upgrading the capacity of these agencies was a core justification for scrapping the previously proposed Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority, so progress on this front is long overdue. Stronger revenue collection systems are critical to supporting long-term fiscal stability, she added.

Against a backdrop of ongoing economic headwinds impacting both the energy and non-energy business sectors, Harris said economic diversification remains a critical unmet priority. She called on the Finance Minister to assess progress on previous diversification proposals against current economic conditions, and explain how the government will address the growing trend of business closures across both major sectors.

Beyond specific fiscal measures, Harris called for a broader shift toward evidence-based policymaking in Trinidad and Tobago. She noted that robust research already exists to address many of the country’s most persistent challenges, from economic diversification to crime to educational attainment, but policy decisions are often disconnected from available data. “I would like to see a movement away from rhetoric to research, and from politicking to purpose and policy,” she said.

A public dispute over reported United States visa actions against top Trinidad and Tobago officials has intensified this week, after the country’s Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs issued a formal denial of one key claim from a recent local newspaper investigation.

Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers released an official statement via his social media channels on Saturday pushing back against a weekend report published by the *Trinidad Express*, written by journalist Mark Bassant. The report had claimed that a sitting cabinet minister in Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s ruling administration had their US travel visa revoked, and that a senior judicial officer was facing scrutiny over their own visa status.

Sobers emphasized in his statement that no current government minister has had their US visa canceled, adding a critical clarification: the Government of Trinidad and Tobago holds no authority over either the issuance or revocation of United States visas, so any changes to visa status are the sole decision of American authorities.

The *Sunday Express* investigation, however, outlined weeks of attempts to get comment from the implicated minister that went unanswered. Reporters first reached out via WhatsApp on October 2; while the message was marked as read that same day, no response was provided. Multiple follow-up messages sent through the following week, as well as at least two phone calls, received no reply. A final round of outreach on Friday proved equally fruitless: one call was answered before it was immediately disconnected, and subsequent WhatsApp messages were read but never replied to.

On the matter of the senior judicial officer, the report confirmed that the official had been summoned to the US Embassy in Port of Spain, but the meeting was framed as work-related. Speaking to the outlet on condition of anonymity, the judicial officer shared that they had explicitly asked if the summons would impact their visa status, and embassy officials confirmed that it would not.

Citing unnamed sources within Trinidad and Tobago’s immigration and national security sectors, the report added that the recent wave of US visa revocations and suspensions has impacted far more people than the single cabinet member claim. Sources told the newspaper that at least six local immigration officers and one police officer assigned to an elite unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) have been affected. Overall, insiders estimate that nearly 50 people across multiple public and private sectors could be impacted by the ongoing US review of visa eligibility.

When contacted by the *Sunday Express* for comment, the US Embassy in Port of Spain declined to speak on individual cases, referencing longstanding rules around the confidentiality of visa application and holder records. A spokesperson for the embassy did confirm that US authorities conduct ongoing reviews of visa eligibility, and that revocations are issued when new information confirms an individual no longer meets the requirements for entry under US immigration law.

This is not the first time such visa actions have made headlines in the country this year. Back in June, Attorney General John Jeremie told Parliament that the US had revoked visas for a number of Trinidad and Tobago business community members. At that time, Jeremie similarly stressed that all decisions around visa status are made exclusively by American authorities, and that the Trinidad and Tobago government has no input or role in the process.

After years of anticipation and months of post-construction preparation, Trinidad and Tobago is preparing to welcome the official opening of its $1.2 billion new terminal at ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago this Tuesday. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will lead the opening ceremony, joined by Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and a wide cohort of senior government and industry dignitaries, marking the end of a years-long development journey for the critical infrastructure project.

Leading up to the historic launch, Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John led an on-site inspection of the terminal early Saturday to confirm all logistics and final preparations are in place. In an interview with local outlet Express, John confirmed that the new eastern terminal will be fully operational for passenger service starting with the first scheduled flight on Wednesday morning.

John explained her pre-ceremony site visit was part of a final check ahead of five back-to-back events hosted by the prime minister, including the terminal opening and additional sod-turning ceremonies for future projects. As the lead official coordinating pre-launch readiness, John oversaw a full walk-through of the terminal Saturday morning, with key stakeholders from across the public and private sectors joining the inspection.

Stakeholders on-site included the chairman of the Port Authority, the acting chief executive officer of Caribbean Airlines, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Senator Eli Zakour, as well as representatives from aviation regulatory bodies, customs, immigration, port health authorities and THA personnel. John confirmed all teams have completed their pre-launch checks and are ready to support the opening and transition to operations.

The timing of the official opening is strategically aligned with Tobago’s annual October Carnival celebrations, which draw thousands of visitors to the island each year. John emphasized that the modern terminal is a landmark achievement for the people of Tobago, and for the entire nation of Trinidad and Tobago, crediting the collaborative effort between the THA and the national government to deliver the long-promised infrastructure.

In addition to the airport terminal, three new community-based mobile police posts will also open Tuesday in the Tobago communities of Plymouth, Goodwood and Signal Hill. John noted that the posts, which will be staffed by local officers, represent a key investment in community public safety and will strengthen national efforts to reduce crime across the island. After inspecting two of the three completed posts, John confirmed all facilities are ready for operation.

The new terminal has passed multiple key milestones on its path to opening. On June 14, lead developers the National Infrastructure Development Company and the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure formally handed the facility over to the Airports Authority. A preliminary soft opening was conducted in March 2025 under former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley, but the terminal was not cleared for full passenger operations at that time.

When the United National Congress (UNC) campaigned for the April 2025 general election in Trinidad and Tobago, job creation stood as the cornerstone of its policy platform. Party leader and now Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made a high-stakes pledge to deliver more than 50,000 new employment opportunities over the party’s five-year term, while rebuilding a national economy that could deliver long-term, sustainable livelihoods for all citizens. The party’s election manifesto centered job growth, skills training, economic diversification, and expanded opportunity for youth, targeting expanded investment in key productive sectors including agriculture, construction, and small and medium-sized enterprises to drive activity and hiring.

Following its election victory, the UNC formally enshrined its manifesto commitments as the national government’s official policy framework, elevating job creation to a top administrative priority. In her victory address, Persad-Bissessar reinforced the pledge, telling supporters: “This victory is to create over 50,000 jobs, and so the victory is yours.”

One year into the UNC’s term, the administration has rolled out two major signature initiatives to meet its employment targets: the Trinidad and Tobago Revitalisation Blueprint, a sweeping 10-year infrastructure and economic development program, and a nationwide public sector recruitment drive. Launched in November 2025 by Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John, the Revitalisation Blueprint is designed to draw foreign and domestic investment, boost construction activity, drive economic diversification away from traditional energy reliance, and generate thousands of new jobs across the country.

The ambitious program covers 129 distinct projects spread across 13 strategic development nodes, spanning critical upgrades to transportation networks, waterfront redevelopment, port modernization, expanded tourism infrastructure, new housing construction, and upgraded industrial facilities. Key flagship projects include the long-planned South-South Corridor highway linking San Fernando and Mayaro, the redevelopment of central Port of Spain, a new purpose-built justice campus in Tamana, and the adaptive reuse of decommissioned prison facilities.

When first unveiled, the government projected the blueprint would create more than 50,000 construction-focused jobs over its implementation period. Officials later updated that projection, estimating the program could support as many as 72,000 total jobs at the peak of construction activity between 2027 and 2028, with roughly 20,000 permanent direct positions expected to remain after initial build-out. The 10-year program is rolled out in phases running through 2035, with the first phase scheduled from 2025 to 2030. In early 2026, Minister John presented the blueprint to International Monetary Fund representatives as a core part of the government’s long-term growth strategy, and the administration has already reported receiving 965 non-binding expressions of interest from potential private investors and developers for projects under the plan.

Beyond the large-scale infrastructure program, the administration launched a National Recruitment Drive in October 2025, targeting 20,000 immediate public sector job openings across government ministries and agencies. The initiative was framed as a replacement for the country’s long-standing temporary work programs — the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) and the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) — with the government promising the new roles would offer higher wages and greater long-term job stability. To fund the hiring push, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo established a $475 million dedicated Employment Fund, supplemented by an additional $310 million drawn from the national Unemployment Fund.

The recruitment drive drew massive public interest, with tens of thousands of applications submitted from job seekers across the country. As of March 2026, local media reported that 1,801 casual workers had already been hired through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure alone. By May 2026, when the Prime Minister delivered her first annual progress report on the administration’s term, Persad-Bissessar announced that more than 15,000 jobs had already been filled across all government ministries, framing all of these positions as sustainable long-term opportunities.

A breakdown released alongside the first-year report showed hiring spread across multiple core government sectors: 3,185 roles in the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, 2,647 in the Ministry of Education, 1,800 in Works and Infrastructure, 1,749 in Tertiary Education and Skills Training, 1,667 in Culture and Community Development, 1,304 in Health, totaling 12,352 confirmed roles across these six sectors alone. The Prime Minister also noted thousands of additional future roles are expected to come from ongoing Housing Development Corporation projects, the expansion of the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation industrial estate, and a proposed special economic zone for data center development in Picton.

While the government has highlighted steady progress toward its 50,000-job campaign pledge, lingering questions remain about the full scope of hiring to date, the long-term sustainability of the roles that have been created, and the timeline for meeting the administration’s broader job creation and economic growth targets. With a new national budget set to be delivered in the coming days, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has already signaled the government will outline plans for thousands of additional new jobs and billions in new infrastructure and development investment.

Ahead of Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s presentation of the United National Congress (UNC) administration’s second national budget on the following day, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivered a message of calm reassurance and measured hope to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. In an exclusive interview with the *Sunday Express*, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government remains laser-focused on advancing the public good, with core priorities centered on generating meaningful, long-term employment, expanding inclusive economic opportunity, and lifting overall quality of life for all citizens.

Persad-Bissessar acknowledged that the public is eager to see a full reversal of the country’s economic and social challenges, but stressed that national rebuilding is a gradual process that cannot be rushed. She framed the current government’s work as laying the critical groundwork for a safer, more resilient, and more prosperous future for Trinidad and Tobago, noting that the administration has spent its time in office undoing the damage left behind by the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) government while stabilizing national institutions.

“Transformation doesn’t happen overnight, but the wheels of progress are already turning, and we are fully committed to delivering lasting, meaningful results for the Trinidad and Tobago people,” she stated. “We are strengthening our systems, rebuilding our communities, and delivering on our promises. The results we have already achieved prove we are moving in the right direction.”

The budget, to be tabled less than a year after the UNC won the April 28, 2025 general election, will be rooted explicitly in the administration’s people-first governing philosophy, Persad-Bissessar confirmed. She explained that the document is designed to translate national development goals into tangible, visible improvements in the daily lives of ordinary citizens, rather than focusing on abstract economic metrics or symbolic projects.

“This budget embodies a people-centered approach to delivering the public goods and services that every community across Trinidad and Tobago depends on,” she said. The Prime Minister added that the government has already made substantial progress in fulfilling the campaign promises laid out in the UNC’s election manifesto, which forms the foundation of the administration’s governing agenda. Looking ahead, the next phase of national development will prioritize four key pillars: expanded employment opportunities, attracting targeted new investment, diversifying the national economy, and strengthening the public institutions that underpin long-term shared prosperity.

Persad-Bissessar emphasized that she maintains close, ongoing connections to the concerns of everyday citizens, making a deliberate effort to read the emails, text messages, and correspondence that members of the public send directly to her office. She understands that people want more than empty campaign promises or positive macroeconomic statistics – they want stable work, financial security, and the assurance that their children will have the opportunity to build successful lives at home in Trinidad and Tobago.

“People want to know that their hard work will pay off with a better quality of life, and that is what matters most,” she said. “At the end of the day, this budget has to mean something to the people who wake up every single morning to build this country. We know far too many families are struggling right now, and this UNC government will never turn a blind eye to that hardship.”

She added that the ultimate measure of the government’s success will not be counted in the number of new projects announced or the total value of investment secured, but in whether ordinary residents actually feel and experience meaningful improvements in their daily lives. “Our goal is a budget that delivers – one where the benefits actually reach the people who need them most,” she said.

One of the administration’s most significant achievements to date, Persad-Bissessar argued, has been the marked improvement in national security – a foundational step for broader economic recovery, she stressed. During the 2025 election campaign, the two top concerns raised consistently by voters were violent crime and widespread unemployment, and the UNC recognized from day one that no meaningful economic progress could be made without first addressing the country’s escalating crime crisis.

Persad-Bissessar pointed to the severe levels of violence that marked the final year of PNM rule, noting that 2024 saw 625 murders across the country, one of the deadliest periods in Trinidad and Tobago’s modern history. Beyond the devastating loss of innocent lives, including children, that wave of violence eroded investor confidence, deterred existing businesses from expanding, and blocked the creation of the sustainable jobs the country so desperately needs, she explained.

Under the current administration, an aggressive, targeted anti-crime strategy has already helped restore a broader sense of security and stability across the country, she said. The government has focused on dismantling transnational and local criminal networks, boosting resources and training for law enforcement, and ending the era of impunity that allowed criminal actors to operate openly. Today, Trinidad and Tobago is safer than it has been in years, creating an environment where businesses can invest with confidence, communities can grow and thrive, and citizens can pursue their goals without living in constant fear of violence.

Persad-Bissessar emphasized that economic expansion, foreign direct investment, job creation, and national security are deeply interconnected. As such, the progress made in tackling violent crime is not just a win for public safety – it is a core component of the government’s broader national economic recovery strategy, laying the groundwork for inclusive, long-term growth that benefits all sectors of Trinidad and Tobago society.