Senior Reporter
Teachers and nurses had mixed reactions after Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo indicated that financial relief for public sector workers, who are still awaiting the conclusion of salary negotiations and backpay, will be provided through allocations in the 2026/2027 budget.
However, Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) president Crystal Bevin Ashe immediately rejected the proposed timeline.
“Unacceptable. I can give it in one word. Unacceptable. They (members) will not accept that, that is ridiculous because we had an agreement. We had multiple dates. Now they’re moving the goalposts every time,” he said.
“So, you would have moved it from June. You moved it to January. You moved it to the end of the first quarter. Now you have moved it to 2027. When will we have it next? At the end of your term in office? No, that is unacceptable.”
Ashe said TTUTA will outline its next steps during a media conference today.
He also dismissed any suggestion that the union would accept a settlement involving non-cash benefits.
“That was never discussed. That doesn’t come into play with us at all. That is impossible to bring at this point in time. We would have negotiated and our agreement says that it’s cash. We have nothing to do with that (non-cash options),” he added.
In contrast, T&T National Nursing Association (TTNNA) president Idi Stuart welcomed the fact that Government had finally provided clarity on the process and timeline for salary negotiations.
“We are happy that the Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Government, has finally broken the silence on when the nursing personnel will receive a salary increase and the mechanism that should take place,” Stuart said.
He noted that for months, the association had been seeking guidance from the Government on how negotiations would proceed, who would be responsible and when payments could be expected.
Stuart said the proposal will now be taken to members at a special general meeting on Saturday for consideration.
Despite welcoming the clarification, Stuart maintained that healthcare workers should not still be operating under 2013 salaries when 2027 arrives.
“We would expect the new salaries to take effect within 2026 because anything less would be unacceptable for the entire health sector,” he added.
He also warned that healthcare workers favour cash payments and would strongly oppose any reduction in the cash component of any eventual settlement.
Meanwhile, development economist Dr Marlene Attzs said the Mid-Year Review raised broader questions about Government finances.
She noted that while revenue collections exceeded projections and the fiscal deficit is expected to narrow, the Government is seeking approximately $2.9 billion in supplementary funding despite expenditure to April being below projected levels.
Attzs said questions remain about whether the additional spending relates to one-off obligations, arrears and legacy commitments, or recurring expenditures that could place pressure on public finances in future years. She said these issues are important for fiscal sustainability, future borrowing requirements and the country’s long-term economic resilience.
Attz said she would provide a more comprehensive assessment during today’s Senate debate.
