Senior Investigative Reporter
Former acting CEO of the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), Keino Cox, is challenging the company’s decision to place him on “administrative leave” and the “non-renewal” of his acting CEO position.
On July 31, Cox’s contract as TSTT’s acting CEO ended after the company’s board reviewed his performance.
After a year at the helm of state-owned TSTT, Cox, who has over 25 years of leadership experience in telecommunications, digital innovation and public sector modernisation, was replaced by Reza Hosein.
Cox is contesting the non-renewal of his acting CEO appointment in a pre-action protocol letter dated September 8, 2026, drafted by attorney Kristy Mohan on the instructions of Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
The letter was addressed to attorney Samantha Singh-Poona, who is acting on TSTT’s behalf.
Contacted on Friday regarding the letter, Maharaj said that Cox was indeed forced out of TSTT.
“Oh yes! Yes, he was forced out. The case is based on the fact that he was not only unfairly treated, he was also unlawfully treated in public and private law.”
Asked if he has a strong case against TSTT, Maharaj responded, “I have an unanswerable case.”
The September 8 letter was Mohan’s second to Singh-Poona.
The first was on August 26, 2026, to which Singh-Poona responded on September 2 on behalf of TSTT, asking for more time.
“We find it completely unacceptable that, having taken the serious decision to place our Client on administrative leave with immediate effect and not renew his appointment as acting CEO, your Client is unable to disclose the basis for those decisions or respond to the matter raised in our previous correspondence within the time allotted therein,” Mohan wrote in her September 8 letter to Singh-Poona.
Mohan had initially requested a response from TSTT within seven days.
However, on the last day, TSTT asked for a further 14 days to respond.
Mohan objected to the extension of time, stating it was “plainly excessive, inordinate in the circumstances of this matter and cannot be justified.”
She further stated there was no good reason why TSTT should require a further 14 days simply to identify and communicate the basis upon which its own board acted.
After Cox’s departure, Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath said he was advised by TSTT chairman Kern Dass that the board met and, after “careful consideration and review,” decided to appoint Hosein to lead the telecommunications company.
During Cox’s tenure, TSTT was invoiced $436,081.78 for a three-day Tobago executive retreat involving him and ten other executives from January 16–18, 2026. The company defended the retreat and said the invoice was overstated by approximately 60 per cent.
As line minister for TSTT, Padarath said the board had shared with him the results of an appraisal of Cox’s performance.
The minister also denied that Cox was escorted from TSTT’s premises by security officers.
Cox’s departure came as TSTT was celebrating a major achievement, a $214 million after-tax profit on July 26, the largest recorded in 17 years.
In the letter, obtained by Guardian Media, Mohan raised four issues related to the breach of corporate governance.
“Our Client was of the view that this was a serious breach of corporate governance, that the conduct of the Corporate Secretary was unacceptable and that appropriate action should be taken,” the letter stated.
Mohan mentioned in her letter that her client reminded the board that this conduct exacerbated the existing concerns about the Corporate Secretary’s conduct, as itemised in his memorandum issued on August 3, 2026, which raised, inter alia:
“Her failure to properly declare in the Code of Ethics Declaration form, which she signed upon commencement of her employment with TSTT, the details of her secondary employment at National Payment and Innovation Company of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Secondly, “a potential existing conflict of interest, as confirmed by external Senior Counsel’s legal advice.”
Thirdly, “her delay in progressing TSTT’s application for a Money Lender’s License, which ultimately led to a major TSTT competitor, Digicel, obtaining a competitive advantage in launching a competing product ahead of TSTT.”
Lastly, “the inappropriate hiring of staff contrary to TSTT’s procedures and/or without CEO approval.”
Guardian Media understands that TSTT responded to Mohan’s letter on Thursday.
Beyond the legal issues outlined in the letter, questions have been raised about TSTT bringing on board a “young, inexperienced attorney, as a favour to a UNC politician”.
The attorney was reportedly hired without TSTT advertising the position.
When contacted, Cox avoided answering the questions but stated that the matter is in the hands of his legal team, led by Maharaj and Mohan.
Efforts to get a response from Padarath were unsuccessful.
