标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence has officially inaugurated a new board of directors for the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT). The installation ceremony, held on October 10 in Port of Spain, marked a significant step in advancing the nation’s telecommunications and broadcasting sectors. The newly appointed board is led by Chairman Chris Seecharanm and Deputy Chairman Jerome Khan, alongside members Mentor Baptiste, Dr. Justin Koo, Avanti Supersad, Russel Romero, Suresh Boodoo, Dion Khan, and Danielle Pounder. Each member brings extensive expertise in telecommunications, law, entrepreneurship, and education, ensuring a diverse and capable leadership team. Minister Dominic Smith emphasized TATT’s critical role in ensuring equitable access to technological advancements for all citizens. He urged the board to focus on core regulatory functions, leverage artificial intelligence to enhance operations, and prioritize empathy in addressing citizens’ challenges. Drawing inspiration from Steve Jobs’ ‘signal versus noise’ theory, Smith encouraged the board to dedicate 80% of their efforts to purposeful execution while fostering innovation and agility. He stressed that technology must serve humanity, aligning with the government’s commitment to people-centered progress. TATT, as an independent regulatory body, is tasked with managing spectrum and numbering resources, setting service standards, promoting sector liberalization, and fostering investment to ensure nationwide access to reliable and affordable communications services. The ministry expressed confidence that the new board will uphold transparency, fairness, and excellence, driving innovation and sustainable growth in a sector vital to Trinidad and Tobago’s national development.

The United National Congress (UNC) government, led by Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, presented its inaugural national budget for 2025-2026, striking a balance between relief measures and revenue-generating policies. The budget, delivered in the House of Representatives on October 13, 2025, was framed as a ‘give and take’ fiscal package aimed at fulfilling election promises while addressing economic challenges. Key highlights include a $1 per litre reduction in super gasoline prices, a 10% wage increase for public servants, and the removal of VAT on essential food items—measures designed to ease the financial burden on citizens. However, the government also introduced new levies, such as increased customs duties on alcohol and tobacco, a 3% hike in National Insurance System (NIS) contributions, and a landlord surcharge, targeting big businesses and commercial entities. Tancoo emphasized that the budget reflects the UNC’s commitment to ‘putting the people of Trinidad and Tobago first,’ with a projected expenditure of $59.232 billion and revenue of $55.367 billion, resulting in a $3.865 billion deficit. The budget also allocated significant funds to Tobago ($3.724 billion) and prioritized sectors like education ($8.766 billion), health ($8.214 billion), and national security ($6.366 billion). Additionally, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will oversee a newly established Financial Oversight & Appropriations Committee (FOAC) to ensure transparent management of state resources. The budget debate is set to begin on October 17, with Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles expected to respond.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar emphasized fairness and equality as the cornerstone of her UNC government’s 2025-2026 budget during a press briefing at the Red House rotunda on October 13. The fiscal package, presented by Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, introduced several measures aimed at rebalancing economic disparities and ensuring accountability. Among the key announcements was a 0.25% levy on the assets of banks and insurance companies, alongside a landlord business surcharge targeting undeclared rental properties. Persad-Bissessar clarified that the surcharge was not a property tax but a mechanism to protect both landlords and tenants while boosting public revenue. She also highlighted a reduction in the price of super gasoline by $1 per liter, which she estimated would save consumers $500,000 annually. Additionally, the removal of VAT on agricultural inputs was framed as a move to empower farmers. The Prime Minister contrasted her government’s $3 billion budget deficit with the former PNM administration’s $16-$18 billion deficits over a decade, attributing the improvement to diligent management. Other measures included a 3% increase in National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions, expected to raise the National Insurance Board’s annual collections by 23%. Persad-Bissessar also addressed the dire state of the NIS, warning that without immediate action, funds for pensions and benefits would soon be depleted. She praised Tancoo’s allocation of $2.96 billion for the Tobago House of Assembly’s development plan, which represents 5% of the national budget, and an additional $763 million through various ministries, bringing Tobago’s total allocation to $3.7 billion. In response to a reporter’s question, the PM identified 8,000 public sector vacancies, promising better job opportunities.

Public Service Association (PSA) President Felisha Thomas has announced the union’s goal to finalize public sector wage negotiations by Christmas, ensuring workers receive long-awaited payments. Speaking during a live Facebook media conference on October 14, Thomas addressed what she termed ‘misinformation from the Opposition’ regarding the recent ten per cent wage offer proposed by Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo during the October 13 budget presentation. Thomas emphasized the PSA’s commitment to resolving negotiations swiftly, stating, ‘We are serious about your business. Our aim is to have your negotiation settled by Christmas so that your money will be in your pockets.’

Thomas criticized former Finance Ministry official Brian Manning for his public call for clarification on the government’s offer, urging him to ‘stay quiet, sit down, and stay out of public servants’ business.’ She accused the Opposition of spreading ‘lies’ to undermine the PSA’s recent achievements on behalf of civil servants, statutory authority workers, and Tobago House of Assembly (THA) employees. Thomas referenced a May 19, 2022, memorandum of agreement from the chief personnel officer (CPO), highlighting past wage proposals under the previous government, which she described as ‘disrespectful.’

She condemned the Opposition’s claims of a nine per cent offer during the same period, calling it an attempt to minimize the PSA’s victories. Thomas also recalled the previous government’s decision to refer the matter to a special tribunal, which she viewed as an effort to impose an inadequate four per cent wage increase. She praised civil servants as ‘the backbone of this nation,’ crediting them for sustaining the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas hailed the revised ten per cent offer as a turning point, restoring dignity to the negotiation process and marking a victory for workers.

Thomas confirmed that the CPO has acknowledged the PSA’s request to meet, and the union awaits a formal response to begin talks. She urged workers to rely solely on the PSA for accurate information on negotiations, warning against the Opposition’s attempts to ‘create mischief.’ During the budget presentation, Tancoo confirmed that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC had instructed the CPO to submit the revised offer covering the periods 2014-2016 and 2017-2019 for civil servants, statutory authorities, and THA employees.