NEWS
500 PoS workers sent home; mayor warns of sanitation crisis
Hundreds of workers in Port-of-Spain have been sent home from landscaping, street cleaning and community maintenance programmes, leaving the capital struggling to maintain essential services, Mayor Chinua Alleyne has revealed. Speaking at a Port-of-Spain Statutory Meeting yesterday, Alleyne said more than 500 workers were dismissed and replaced by just 12 staff members — a move he warned could jeopardise public health, sanitation and public safety. He added that tens of thousands of similar workers have been affected across Trinidad. “These cuts will create serious challenges for the City Corporation, particularly as we prepare for Carnival 2026,” Alleyne said…read more
LATT challenges police version of events in Samaroo's killing...has doubts over Guevarro’s views on fatal shooting
THE Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) has expressed concern over statements made by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro following the police shooting that killed 31-year-old Joshua Samaroo and hospitalised his common-law wife, Kaia Sealy. Responding to Guevarro’s comment that he found no basis to suspend or place any of the officers involved in the shooting on administrative leave and instead recommended counselling for them, LATT stated in a release yesterday, that Trinidad and Tobago’s criminal laws equally apply to law enforcement officers and civilians…read more
POLITICS
UNC senators call for resignation of entire independent bench
United National Congress Government Senator Phillip Alexander has called on all nine independent senators to resign before next Tuesday’s Senate sitting. This, after the defeat of Government’s Special Operation Zones bill in the Senate on Tuesday, when eight of nine independent senators voted against the controversial bill. Pointing out that a Senate sitting has been arranged for next Tuesday, Alexander yesterday made his call for resignations on the basis of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s claim that two unnamed independent senators seeking favours in return for their votes…read more
Not so! Independent senators reject PM’s claims of them ‘selling’ their ZOSO votes for Govt favours
Independent senators are forcefully rejecting a bombshell allegation by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that two members of their bench attempted to seek personal favours in exchange for supporting the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) Bill. And Senators Anthony Vieira and Francis Lewis are challenging the Prime Minister to release the names of those individuals if, in fact, her accusation is true. The legislation was defeated in the Senate on Tuesday night, after failing to secure the support of the Independent bench required for passage. When it came to a vote, the 15 Government Senators voted in favour, 14 voted against, inclusive of eight of the nine independent senators and six Opposition senators, and Independent Senator Courtney Mc Nish abstained…read more
Opposition Leader on ZOSO Bill: Independents sent a clear message to PM...Penny open to crime talks with Kamla
OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles is open to meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on crime and the drafting of “good legislation”. Beckles said yesterday the Opposition would support any action that reduces the impact of crime on the population. But she maintained the view that the failed ZOSO Bill was unconstitutional. She reiterated concerns that the Government did not appear to have a crime plan outside its ongoing state of emergency, which ends on January 31…read more
BUSINESS
Energy services firms critical of forex woes
Local businesses supporting T&T’s backbone oil and gas sector are warning of a “crippling effect” on operations as the country’s persistent foreign exchange shortage shifts from a market challenge to a system-wide constraint. Compounding these pressures is a renewed call for greater utilisation of local content, as companies push for policies that support domestic suppliers who are already navigating severe financial and operational headwinds…read more
Accessing agricultural finance and insurance in TT
Over the past 20 years, Trinidad and Tobago’s agriculture sector has stagnated and declined, with its GDP contribution falling below 1 per cent in recent years as the energy sector has taken centre stage. In the midst of declining oil prices in 2015, the Government pushed for diversification, but problems including low production, the effects of climate change, and a lack of finance have remained. Smallholder farms that are dispersed and experience expensive inputs, inadequate infrastructure, have to contend with the consequences of climate change, such as decreased rainfall and flooding. Our local competitiveness and value addition have been hampered by poor post-harvest facilities, a disorganised market and institutional flaws…read more
‘T&T firms must do more to protects against cyberattacks’
Companies and businesses in T&T need to develop more skills in developing a plan to deal with the fallout from ransomware attacks and other cybercrimes. This is the view of managing director of Pinaka Consulting, Shiva Bissessar, who was recently in Finland attending a training session in this area. Over the last few years, several prominent companies and businesses in T&T have been the victim of ransomware attacks from the National Insurance Board (NIBTT) to the Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) to Venture Credit Union…read more
REGIONAL
Prime Minister Andrew Holness calls for a stronger Latin America and Caribbean voice globally
Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, has urged Latin America and the Caribbean to assert itself more deliberately as a central actor in the global economy and move beyond the vulnerability narrative. Addressing regional and international leaders, policymakers, investors, and development partners at the opening ceremony of CAF’s second International Economic Forum in Panama City, Panama on Wednesday, prime minister Holness framed the moment as one of choice and agency, arguing that Latin America and the Caribbean must decide whether to shape global change or be shaped by it…read more
INTERNATIONAL
Trump warns Iran 'time is running out' for nuclear deal as US military builds up in Gulf
Donald Trump has warned Iran that "time is running out" to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme following the steady build-up of US military forces in the Gulf. The US president said a "massive Armada" was "moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose" towards Iran, referring to a large US naval fleet. In response, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country's armed forces were ready "with their fingers on the trigger" to "immediately and powerfully respond" to any aggression by land or sea…read more
29th January 2026