NEWS
Missing girl’s case sparks debate over privacy, protection
A 13-year-old girl missing for 26 days has become the subject of public scrutiny since her discovery in a forest with a 49-year-old man, but a counselling therapist is warning that the child is now at risk of further harm from the very exposure surrounding her rescue. Counselling therapist Gregory Isaacs says the response is wrong, warning that the public exposure surrounding her discovery could cause further harm to a child whose circumstances remain unclear. “She’s way too young, and the level of exposure and vulnerability factor is too high,” he said, stressing that she cannot be placed in an adult environment, even if she may have behaved like one. Isaacs said the potential for further damage begins with the exposure itself, as public scrutiny threatens the girl’s healing and development. Read more here
Sando Chamber: Enough talk
President of the Greater San Fernando Area Chamber of Commerce (GSFCC) Kiran Singh is calling for the national budget to move beyond promises of economic diversification, and to fund local businesses to produce, innovate and earn foreign exchange. Ahead of Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s presentation in Parliament today, Singh said Government should move the country from a consumption-driven, energy-dependent economy towards one built on production and investment. “We have talked about diversification for decades. I would like to see Government move from talking about diversification to deliberately financing it,” Singh told the Express yesterday. Read more here
POLITICS
Finance minister expected to unveil $60B budget focused on employment, investment, housing and economic growth
While some citizens took the precaution of topping up their gas tanks yesterday, Government officials say no fuel price hike is expected in today’s 2027 Budget presentation. Officials also said the Budget package to take Trinidad and Tobago through the 2027 fiscal year would be larger than the $59.232 billion allocated in the 2026 Budget. The 2027 Budget is estimated at approximately $63 billion. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo will present the 2027 Budget in the House of Representatives at 1.30 pm today. It will be his second Budget presentation on behalf of the Persad-Bissessar administration. Read more here
Sobers: No sitting minister’s US visa revoked
Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers yesterday denied that any sitting minister in the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led Government had their United States visa revoked. In a statement posted on his social media accounts yesterday, Sobers said: “Contrary to a story in today’s (Sunday’s) Trinidad Express authored by Mr Mark Bassant, the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs is pleased to inform the population that NO sitting Trinidad and Tobago Government Minister’s US visa has been revoked.” He added: “The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has no involvement in the issuance or revocation of US visas.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Princes Town eyes borough status as calls grow for upgrade
For decades, Princes Town has served as a major gateway to South Trinidad, connecting communities along the southern and eastern corridors and drawing shoppers and businesspeople to its town centre and surrounding commercial districts. Now, as the Government considers changing the status of several municipalities, residents and businesspeople believe the sprawling historic region should be next in line. Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali calls for regional strategies on AI, cybersecurity to boost tourism industry
President, Dr Irfaan Ali has urged Caribbean countries to develop shared strategies for artificial intelligence, digital resilience and cybersecurity, warning that no country in the Region is large enough to respond effectively on its own. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026, Ali said that digital technology was already shaping how potential visitors discovered destinations and formed expectations about travel. “If you ask a young child in the Caribbean to tell you places of the world they want to see, they will give you their interpretation through what they get on social media on the devices, and also through what AI is demonstrating to them,” he said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump faces growing backlash over plans to import diesel from Russia
US President Donald Trump is facing a growing backlash over plans to import diesel from Russia as the Iran war continues to impact global energy prices. Trump on Friday announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release 300,000 tonnes of diesel immediately "to the American and global marketplace" followed by several other shipments. That is despite signing legislation to authorise fresh US sanctions and tariffs on nations that import Russian oil and gas just weeks ago. Read more here
12th October 2026