Trinidad and Tobago News

REPORT BRIBE TAKERS

Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen urged the public to report corrupt building and public health inspectors, saying bribery has distorted approvals and allowed some officials to live far beyond public salaries. She said the Public Health (Amendment) Bill will streamline construction approvals by removing duplicate CMOH checks and shifting pending applications to municipal corporations.

By Anna Ramdass

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Alexander: Interpol screening migrants

Trinidad and Tobago is using Interpol and police fingerprint checks to vet more than 24,000 migrants before issuing registration cards, which the Homeland Security Minister says could start next month. Roger Alexander said the tougher screening is meant to catch false identities and criminal histories, as the country expands its migrant registration framework to applicants from more than 60 nationalities.

By Anna Ramdass

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

TSTT officials threaten to sue CWU secretary general

TSTT chairman Kern Dass and corporate secretary Viveka Pargass have threatened legal action against CWU leader Joanne Ogeer over remarks at a union news conference they say were defamatory and unsupported. Their lawyer has given her 48 hours to retract the claims, apologize and provide evidence, or face court action.

By Rickie Ramdass

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

$1 billion in drugs seized by my Govt

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says security forces have seized about $1 billion in illegal drugs since the UNC took office last year, following a 440.2-kilogram cocaine interception by the Coast Guard that led to four arrests. She said the government is targeting not just street dealers but also financiers behind trafficking, with support from international law enforcement and improved intelligence.

By Anna Ramdass

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Senator awaits Govt changes to ZOSO

Independent Senator Marlene Attzs said she wants to see the Government’s revised Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) Bill before deciding whether the Independent Bench’s proposed amendments should be revisited. With the state of emergency ending September 17, she said any new law must balance crime-fighting powers with civil liberties, transparency and accountability.

By Verdel Bishop

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Cabinet list circulates as reshuffle speculation grows

Speculation is growing that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar may reshuffle her Cabinet after a circulating social media list named several new ministerial assignments. The debate was fuelled by an official Gazette notice appointing Sean Sobers to act as energy minister during Dr Roodal Moonilal’s absence, but there has been no official confirmation of any reshuffle.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Gibbings: FOI bill could weaken ‘legacy media’

Parliament is debating a bill that would let state agencies publish required annual public statements either in a newspaper or on a publicly accessible website, instead of only in a daily newspaper. Independent Senator Wesley Gibbings, who voted against the measure in the Senate, warned it could weaken legacy media, cut revenue for newspapers and deepen a culture of secrecy.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Fire guts Dundonald Hill home

A house was destroyed by fire in Dundonald Hill, Long Circular, St James, early Monday, but police confirmed all three occupants were safe after a search of the debris. Police are also investigating an abduction in Valsayn and four separate home invasions across Trinidad, including robberies in Freeport and Talparo.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Mourners hail Akaloo’s humility

Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein and other business leaders paid tribute to Sheik Lisha Ltd managing director Churchill Azad Akaloo, who died Friday at 82, saying his humility and focus on affordable goods helped build one of Trinidad and Tobago’s major manufacturing and distribution firms. Akaloo turned the family business, founded in the 1950s, into a regional industry leader.

By PETER CHRISTOPHER

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Al-Rawi: I haven’t received Medz Boss legal threat

Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi says he has not received the pre-action letter from attorneys for Trinidad artiste Joseph “Medz Boss” Oliviere, who are threatening to sue over comments linking him to organised crime and suggesting his release from preventive detention was politically arranged. The dispute stems from Al-Rawi’s remarks about Oliviere’s revoked detention order and could lead to a defamation case.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Al-Rawi: Sabga in recovery after PDO detention

Star Sabga is recovering after being released from house arrest following about two months under a Preventive Detention Order, according to her lawyer, Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi. He said the experience was emotionally difficult and declined to discuss the case details, noting it is now before the court. Sabga’s detention has drawn attention because of the legal challenges and evidence involved.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Tobago fishermen demand consultation before offshore drilling

Tobago fishers are demanding full consultation before EOG Resources begins exploratory drilling in southwest Tobago from mid-October, saying the area is a traditional fishing ground. Chief Secretary Farley Augustine says only one well will be drilled and stakeholders were consulted, while the THA sees possible future energy revenue if hydrocarbons are found.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

TSTT chairman, corporate secretary threaten to sue Ogeer

TSTT chairman Kern Dass and corporate secretary Viveka Pargass have threatened to sue CWU leader Joanne Ogeer for defamation over comments she made at a press conference. Their lawyers say she made unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and wrongdoing, and have given her 48 hours to provide evidence, withdraw, or correct the claims.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

LandmarkTT project row leaves workers waiting for pay

A payment dispute at the LandmarkTT housing project in Ste Madeleine led a subcontractor to lock the site gates yesterday, drawing police intervention and delaying access for workers. Anthony Frederick says he is owed money for completed work and that some workers have not been paid, while main contractor Nazmudeen Khan General Contractors denies owing him and says payments depend on project stages.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

WASA repairs completed after San Fernando main rupture

WASA has completed repairs to a ruptured main in San Fernando, restoring water service to customers on Coffee and Lord streets. The leak flooded Tiaren Drugs Ltd, covering the pharmacy’s floor and basement in silt and water; manager Curron Lum Kin said cleanup and damage assessments are underway, and he is hoping to reopen soon.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Hot spells, below-normal rainfall forecast for T&T

Trinidad and Tobago is likely to see above-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall from October to December, with the Meteorological Service warning of ten three-day hot spells and two five-day hot spells in October. The forecast points to reduced surface water and a need to conserve and store water, while flood risk stays low to moderate in Trinidad and low in Tobago.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Three-month wait for US Embassy approval ‘unacceptable’

Parliament has passed a Public Health amendment aimed at speeding up construction approvals by removing the County Medical Officer of Health from the building-permit process. Planning Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh said a US Embassy project was delayed three months by a duplicated sanitary review, costing time and money and showing how the system hurts investment and ordinary applicants.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

John: Businesses, citizens must take responsibility for PoS upkeep

Works Minister Jearlean John urged businesses and residents in Port-of-Spain to take more responsibility for cleaning and drainage maintenance, saying the Government cannot keep funding the work alone. She said waste, especially grease, is clogging drains and worsening flood risks, while Mayor Chinua Alleyne also called for more responsible waste disposal by citizens and businesses.

By Andrea Perez-Sobers

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Govt’s $1 Super Gas cut adds $318M to fuel subsidy bill

The Government says its $1 per litre cut in Super Gasoline has added about $318 million to the fuel subsidy as global oil prices rise, but citizens will not pay more. Planning Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh told the Senate the State will absorb the cost, arguing the move protects households from higher transport, food and living costs, with the full fiscal impact to be reported in the 2027 Budget.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

PNM San Fernando East groups move ahead with internal polls

PNM internal elections in San Fernando East are progressing, with 11 of 30 party groups completed and the rest expected by September 25 ahead of the November convention. Hazel Manning will contest the constituency executive chairmanship on October 15, after earlier tensions between her and Patricia Alexis were handled internally. The party will also elect a new Trincity-Maloney executive today.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

PM: $1B in illegal drugs seized since UNC took office

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said security services have seized about $1 billion in illegal drugs since the UNC took office, including two September cocaine busts worth nearly $400 million. She said international and local agencies are probing alleged trafficking networks tied to big business, while criminologist Daurius Figueira warned the seizures may signal a shift in cocaine routes toward Europe and possible new gang conflict.

By Jesse Ramdeo

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

State ordered to pay over $700,000 in compensation to Cocorite man

The State has been ordered to pay Kern Parkinson more than $700,000 after the High Court found he was maliciously prosecuted and wrongly remanded for 18 months over a bulletproof vest charge linked to alleged gang activity. Justice Robin Mohammed said police evidence was unreliable and partly fabricated, and that the case caused Parkinson severe distress, job loss and hardship.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

No-protest zones tying union’s hands, says CGWTU

The Contractors and General Workers Trade Union says State of Emergency no-protest zones are blocking it from demonstrating outside the San Fernando City Corporation over disputes involving workers and union representation. President Ermine De Bique-Meade says the restrictions are limiting labour action and that the union needs dialogue over multiple grievances at the corporation. The SOE expires Thursday, and the Opposition says it will not support an extension.

By Sascha Wilson

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

'PDO detainees may seek extra damages over harsh conditions'

Attorney Nyree Alfonso says people detained under Preventive Detention Orders may have grounds to sue the State if they were held unlawfully or in inhumane conditions, such as overcrowded cells, no water, or poor sanitation. She also said the proposed ZOSO law could help fight crime in targeted communities, but only if it clearly protects constitutional rights and sets out remedies.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

‘Fit for animals’: Former detainee wants compensation over prison conditions

Former detainees and relatives said the State should pay compensation, not just apologise, for months spent in detention at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre and other facilities. Arnez Payison and others described harsh conditions and said the slow release process left families waiting hours, as 100 detainees were due out yesterday and 564 by the end of the State of Emergency.

By Guardian

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Schoolboys sorry for fighting at start of academic year

Four Northeastern College students have been placed on extended suspension after fighting outside the Sangre Grande school compound on the first day of term, despite publicly apologising online. Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath said the ministry did not sanction the video and is reviewing how it was produced, while TTUTA said the discipline could deter other students but won’t solve deeper problems.

By Ryan Bachoo

Retrieved Sep 16, 2026

Ministers Bring Caribbean Folklore To Life For Primary School Students

Government Ministers and Primary School students took part in a National Library and Information Systems Authority (NALIS) event for International Literacy Day that celebrated Caribbean folklore through spoken word. Stories about shape-shifters, Anansi, and a clever crab highlighted the region’s storytelling traditions and supported literacy through local culture.

By TTT News

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026

Revitalisation Blueprint Enters Evaluation Stage

The first phase of Trinidad and Tobago’s Revitalisation Blueprint has moved into evaluation at UDeCOTT after the request for proposals closed last week, Works Minister Jearlean John said. She said the 10-year plan aims to diversify the economy and create 72,000 jobs, while road rehabilitation continues in areas including Manzanilla and other rural communities.

By Kevion John

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026

Minister Nicholas Morris: Crime Figures Vindicate Prime Minister’s SOE Decision

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Nicholas Morris said police figures showing fewer crimes, murders and more arrests across Trinidad and Tobago vindicate the government’s decision to impose the State of Emergency. He also said the Prime Minister’s support for US anti-narcotrafficking efforts and approach to Venezuela have strengthened border security and partnerships.

By TTT News

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026

Minister Jearlean John: Infrastructure, Environment Critical To T&T’s Investment Future

Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John told an ESG conference that Trinidad and Tobago must protect its infrastructure and environment if it wants to attract and keep investment. She cited illegal dumping, clogged drains and non-compliant construction as avoidable problems that hurt the country’s image and investor confidence. John said growth depends on citizens, businesses and government taking real responsibility.

By Kevion John

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026

Public Health Amendment Bill Moves Forward In Senate

The Senate debated the Public Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2026, which would remove County Medical Officer of Health approval from construction-permit applications while leaving the Health Minister’s public health oversight in place. Government said pending applications will be handled by the relevant Regional Corporation, and supporters argued the change will free health officers to focus on disease prevention and other urgent health issues.

By Faith Cheruiyot

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026

Trinitario Chocolate Lab Opens In Tobago

A new Trinitario Chocolate Lab has opened at the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute in Mt St George, created by THTI and the Trinidad and Tobago Fine Cocoa Company to refine local cocoa and train students in chocolate-making. It also aims to boost Tobago’s agritourism and add more value to the island’s cocoa industry, with support from local and international partners.

By Kandace Jackson

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026

Government To Maintain Reduced Super Gasoline Price

Dr Kennedy Swaratsingh said the Government kept Super gasoline $1 cheaper in 2025 to shield Trinidad and Tobago consumers from higher transport, food and living costs, even as imported fuel prices rise after Petrotrin’s closure left the country more exposed to global markets. He said the policy could add about TT$318 million in subsidy costs for fiscal 2026, with the final impact to be reported at year-end.

By Faith Cheruiyot

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026

PSA seeks to hold NALIS in contempt for failing to reinstate worker

The Public Services Association is asking the Court of Appeal to hold NALIS in contempt for not reinstating Ryan Martinez after an Industrial Court order, and to strike out NALIS’s appeal. The dispute stems from Martinez’s 2016 firing, which the court said was procedurally flawed and not supported by gross misconduct, making the case significant for public service discipline and workers’ rights.

By Derek Achong

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026

Criminologist Calls For Post-SOE Policing Strategies, Greater Focus On Crime Financiers

Criminologist Dr Randy Seepersad says Trinidad and Tobago should carry effective State of Emergency tactics into normal policing, including targeted firearm probes, strong police visibility and focus on priority offenders. He also backs Zones of Special Operations and community-based interventions, but says lasting progress depends on going after the financiers and masterminds behind organised crime.

By Marie-Therese Bernard

Retrieved Sep 15, 2026