NEWS
T&T among Caricom nations Delcy thanks for earthquake relief aid
Acting Venezuela President Delcy Rodríguez has thanked Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries for their humanitarian assistance following the devastating June 24 double earthquake that killed thousands and left thousands more homeless. Rodríguez, while inspecting relief supplies sent to Venezuela on Tuesday, expressed gratitude to Caricom leaders, including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, for supporting the South American nation during its time of need. The regional humanitarian effort saw 88 containers of emergency supplies, medical specialists and equipment dispatched to Venezuela. The aid was coordinated by Guyana and shipped from that country. Speaking through an interpreter, Rodríguez said she was deeply moved by the response from Caribbean countries. “I am moved because I am among Caricom countries, countries of our Caribbean, who with great effort coordinated by Guyana have all sent aid to Venezuela,” she said. Read more here
Methanex shuts down Titan plant
Methanex indefinitely shut down its Titan methanol plant yesterday morning. This was confirmed by managing director and president of Methanex Trinidad and Tobago Colin Bain, when contacted by the Express yesterday. In a brief WhatsApp exchange, he said, “Titan ceased production this morning.” Former prime minister and energy minister Stuart Young, in a post yesterday, blamed the Government led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for this shutdown. “Sad day for our energy sector in Trinidad and Tobago as Methanex commences its indefinite shutdown. Titan is being taken offline,” he wrote. Read more here
POLITICS
Kamla reaffirms US ties
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Trinidad and Tobago is committed to strengthening its long-standing relationship with the United States following what she described as productive discussions with a high-level US delegation. In a post on her X account yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said the meeting explored opportunities to expand collaboration between the two countries, particularly in investment, economic development, and regional cooperation. 'Our meeting reaffirmed the strong and enduring partnership between our two countries and focused on advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including investment, economic development and regional collaboration,' she wrote. Read more here
BUSINESS
T&T’s debt at a dangerous level, say economists, politician
Despite last week’s successful issuance of the US$800 million sovereign bond in the US market, there is continued concern about the management of T&T’s debt. The Ministry of Finance announced via press release last week that the bond, which it reported was oversubscribed by approximately 400 per cent, reflected renewed international confidence and a strengthened fiscal position for T&T. The release stated the transaction provided the Government with a more resilient long-term financing strategy through several key outcomes, such as refinancing older debt. The Ministry said the new bond, issued at 6.20 per cent, will be used to repay 4.50 per cent notes due in August 2026 and support general budgetary purposes. Read more here
AMCHAM helps firms seek US financing
The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) hosted an exclusive roundtable for members with senior representatives of the US State Department and the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) on Tuesday. The engagement was designed as the first in a series to create a unique opportunity for members to present bankable investment projects directly to the DFC, AMCHAM T&T said in a release yesterday. The engagement was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Barbara Feinstein; Chief Policy Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Caroline Vik; US Chargé d’Affaires Philip Kern; other representatives of the US Embassy; AMCHAM T&T CEO Nirad Tewarie; initiatives and projects manager Melissa Pierre and members of AMCHAM T&T. Read more here
REGIONAL
State-of-the-art poultry project signals new era for Guyana’s agriculture – PM
The Government of Guyana’s state-of-the-art tunnel-ventilated poultry pens project at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara was commissioned on Wednesday, marking another milestone in the country’s agricultural transformation, with Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips declaring that the initiative signals “a new era of technologically driven agriculture.” The Prime Minister made this known as he delivered the feature address at the commissioning ceremony, during which he stated that the project represents far more than the construction of modern poultry facilities, describing it as a clear indication of the direction in which Guyana’s agricultural sector is heading. “This initiative is a declaration of intent. It signals that the days of subsistence farming and fragile harvests are giving way to a new era of resilience, a new era of abundance, and a new era of technologically driven agriculture,” Phillips said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Iran targets military bases as US launches wave of strikes
Tehran has launched fresh attacks on US military bases in neighbouring Gulf states, while Washington continued to strike sites across Iran overnight. Tehran said it had struck targets in the region, including in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, as a sixth day of renewed hostilities strained their preliminary deal to end the war. Meanwhile, the US military said it inflicted a six-hour wave of strikes in multiple locations to "degrade Iran's ability to threaten innocent mariners" in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest exchanges came after US President Donald Trump warned Iran it had "better behave" or face further military action should Iran not return to negotiations. Read more here
16th July 2026