Updated
Updated · Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers · May 20
Persad-Bissessar Hails IMF's 2026 Assessment, Citing 10% Public-Sector Wage Rise
Updated
Updated · Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers · May 20

Persad-Bissessar Hails IMF's 2026 Assessment, Citing 10% Public-Sector Wage Rise

3 articles · Updated · Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers · May 20
  • Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister said the IMF's 2026 Article IV review validates her government's economic turnaround after just over 1 year in office.
  • The IMF assessment highlighted low inflation, a stable and well-capitalised banking sector, a strong external position and adequate reserves backed by the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund.
  • Kamla Persad-Bissessar said those gains followed fiscal reforms aimed at restoring investor confidence, even as her government delivered a 10% wage increase for public servants and revived social programmes.
  • The IMF still warned that the Middle East war could weigh on the economy, while saying faster reforms under the Revitalisation Blueprint and sustained investment could lift medium-term growth.
  • Persad-Bissessar said rising foreign direct investment, energy-sector revitalisation and less bureaucracy should create jobs and support broader economic diversification.
Is Trinidad and Tobago's recovery real or just a boom fueled by volatile energy prices?
With debt high and growth uneven, will citizens see real benefits from this economic plan?