Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC has committed to making 2026 a year of bold action, focusing on economic recovery, intensifying the fight against crime, and empowering workers.
In her New Year’s Message to the nation, she emphasised that the coming year demands strong leadership and accountability. As such, she said she gave a clear directive to the Cabinet to deliver results.
“As we enter 2026, I have issued a clear mandate to every Cabinet Minister and Government agency that this year must be a year of economic rebuilding, recovery, and delivery. Every ministry is required to work diligently, coordinate effectively, and execute programmes with measurable outcomes. Inefficiency, delay, and waste will not be tolerated. Our focus in 2026 will be on stimulating economic growth, supporting small and medium enterprises, accelerating public infrastructure projects, strengthening both the energy and non-energy sectors, expanding job opportunities, and ensuring that public spending translates into tangible benefits for citizens.”
The Prime Minister said that after assuming office eight months ago, her government acted with urgency and purpose, moving decisively from promise to performance. She reminded the public of her pledge to reopen and rededicate the Couva Children’s Hospital, restart the laptop programme for secondary school students, and address workers’ welfare – all of which have been achieved.
“This Government has also stood firmly with workers. In 2025, public officers received a cash advance on their back pay before Christmas, providing immediate relief to families. Structured negotiations continue to finalise remaining arrears lawfully and sustainably. Commitments made have been honoured.”
The Prime Minister said safety and security remain a cornerstone of her government’s agenda and she detailed continued efforts to combat crime and protect citizens.
“My Government’s commitment to confronting violent crime, gang activity, and narcotics trafficking is ongoing and unwavering. We have strengthened strategic alliances with international partners, particularly the United States, to disrupt transnational criminal networks, intercept illegal firearms, and secure our borders by land, sea, and air. Intelligence sharing, maritime cooperation, and joint operations have expanded, contributing to crime reduction and stronger enforcement outcomes. This is not a temporary focus. It is a sustained national effort.”
The Prime Minister stressed that she will not allow Trinidad and Tobago to be a corridor for criminal enterprise, and authorities will continue to apply relentless pressure on gangs, illegal firearms, and narcotics traffickers, while strengthening intelligence-led policing and international cooperation.
She also praised recent legislative efforts: “In 2025, Parliament passed the Stand Your Ground and Home Invasion legislation, restoring balance to a justice system that must protect victims and law-abiding citizens. Families now have clearer legal protection within their homes. We also enacted Fireworks and Noise Pollution legislation, bringing long-overdue order, enforcement, and public safety to communities, hospitals, the elderly, and vulnerable populations.”
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said that as 2026 begins, her government remains confident and grounded in performance that will benefit all citizens.
“The year ahead will demand discipline, unity, and hard work, but it will also bring opportunity. Let us move forward together with faith in our people, pride in our nation, and confidence in the future we are building: Trinidad and Tobago first, above all. May God bless you, and may God bless Trinidad and Tobago.”
* See Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s full message below:
On behalf of the Government, I extend my warmest best wishes to the people of Trinidad and Tobago for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
As we enter 2026, our nation does so with renewed confidence, clear direction, and a strong sense of responsibility. A new year invites reflection, but it also demands accountability.
It calls for leadership that delivers results, institutions that function with discipline, and public service that places the national interest first.
The year 2025 marked a decisive turning point. On April 28, 2025, the people entrusted this Government with a mandate to restore seriousness to governance, safety to communities, and fairness to working families.
From our first days in office, we have acted with urgency and purpose, moving decisively from promise to performance.
Public safety has been, and remains, a central priority. My Government’s commitment to confronting violent crime, gang activity, and narcotics trafficking is ongoing and unwavering.
We have strengthened strategic alliances with international partners, particularly the United States, to disrupt transnational criminal networks, intercept illegal firearms, and secure our borders by land, sea, and air.
Intelligence sharing, maritime cooperation, and joint operations have expanded, contributing to crime reduction and stronger enforcement outcomes.
This is not a temporary focus. It is a sustained national effort. Trinidad and Tobago will not be a corridor for criminal enterprise. In 2026, we will continue to apply relentless pressure on gangs, illegal firearms, and narcotics traffickers, while strengthening intelligence-led policing and international cooperation.
That resolve has been matched by decisive legislative action. In 2025, Parliament passed the Stand Your Ground and Home Invasion legislation, restoring balance to a justice system that must protect victims and law-abiding citizens. Families now have clearer legal protection within their homes.
We also enacted Fireworks and Noise Pollution legislation, bringing long-overdue order, enforcement, and public safety to communities, hospitals, the elderly, and vulnerable populations.
Beyond public safety, this Government has delivered on long-standing national commitments.
In health, we fulfilled a promise fifteen years in the making with the reopening and rededication of the Couva Children’s Hospital to its original purpose. It now stands as a centre of specialised paediatric care, dignity, and compassion for our children.
In education, we honoured our commitment to children and families by fulfilling the laptop programme, ensuring students have the tools required to learn, compete, and succeed in a modern, technology-driven world.
Through targeted infrastructure works and improved drainage management, many communities are now experiencing reduced flooding, protecting homes, livelihoods, and public assets. This is practical governance with real impact.
This Government has also stood firmly with workers. In 2025, public officers received a cash advance on their back pay before Christmas, providing immediate relief to families. Structured negotiations continue to finalise remaining arrears lawfully and sustainably. Commitments made have been honoured.
As we enter 2026, I have issued a clear mandate to every Cabinet Minister and Government agency that this year must be a year of economic rebuilding, recovery, and delivery.
Every ministry is required to work diligently, coordinate effectively, and execute programmes with measurable outcomes. Inefficiency, delay, and waste will not be tolerated.
Our focus in 2026 will be on stimulating economic growth, supporting small and medium enterprises, accelerating public infrastructure projects, strengthening both the energy and non-energy sectors, expanding job opportunities, and ensuring that public spending translates into tangible benefits for citizens.
Economic recovery cannot occur without public safety, and crime reduction will remain central to national rebuilding.
The governing principle of this administration is unwavering and straightforward: Trinidad and Tobago first, above all. Every decision, every policy, and every dollar spent must advance the safety, prosperity, and dignity of our people.
Indeed, we begin this New Year not with hesitation, but with confidence grounded in achievement and strengthened by resolve. The year ahead will demand discipline, unity, and hard work, but it will also bring opportunity.
I extend to you and your families my warmest wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
May 2026 bring safer communities, a stronger economy, and greater opportunity for our young people, dignity for our workers, and renewed hope in every home.
Let us move forward together with faith in our people, pride in our nation, and confidence in the future we are building: Trinidad and Tobago first, above all.
May God bless you, and may God bless Trinidad and Tobago.