NEWS
Junior Panorama champs crowned
ST FRANCOIS Valley Stars emerged as the winner of the new Pan Trinbago under-19 category in the January 18 Junior Panorama. The event, held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, saw a number of secondary school bands formed into junior bands, participating. The schools opted out of the National Schools Panorama due to it moving to Skinner Park, San Fernando. The schools then said it was too short a timeframe to allow for their participation in the schools Panorama. Read more here
Ex-cop, community activist urge careful rollout of ZOSOs
Community security stakeholders are urging the Government to implement targeted police operations, while ensuring safeguards against abuse of power, as part of their plan to introduce Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) in the fight against crime. The Law Reform Zones of Special Operations, Special Security and Community Development Measures Act, 2026, was passed in the lower house early on Saturday morning with 27 in support of the bill as opposed to 11 against. When contacted for comment, retired senior superintendent in charge of the Central Division, Kenny McIntyre, said he was optimistic that the introduction of specific ZOSO could yield long-term crime-fighting successes. Read more here
POLITICS
JSC's discuss youth, criminal activity, credit unions
The Parliament's Social Services and Public Administration Joint Select Committee (JSC) will hold a public inquiry into the effectiveness of sporting programmes in diverting vulnerable youths from delinquency and criminal activity in Trinidad and Tobago. The inquiry will take place at the Cabildo Building, Port of Spain on January 21 at 10 am. The committee is chaired by Independent Senator Dr Desiree Murray. Other members include Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath, Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen, Diego Martin Central MP Symon de Nobriga and Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts-Ragdman. Read more here
Finance Minister Tancoo in US for bond show
Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo is currently in New York this week for a bond show, as the Government intends to borrow up to US$1 billion on the international capital market. When Guardian Media contacted him last night on the overseas mission, Tancoo said, “It is a work in progress and will issue a brief when completed.” In a legal notice issued on January 12, Tancoo said the Government had appointed JP Morgan Securities LLC and Bank of America Securities Inc as joint lead managers and arrangers for the issuance. The legal notice said the bonds would be issued under the External Loans Act, which allows for monies to be raised externally for general development projects and to repay previous loans. It will be raised through the international capital market, where governments issue bonds or notes to large global investors. Read more here
BUSINESS
‘Buy Local’ campaign launched
The Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism has officially launched the “Buy Local, Build Trinbago” campaign. According to the Trade Ministry, the national initiative is designed to stimulate demand for domestically produced goods and services, strengthen national pride, and enhance the competitiveness of local businesses. The campaign was unveiled at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, where Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism Satyakama Maharaj delivered the keynote address. Cabinet ministers, CEOs, marketing professionals, and representatives from public and private sector organisations attended the event. Read more here
REGIONAL
Monday is Budget Day
SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, The Honourable Dr. Ashni Singh, on Monday announced that Budget 2026 will be presented to the National Assembly on January 26, 2026. Speaking on the upcoming presentation, the finance minister emphasised that Budget 2026, the first national budget since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) re-election to office, will serve as the operational blueprint for the PPP/C’s manifesto and is set to translate the comprehensive promises made during the 2025 election campaign into tangible benefits, a Ministry of Finance press release said. It added that Minister Singh affirmed that the budget is “firmly grounded in the comprehensive and inspiring manifesto that we would have taken to the people of Guyana in the run-up to the 2025 elections.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Greenland 'will stay Greenland', former Trump adviser declares
Donald Trump will not be able to force Greenland to change ownership, a former top adviser to the US president has told the BBC. IBM's vice chairman Gary Cohn, who advised Trump on the economy in his first term, said "Greenland will stay Greenland" and linked the need for access to critical minerals to his former boss's plans for the territory. Separately, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged people to "relax" and "let things play out" on the tariff threats against Europe over Greenland. Speaking at a news conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bessent compared the reaction to Trump's announcement on US tariffs last year and claimed the current situation was different. Read more here
20th January 2026