NEWS
US lawsuit alleges Trinidadian men were unlawfully killed
The families of two Trinidad and Tobago nationals killed in a US missile strike at sea filed a sweeping wrongful-death lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts, accusing the United States of carrying out unlawful killings during a controversial campaign targeting small boats in the Caribbean. The complaint was filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts under admiralty jurisdiction on January 27. It alleges that a US military strike on October 14, 2025, destroyed a small boat travelling from Venezuela toward Trinidad, killing all six people aboard. Among the dead were Chad Joseph, 26, and Rishi Samaroo, 41, residents of Las Cuevas, who their families say were returning home after fishing and farm work in Venezuela. Read more here
TTUTA denies knowledge of action as wage dispute leads to protests, disrupting school operations
Hundreds of parents were forced to rush to schools yesterday to collect their children, following a nationwide wave of teacher absenteeism, believed to be a “silent protest” over unpaid salary increases promised for this month. The disruption came just hours after the Ministry of Education issued a statement confirming that Cabinet had approved salary increases agreed with Chief Personnel Officer Dr Daryl Dindial in April last year. Guardian Media has been reliably informed the action will continue today. Reports reaching Guardian Media indicated that in some schools, no teachers reported for duty, leaving administrators to supervise large numbers of students before ending the school day early. The impact varied across districts, with some schools completing the day as normal. There were also reports that absenteeism may continue today. Read more here
POLITICS
ZOSO bill fails; 8 Independents, 6 Opposition vote against
The law to give sweeping authority to the Prime Minister and National Security Council (NSC) to designate communities as security zones and deploy expanded police and military powers has been defeated in the Senate. The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) Special Security and Community Development 2026 Bill, which required a three-fifths majority for passage, did not receive support from a single Independent Senator last night. The Government needed at least four Independent Senators to support the legislation for its passage. However, when it came to a vote after four sittings of the Upper House, the 15 Government Senators voted in favour, 14 voted against, inclusive of eight of the nine independent senators and six Opposition senators, and there was one abstention - Independent Senator Courtney Mc Nish. This means when the State of Emergency expires on January 31, the Government will not be able to implement its ZOSO initiative, which it said was paramount to continuing the gains made against the criminal elements during the SoE. Read more here
BUSINESS
How taxes impact air connectivity in the Caribbean
Last week, during a press briefing on the proposed air services by St Maarten-based Windward Islands Airways International NV (Winair) between TT and St Maarten, Winair’s CEO Hans van de Velde explained the airline’s cautious yet confident approach with regard to its TT operations. “We don’t want to make the mistake other airlines have made in the past, wanting to go too fast. So, we will do it steadily. And if success is there, and we think it will be there, we will grow,” said van de Velde. On February 1, the airline will begin nonstop twice-weekly scheduled service between Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport (POS) and Sint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) using its 48-seater ATR 42-500s. Read more here
Rising risks prompt rethink among Caribbean firms
Caribbean businesses are being forced to rethink their risk exposure as rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela begin to disrupt shipping, finance and energy planning across the region. Speaking at a virtual meeting titled “The impact of tensions between the US and Venezuela on the business sector”, chief executive officer of Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute (CCGI) Kamla Rampersad de Silva said, “Issues like this are no longer abstract. They are urgent. The shockwave from this event has turned theoretical risk into an immediate operational and strategic challenge for businesses across our region.” Read more here
REGIONAL
‘This is just the first instalment of real benefits’
FROM direct cash transfers to investments in targeted fiscal measures, Budget 2026 themed ‘Putting People First’, charts the way forward in realising the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration’s vision for growth and development. This was according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, during a video posted on his official page, on Tuesday. The President said this year’s fiscal package brings to life the government’s five-year development plan. “What is interesting is if you look at Budget 2026, it is actually telling a story that we may very well surpass every single one of the commitments we made, because in this first instalment of real benefits, more benefits for the people, you will see a clear direction as to how the investments are being made to improve lives, expand income, create more disposable income, create jobs, give you safer community, better health care and education,” the President reasoned. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump says government will 'de-escalate' in Minnesota following Pretti shooting
President Donald Trump said his administration was "going to de-escalate a little bit" in Minnesota, after the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal immigration officers there. "Bottom line, it was terrible. Both of them were terrible," he said in a Fox News interview on Tuesday. In early January Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer, followed by Alex Pretti, who was killed after being stopped by border agents this past weekend. Pretti's death reignited local protests and public outcry across the country, and led to criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Trump's remarks are the latest sign his administration is taking a step back on its operations in Minnesota. Read more here
28th January 2026