Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute

04/06/2026

📑The Auditor General's Report is more than a financial document. It is one of the most important accountability tools available to citizens.

‼️The 2025 Report resulted in a Qualified Opinion, meaning the Auditor General was unable to obtain sufficient assurance over certain areas of the Government's financial statements.

💰Most striking is that $1.59 billion in public spending cannot be confirmed as legitimate and T&T's total revenue of $36.6B is in question.

🤔Why? Three sets of tax revenue records the Government keeps don't match each other - the Treasury Statement, the IRD Statement of Receipts and Disbursements, and the GenTax system reports – all produced by the Government itself.

These findings do not automatically mean fraud or wrongdoing occurred. However, they do highlight serious concerns regarding record keeping, financial management, transparency, and accountability.

👀This is Part 1 of TTTI's breakdown of the Auditor General's Report 2025. Over the coming days, we'll be unpacking what the report found about how your tax dollars are being spent - and what accountability should look like.

How does this compare to previous years? Check out our posts on the last two Auditor General Reports!👆

26/05/2026

⚠️ Recent allegations surrounding attempts to offer “compensation” to suppress reporting on HDC contracts raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the ability of journalists to operate free from pressure or influence.

A free and independent press is one of the most important checks against corruption, abuse of power, and misconduct in public life. Any attempt to silence, influence, or discourage legitimate reporting undermines public trust and weakens democratic institutions.

As we reflect on World Press Freedom, marked earlier this month, we must remember:
👆The public has a right to know

🕵️Journalists must be free to investigate without intimidation or interference

🔓Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable in public affairs

🤐 Democracy suffers when information is suppressed

Press freedom is not a privilege. It is a cornerstone of accountability and good governance.

19/05/2026

👆There is a clear standard for how public officials should handle a conflict of interest: disclose it immediately, step aside voluntarily, and place the public interest above all else. These conventions underpin T&T’s Westminster system and are reinforced by the Integrity in Public Life Act.

⚠️When a conflict is discovered only by accident - and recusal comes only after removal - the system has not worked as intended. Parliamentary committees scrutinising public expenditure must be free from conflict of interest. Their independence is the mechanism through which citizens hold the state accountable for how their money is spent.

💡Understanding what these conventions require is essential, because accountability begins with an informed public.

15/05/2026

15/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEK3fvtDh/

🌟 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT 🌟

ACPTT is pleased to feature Mrs. Kylene Dowden, LL.B, LPC, M.Sc., CAMS as a speaker for our upcoming webinar:

“From Guidance to Action: Understanding Recent AML/CFT Regulatory Changes in Trinidad & Tobago”

Mrs. Dowden is an Attorney-at-Law with over 18 years of experience across the public and private sectors and more than 13 years specializing in AML/CFT/CPF. She has played a significant role in the development and implementation of Trinidad and Tobago’s AML/CFT/CPF legislative framework since 2013.

As Director, Legal Services at the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (FIUTT), she provides expert legal guidance on complex AML/CFT/CPF matters and contributes to national policy initiatives through the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NAMLC) and related working groups.

Her extensive expertise includes:
▪ AML/CFT/CPF legislative and regulatory frameworks
▪ National policy development and implementation
▪ International AML/CFT standards and assessments
▪ Financial crime risk and compliance oversight

Mrs. Dowden holds:
▫ LL.B, LPC
▫ M.Sc. in International Finance – Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business
▫ Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
▫ Joint FATF/CFTAF Trained 4th Round Country Assessor

📅 20 May 2026
🕛 12:00 PM (AST)
💻 Virtual Webinar

Stay informed. Stay compliant. Take Action.

07/05/2026

Connect with NGOs, shape the future of the extractive sector, strengthen your impact and take your seat at the table.

Registration Required: https://forms.gle/bXVGfidi2qWMcPzk7

06/05/2026

Did you know the government can take on billions in financial obligations that don’t show up as “public debt”?

The recent UDeCOTT/POSWDL loan topic is a real-world example of why financial transparency matters — and why you should care.

22/04/2026

🚨 OFFICIAL STATEMENT🚨: The OPR has formally directed the HDC to hold on the award of TT$3.4 billion in housing contracts.

22/04/2026

We at the OPR are pleased to present the full agenda for our upcoming virtual roundtable discussion, "Achieving Procurement Excellence: Professionalisation, Integrity and the Role of the Practitioner," carded for Friday, April 24th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM (AST).

This roundtable will provide a platform to examine how strengthening the professional identity and ethical foundations of procurement practitioners can enhance public procurement systems and outcomes. Through a practitioner-centred discussion, the session will draw on real-world experiences to explore the challenges faced by procurement practitioners, including navigating ethical dilemmas, managing competing pressures, and adapting to evolving regulatory environments. It will also highlight opportunities to position procurement practitioners as strategic actors contributing to national development and improved public service delivery. We invite all interested parties to register now and secure your spot for this essential discussion.

To Register

Scan QR code or copy and paste link in browser: https://tinyurl.com/47hmhk5x