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The Ministry of Finance said it has been brought to the attention of the Authority that person(s) bearing fraudulent identification card(s), depicting the logos of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT), the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (FIUTT) of the Ministry of Finance, and the Financial Investigations Branch (FIB) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, are presenting themselves to the public as official representative(s) of these entities. In a Media Release today (Monday 8th June, 2026), the Ministry said the FIUTT “hereby issues an urgent advisory to the public regarding these fraudulent identification card(s) currently in circulation. The card falsely identifies the individual(s) as a ‘Financial Analyst Supervisor’ and as a representative of the CBTT, the FIUTT and the FIB.” The FIUTT explicitly states the following: Fraudulent credentials: This identification card is fake, unauthorized and invalid. Neither the FIUTT, the CBTT nor the FIB issue...

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago announced in Parliament this afternoon (Friday 5th June, 2026) that the Mid-Year Budget Review will be presented by Minister of Finance, the Honourable Davendranath Tancoo, at 10:30 AM on Monday 15th June, 2026.   Prior to that date, the Finance Bill (2026) will be read at 10:30 AM on Wednesday 10th June, 2026, followed by a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee at 1:30 PM on Friday 12th June, 2026. Government has announced the Mid Year Budget review will be presented by Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo on June 15. Before that the Finance Bill (2026) will be read on June 10, followed by the Standing Finance Committee on June 12 pic.twitter.com/zvUbDatg4I — CNC3TV (@CNC3TV) June 5, 2026 More on this as it becomes available.  This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.   [Source: CNC3/X ]

The Route 2 Maxi Taxi Association has announced a return to full service by 6:00 PM this afternoon (Tuesday 2nd June, 2026) — bringing an early end to their planned three-day protest action , which saw thousands of commuters experiencing hardships for public transportation. Speaking with I.A.N. News a short while ago, Vice President of the Association, Parsana Rampersad, confirmed that the entire complement of maxi taxis assigned to the route will be back on the road by the stated time later today. Rampersad said the Association observed several entities stepping in to provide transportation support to commuters during the disruption [ including the TTPS ], noting the impact the action had on daily travel.  He stated that while the protest action has been suspended, the dispute is far from resolved, declaring that “the battle is over, but the war still continues.” The Association indicated it will now explore alternative measures to ensure their concerns are properly heard and ad...

In response to the ongoing maxi taxi strike , which commenced today (Monday 1st June, 2026), and is expected to continue until Wednesday (3rd June, 2026), the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has extended a helping hand to members of the public affected by the disruption. In a Media Release this afternoon, the TTPS said, “Acting on the directive of Commissioner of Police, Allister Guevarro, ACP Specialized Support, Brian Sooden, deployed five (5) TTPS maxi taxis to the City Gate transportation hub in Port-of-Spain this afternoon, to assist commuters travelling along the various affected routes.” The TTPS prioritized schoolchildren, the elderly and other vulnerable commuters, with additional trips scheduled to assist those affected by the disruption. Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro speaks with the media in City Gate as police buses were deployed to transport stranded passengers during the maxi-taxi strike on Monday. The TTPS prioritised schoolchildren, the elderly an...

Thousands of commuters across Trinidad could be left stranded today (Monday 1st June, 2026) as the country’s maxi taxi operators proceed full speed ahead with a planned three-day shutdown, to protest what they say are years of neglect and unresolved issues. The move is expected to disrupt schools, workplaces and businesses, involving more than 5,000 operators. While many passengers fear the impact of the strike, maxi taxi representatives insist they have been pushed to the breaking point. Commuters already faced significant disruptions this morning as the Trinidad and Tobago Maxi Taxi Association began the three-day protest over several issues, including current speed limits. Today, thousands of commuters across Trinidad could be left stranded as the country's maxi taxi operators prepare to slam the brakes on service. In a move expected to disrupt schools, workplaces and businesses, more than 5,000 operators are planning a three-day shutdown to… pic.twitter.com/E25BoNSwcG — CNC3TV...

The Ministry of Homeland Security is inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified entities for the upgrade of the Passport Issuing and Control System to an E-Passport platform. The Ministry said on Monday (25th May, 2026) that the intent of this Expression of Interest (EOI) is to “identify private and public sector entities that would be interested in providing the service to Upgrade the Passport Issuing and Control System from Machine Readable Passport (MRP) to Electronic Passport (E-Passport) Issuing and Control System for the Immigration Division, Ministry of Homeland Security (MHS), Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.” The Ministry notes that it will “carefully review all submissions to ensure that entities possess the necessary resources, expertise and experience to provide this service. Based upon the results of the review process, the MHS will develop a shortlist of entities to move forward to submit formal proposals - the Request for Proposal (RFP) pr...

The Ministry of Finance is advising landlords and rent-collecting agents that the deadline for mandatory registration under the Landlord Business Surcharge has been extended to 30th June, 2026. In a Media Release today (Tuesday 26th May, 2026), the Ministry said the extension follows public engagement undertaken by Minister of Finance, the Honourable Davendranath Tancoo, MP, and is “intended to give citizens additional time to complete the registration process, organize the required documents and avoid penalties.” The Minister recently visited Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) offices in San Fernando, Port-of-Spain and Tunapuna , where he observed landlords coming forward and making efforts to comply with the new registration requirements. Minister Davendranath Tancoo stated: “We listened to the public, met with stakeholders and heard what they had to say. This extension to June 30th, 2026 will allow for a more efficient process while giving citizens additional time to get their documents...

The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago is welcoming a statement issued by Republic Bank Limited (RBL), following growing public concern over its hike in certain banking fees . In a Media Release today (Friday 8th May, 2026), the Central Bank said its intervention on the matter was minimal , and “consistent with our commitment to working alongside the banking sector. The Chairman and Board of Directors of Republic Bank considered it important to respond to the public concerns and they took the appropriate action.” The Central Bank is also commending Republic Bank for “responding so proactively to the concerns expressed by the public and in particular, the Chairman of the Board for his very sensitive and positive handling of the matter.” Republic Bank recently confirmed that the increases have now been paused and removed from its website while further discussions on the matter continue. The bank admitted in its statement that customers were confused and concerned about the proposed chan...

The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago said in a Media Release on Monday (4th May, 2026) that it “acknowledges public concern generated by recent fee adjustments implemented by Republic Bank Limited , which took effect from May 1, 2026. The Central Bank is engaging Republic Bank directly on this matter.” In sharing his position, Governor Larry Howai stated, “ We understand why citizens are frustrated, and we do not take this sentiment lightly. Over the years, we have closely monitored fees and charges of commercial banks, and the data on this remains publicly available on our website. While our role as Regulator is defined by law, it is not a passive one. Citizens deserve a financial system that works in their interest, and the Central Bank will continue to advocate for that. ” The Central Bank's legislative authority to regulate fees and charges is defined by Section 44A(1) of the Central Bank Act and is limited to fixing maximum and minimum interest rates, fees and charges on l...

Fire tenders are continuing to tackle a massive blaze this afternoon (Tuesday 5th May, 2026) at Globe City Plaza, off the Chase Village flyover in Chase Village, and Fire Officers believe it could be several hours before it is fully contained.  According to eyewitnesses, the compound, which houses a hardware and several other businesses, became engulfed shortly after 10:00 AM this morning. Fire appliances from Chaguanas, Point Lisas, Tunapuna and San Fernando are on the scene, as well as officials from the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), and Head of the National Operations Centre (NOC), Johnny Abraham. Access to the area has been blocked off by Police. Fire tenders continue to tackle a blaze at Globe City Plaza, off the Chase Village flyover in Chase Village, and officers believe it could be several hours before it is fully contained. According to eyewitnesses, the compound, which houses a hardware and several other busi...

Republic Bank Limited (RBL), the country’s largest commercial bank, has announced a sweeping round of increased fees across everyday banking services, effective from Friday (1st May, 2026). The changes are set to affect both routine transactions and penalty charges, with higher costs for basic services as well as steeper fees for overdrafts, missed payments and insufficient funds. Notable increases include higher charges for overdrafts and insufficient funds, with NSF (Not Sufficient Funds) fees rising from $34.50 to $57.50, overdraft fees increasing from $30 to $57.50, and some loan late-payment penalties doubling to as much as $100. Meanwhile, debit transactions will also now attract per-transaction fees on several accounts that previously included a limited number of free withdrawals. The new fee structure introduces a $1.30 charge per debit transaction on selected accounts , marking a major shift for customers who once benefited from free electronic debits.  Savings Plus accoun...

The Ministry of Finance is advising of an extension by the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) in the timeframe for the payment of gaming taxes. In a Media Release today (Friday 24th April, 2026), the Ministry announced that payment of Gaming Tax will now commence on 1st July, 2026 for taxes incurred during the period 1st April, 2025 to 31st March, 2027. Please be guided accordingly.

Tech giant Apple announced a short while ago this afternoon (Monday 20th April, 2026) that current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tim Cook, will become Executive Chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors and John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will become Apple’s next CEO, effective on 1st September, 2026. Apple said the transition, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, follows a “thoughtful, long-term succession planning process.” Pictured Above: Next Apple CEO John Ternus. In a Media Release this afternoon, Apple said, “Cook will continue in his role as CEO through the summer as he works closely with Ternus on a smooth transition. As Executive Chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.” “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so gra...

UPDATE (24/04/26): The Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago announced this morning (Friday 24th April, 2026) that the relocation of domestic operations, scheduled to begin from today, has been postponed until further notice. According to the Authority, “The planned redirection of domestic passengers through international checkpoints will not take effect at this time. We appreciate the continued co-operation of our stakeholders and the public as preparations continue.” All domestic passengers will therefore continue to be processed through the Domestic Departures area on the ground floor of the Piarco International Airport, with standard check-in and security procedures remaining in place. Authorities have not provided a new timeline for implementation but indicated that work toward the transition is ongoing. Stakeholders and the travelling public are being asked to maintain patience as adjustments continue. The planned overhaul forms part of a wider effort to modernize operations...

An elderly businessman is dead following a shooting incident in the car park of Harbour View Apartments in Westmoorings on Monday afternoon (13th April, 2026). The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old Wayne Yip Choy, a prominent and influential businessman who investigators believe may have taken his own life. According to reports, Officers responded to a report of two (2) loud explosions heard by the property manager at Harbour View Apartments on Ocean Boulevard, shortly before 2:00 PM. Upon arrival at the gated apartment complex, Officers found the body of Yip Choy lying face-down beneath a tree with apparent gunshot wounds. His licensed firearm was reportedly in his hand. Emergency Health Services were alerted. A District Medical Officer (DMO) was also summoned, who pronounced Yip Choy dead at the scene and ordered the body removed to the Forensic Science Centre, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted. Crime scene investigators processed both the car park...

Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, Senator the Honourable Satyakama Maharaj, has welcomed the outcome of discussions between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and senior officials of the United States Government during the recent Shield of the Americas Summit in Miami . In a Media Release today (Monday 9th March, 2026), the Ministry said the Prime Minister’s engagement with the United States, Trinidad and Tobago’s largest trading partner, “marks an important step toward strengthening economic cooperation, expanding investment opportunities, and supporting job creation within the national economy.” Minister Maharaj noted that the agreements and understandings emerging from the summit signal a renewed phase of collaboration between the two (2) countries, particularly in areas such as trade facilitation, investment promotion, energy cooperation, and economic development. “The United States has long been Trinidad and Tobago’s most significant trading partner. Strengthening this...

“The area formerly occupied by the old Chaguanas Health Facility has been identified for the development of a proper, structured transport hub. This is not a random decision. It is part of a broader plan to improve traffic flow, public safety, commuter comfort, and economic activity within our Borough.” This from Mayor of Chaguanas His Worship Councillor Faaiq Mohammed. In a Media Release today (Friday 27th February, 2026), the Mayor said, “Chaguanas is growing. And with growth comes responsibility. We cannot continue to operate in a way that creates congestion, disorder, and long term risk. We must plan properly, build properly, and manage our space properly. Let me also make the timeline clear. Vendors operating in that area have been formally notified and have until March 31st to remove their structures and relocate. Demolition will commence immediately after that date. This process is defined, it is orderly, and it will proceed.” According to Mohammed, “At the same time, let me be...

No decision has been made regarding the continued issuance and subsequent demonetization of the 5-cent coin. This according to the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago. In a statement issued this afternoon (Tuesday 24th February, 2026), the Central Bank said, “This is, however, under consideration as a cost saving initiative for the country given the cost to produce the 5-cent coin (about 24 cents each); this is similar to the experience with the 1-cent coin, which, at the time that the Bank stopped issuing it in 2017 was costing 21 cents each to produce.” The Central Bank added, “If a decision is taken to stop issuing and, subsequently, to demonetize the 5-cent coin, the public will be notified well ahead of time via the Bank's official communication channels. This will include the process for redeeming the coins to ensure that this is managed seamlessly as in the case of the 1-cent coins which continue to be redeemed indefinitely following its demonetization in 2018 .” More on t...