Honestly, if you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately, you’ve probably noticed that the vibe in Port of Spain and San Fernando is... different. There’s a tension you can almost taste, but also a weird sense of "maybe this time it works." We’re talking about the latest Trinidad and Tobago news regarding the massive shift in how the country handles its biggest headache: crime.
The big news this week isn't just about another fete or the usual political back-and-forth. It’s the fact that the government just pushed through the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) Act.
The House of Representatives basically spent the last few days locked in a heated debate, ending with a 27 to 11 vote that officially signals the end of the state of emergency (SoE) and the start of something more surgical.
What is ZOSO and why should you care?
Think of ZOSO as a "smart" version of a state of emergency. Instead of locking down the whole country and hurting the economy, the security forces can now zero in on specific blocks. They call them "hotspots."
Attorney General John Jeremie has been all over the news explaining this. He’s basically saying, "Look, the SoE worked, but we can't live in an emergency forever." And he’s got the numbers to back it up. In 2025, murders dropped by about 42% compared to the bloodbath that was 2024. We went from 626 murders down to 369. That’s a lot of families who didn't have to go to a funeral.
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But here is the catch.
Critics are worried. Some people are saying this gives the police way too much power in certain neighborhoods. If you live in a "zone," your rights might feel a bit thinner for a while. The government promises there will be "judicial oversight," which is fancy talk for saying a judge has to keep an eye on what the cops are doing.
The CL Financial Drama Finally Ends?
While everyone was looking at the crime bills, something else huge happened in Parliament. The government is finally, officially, pulling the plug on the civil lawsuits related to the CL Financial collapse.
Remember that? It’s been decades.
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Jeremie called it a "legal feeding frenzy." Between the lawyers and accountants, billions of dollars were just... gone. Nearly $400 million went to just one accounting firm, Deloitte and Touche, and yet we still haven't seen a single person in a pair of handcuffs over it. The government decided they aren't spending another cent on civil cases that aren't going anywhere. It’s a bitter pill for many, but as the AG put it, they’re choosing to exit the "frenzy" to save what’s left of the public purse.
Energy Shocks and the "Exxon" Surprise
If you follow the money, the energy sector is where things get really spicy. Everyone knows the gas is running low. It's why your neighbor might be complaining about how hard it is to get US dollars at the bank lately.
But there’s a plot twist.
ExxonMobil is officially entering the chat. They’ve picked up seven deepwater blocks and are fast-tracking exploration for early 2026. They have this theory that the same oil "vein" they found in Guyana actually stretches into our deep waters. If they’re right, it could change everything. If they’re wrong... well, it’s going to be a long, lean decade.
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Meanwhile, the "Dragon Gas" deal with Venezuela is currently stuck in the mud because of the drama between the US and Maduro. It’s a classic Trinidadian situation: we’re sitting on potential riches, but the neighbors are fighting, and we’re the ones caught in the middle.
Tobago is Doing Its Own Thing
Over in the sister isle, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) just got a major structural makeover. The new amendment bill passed, which basically gives the Chief Secretary the power to appoint as many secretaries as they want.
Farley Augustine’s Tobago People’s Party (TPP) just crushed it in the recent recounts for Darrel Spring/Whim and Scarborough/Mt. Grace. They held their ground against the PNM, proving that the political shift in Tobago wasn't just a fluke. Tobago is leaning hard into its autonomy, and the mainland is watching closely to see if this "Tobago First" energy starts to rub off on the general elections coming up.
What’s Next for You?
If you’re living in T&T or just invested in the place, the next few months are "wait and see" territory.
- Watch the ZOSO rollouts: The first few designated zones will be the litmus test for whether this is real security or just more "theatre."
- Keep an eye on the Hyatt: The T&T Energy Conference starts January 26. That’s where the real deals (and the Exxon updates) will happen.
- Forex focus: With gas production dipping to 2.5 bcf/d, the US dollar squeeze isn't going away. If you're a business owner, start thinking about service exports or digital work that earns in USD.
Actionable Insight:
Don't just wait for the news to happen to you. If you are in a neighborhood likely to be named a "Zone of Special Operations," make sure you understand your rights under the new Act—specifically regarding searches and detention periods. On the business side, the move toward "digitization" mentioned by the Energy Chamber isn't just for oil companies; it’s a signal that the state is finally trying to cut the red tape. If you’ve been holding off on a project because of "government paperwork," now might actually be the time to push it through.