NEWS
More steelbands lose state sponsors
San Fernando’s Skiffle Bunch and Siparia Deltones are among more steelbands to lose sponsorship from state entities. In a letter dated November 27, Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd informed Skiffle Bunch of the termination of its sponsorship. The letter, signed by Heritage Petroleum’s acting CEO Kerry Rampersad, said the company expressed its sincere appreciation for the partnership and contribution the band made to the cultural landscape during the sponsorship. “After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that the company has taken a decision and will be discontinuing its sponsorship of Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra effective December 27,” the letter said. Read more here
$3.8B back pay for public servants! CPO, PSA agree to 10% wage hike
After several hours of tense negotiations, the Public Services Association (PSA) and the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) have reached an agreement on a ten per cent wage increase for public sector workers. The deal is expected to cost the State approximately $3.8 billion in back pay and an additional $420 million annually in recurrent expenditure going forward. CPO retired Commander Dr Daryl Dindial indicated that the PSA attempted to push for a 12 per cent increase, but that was rejected. On Monday, both parties will meet to sign the agreement. Read more here
POLITICS
PM: TT's future now in laptops in bookbags
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the future of TT lies in the laptop computers being provided to Form One students in secondary schools. She made this comment when she addressed a laptop distribution ceremony at Penal Secondary School on November 27. She recalled TT's first prime minister Dr Eric Williams saying the nation's future was in the bookbags of students. "I say to you, the future of our country is in the laptops in the bookbags." Persad-Bissessar recalled her early experiences with computers when they were huge mainframes. Read more here
PM admits US military in Tobago, assisting with radar surveillance upgrades
One day after saying there were no United States Marines in the country, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed that a new radar is being installed by the United States in Tobago to monitor activities inside and outside Trinidad and Tobago. Speaking to reporters after distributing laptops at the Penal Secondary School yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said she has confirmed that US troops are still in the country and have been assisting with surveillance upgrades in Tobago. Persad-Bissessar’s confirmation came after members of the public reported seeing US Marines at a popular Tobago hotel in recent days. Read more here
BUSINESS
Digicel TT to spend $20m on upgrades
Digicel TT will spend an estimated $20 million on a new suite of upgrades to its nationwide network to keep pace with growing customer demand. This comes as it plans to decommission its legacy 2G network on December 31, 2025, as the company reallocates resources toward strengthening and streamlining its data network. “Digicel is here to stay,” said Pieter Verkade, CEO, Digicel TT Ltd in an a statement on November 27. “We are allocating approximately $20 million into creating a more robust network, which includes but is not limited to upgrading mobile sites, reinforcing infrastructure, and ensuring TT continues to benefit from high-quality internet and reliable communication services.” Read more here
Firstline offers first-ever Sharīʿah compliant investment
In a move to reshape the financial landscape of T&T, Firstline Securities Ltd is launching the nation’s first-ever Sharīʿah compliant private placement, independently certified by a qualified Islamic financial scholar. This initiative, championed by chairman Keith King, is not merely a niche offering but a strategic effort to introduce ethical, asset-based financing to a wider segment of the population, thereby fostering economic stability and inclusiveness. King underscored the significance of this venture, noting that previous attempts at establishing Islamic trusts in the country had failed. Read more here
REGIONAL
2025 elections were professional, transparent, conducted in a free and fair manner
ON November 27, 2025, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) formally handed over its Elections Observation Report 2025 to the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, at GECOM Headquarters in Georgetown. The submission marked the conclusion of the commission’s accredited observation duties and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peaceful and inclusive democratic processes. Representing the ERC during the handing over were its Chairman Shaikh Moeen-ul-Hack, Deputy Chairman, Charles Ogle, Commissioners Neaz Subhan and Krishna Sharma and the Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Gomin Camacho. Also, present from GECOM were the Chief Election Officer, Mr. Vishnu Persaud. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump says US will pause migration from 'third-world countries'
Donald Trump has said he will "permanently pause migration" to the US from all "third world countries". The US president wrote in a Truth Social post that this would "allow the US system to fully recover" from policies that had eroded the "gains and living conditions" of many Americans. He did not provide details of his plan or name which countries might be affected. His comments came a day after an Afghan national was accused of shooting two members of the National Guard in Washington DC, one of whom has died. Trump suggested the incident underlined a major national security threat. Read more here
28th November 2025