NEWS
Cabinet approves revised teachers' salaries
Cabinet has approved the revised wages for teachers, following ratification of the agreement between the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and the TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) for the period October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2023. Former TTUTA president Martin Lum Kin and the CPO settled on a five per cent increase prior to the general election. New TTUTA head Crystal Ashe recently expressed concern that their salaries were not adjusted by January. He had threatened to lead a mass rally if the settlement was not approved by Cabinet. In a media release on January 26, the Ministry of Education confirmed that all relevant documentation for the wage settlement has been finalised. Read more here
Venezuela’s gas reserves offer new opportunities for T&T
Mala Baliraj, chair of the Energy Chamber of T&T, acknowledged the potential opportunities in her speech. “There are two projects listed on this map where the major factor delaying execution is beyond Trinidad and Tobago’s direct control, namely the Shell/NGC investment in the Dragon field in Venezuela and the bp/NGC investment in the Manakin/Cocuina cross-border field. Recent changes in Venezuela might offer new hope that these two projects can move toward implementation,” Baliraj said. Read more here
POLITICS
Chief Sec: Traditions won't stop progress
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has shifted many of his former secretaries into new divisions as he vowed to take whatever action is necessary to steer Tobago towards its development goals. Augustine was speaking on January 26 as his secretaries took their oath of office at the Colibri Room of the Magdalena Grand and Beach Resort in Lowlands. He noted that Tobago is steep in tradition, acknowledging that islanders love to celebrate traditions. Traditions, he said, work well for the Tobago Heritage Festival, but aren't ideal in governance. Read more here
Faris warns of ‘militarisation’ of State after police-involved killing
Former attorney general Faris Al-Rawi has warned that the proposed Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations—ZOSOs) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill, 2026, could lead to the “militarisation” of the State, as the Government seeks to grant soldiers police powers under new legislative measures. The warning over the bill comes amid rising public outcry following the police killing of 31-year-old Joshua Samaroo last Wednesday. The incident, which followed a high-speed chase, resulted in a vehicle crash and shooting that left Samaroo dead and his 28-year-old girlfriend, Kaia Sealy, paralysed from the waist down. Speaking with Guardian Media on the growing concerns regarding police-involved shootings yesterday, Al-Rawi, who was at the People’s National Movement’s 70th anniversary celebration at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, argued that the current climate demonstrates the potential for the legislation to cause further harm. Read more here
BUSINESS
Digicel's Deep Blue One strengthens Tobago network
TELECOMMUNICATIONS provider Digicel has launched its Deep Blue One subsea fibre-optic cable linking Trinidad to Tobago. In a news release on January 23, the company said, “The submarine cable is expected to significantly enhance the reliability and stability of services in Tobago.” Pieter Verkade, CEO of Digicel TT, said: “We are delighted to launch this improvement to our service ensuring that we have full redundancy for our customers in Tobago for mobile, home and entertainment and business. This means a more resilient network that can withstand challenges and keep Tobago better connected. “Looking ahead, we project the fastest growth in Tobago West, while Tobago East will see a strong increase as more homes and businesses come online.” Read more here
Energy sector optimistic about 2026
Positive momentum is building in the local energy sector in 2026, driven by growing expectations as more oil and gas projects are scheduled to come on stream this year and in 2027. Chair of the Energy Chamber of T&T, Mala Baliraj, highlighted many of these projects in her opening address at the 2026 T&T Energy Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain yesterday. “We have seen some projects being completed and moving to begin production, notably the bpTT Cypre project and the EOG/bpTT joint venture Mento project. Trinidad’s first grid-scale renewables project, the Brechin Castle solar farm, also began producing green electrons in 2025,” said Baliraj in her address. “These projects join others already in execution and working towards first production. These include the EOG/bpTT Coconut project, which is in execution with the platform being constructed in the TOFCO yard. And bpTT’s fourth subsea project, Ginger, is also on schedule to deliver first gas in 2027. Read more here
REGIONAL
Highly sustainable, diversified, people-centred tourism industry being built
Guyana’s tourism industry has entered a remarkable phase of growth, marked by record-breaking visitor arrivals, expanded accommodation, and new international flight connections that show strong global confidence in the destination. The government is deepening its investments in 2026 to create a more sustainable, diversified, and people-centered tourism economy. While presenting Budget 2026 to the National Assembly, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, said the administration’s main focus is to transform the sector. This includes ensuring sustainable and world-class tourism experiences, expanding air and domestic connectivity, and empowering communities through job creation and economic opportunities. The minister announced that Guyana welcomed a record 453,489 visitors in 2025, the highest number ever recorded. Building on this success, the government plans to review, update, and implement the National Strategic Tourism Action Plan. This plan will guide development over the next five years, emphasising community-led tourism, product diversification, and affordability for both residents and visitors. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump abandons attack mode as Minneapolis shooting backlash grows
The Trump administration has quickly abandoned its familiar "deny and attack" playbook after initially using it when federal agents shot dead Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. Within 24 hours, as various videos of the shooting circulated online, it became clear that the White House was out of step with public opinion and what Americans could see with their own eyes. Since then, the administration – and the president himself - have changed tack, blaming Democrats for what happened and focusing less on the actions of the American nurse who was killed. Democrats, meanwhile, have increased their criticism of the president's mass deportation policy and the aggressive tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leaning into a political fight that could result in a new government shutdown on Friday. Read more here
27th January 2026