Caption: Davendranath Tancoo
Summary
- Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo says a signed response to TTUTA on the implementation of teachers’ adjusted salaries is ready and will be delivered soon.
- TTUTA has asked for a timeline for the 4% pay increase (agreed in April 2025) and payment of backpay estimated at $730 million.
- Tancoo says he has not been formally approached about the Prison Officers Association’s claim of $150 million in outstanding overtime, while the POA says it has long sought meetings with Finance officials.
By Alicia Chamely
FINANCE Minister Davendranath Tancoo says a formal letter addressing the implementation of teachers’ adjusted salaries has been prepared and will be delivered soon.
On Monday, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) delivered a letter requesting a timeline for when the 4% salary increase for the period 2020–2020, agreed to in April 2025, would be applied. The union also sought to determine when outstanding backpay, estimated at $730 million, would be paid.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday outside the Red House in Port of Spain, Tancoo was asked about TTUTA’s request for a payment timeline.
Tancoo said, “Yes, I’m writing a response to TTUTA as we speak. The response has been drafted and signed. They will get their response in due course.”
Up to Wednesday afternoon, Tancoo declined to provide details of his response, and TTUTA had still not received any correspondence from the Finance Ministry.
Tancoo was also asked about the Prison Officers Association’s (POA) claim that it was owed $150 million in overtime payments dating back to 2009.
He said, “It’s interesting that I am getting that information from the media.
@azpnews.com Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo discusses the Prisons Officers Association and negotiations with the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association. Video: Alicia Chamely @mpdavetancoo @uncandproud @prisonservicett #wagenegotiations #salaryincreases #ttuta #finance #salary
“It would be very nice if they had communicated with me directly. I’m not aware of any communication, and I can’t respond to what their claims may or may not be.”
Contacted shortly afterwards, POA president Lester Logie said he had not yet communicated directly with the minister, but that the POA, along with the police and fire service unions, had repeatedly called for meetings with the Ministry of Finance over the years.
