Caption: Davendranath Tancoo
By Alicia Chamely
THERE will be no let-up in alcohol and gambling taxes, says Minister of Finance Davendranath Tancoo.
Tancoo was responding to media questions on Friday as he made his way to Parliament in Port of Spain.
Asked to respond to an article published in the Trinidad Express on Friday morning concerning a wave of bar closures allegedly linked to increased taxes on alcohol and gambling, Tancoo condemned the report for what he described as a “misleading” headline.
The article was published under the headline, “Bars shut doors amid taxes hike.”
Tancoo said, “The headline in the Express is misleading. The headline had nothing to do with the article. The facts are the facts.”
“I call out the Express. They should correct their methodology in doing headlines,” he added.
@azpnews.com Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo comments on TUTTA negotiations and says no let up on alcohol taxes. Video: Alicia Chamely @mpdavetancoo @moedutt #tutta #wagenegotiations #teachers #salary #finance
Questioned on whether he would consider relaxing the taxes on the bar and gaming industries, Tancoo said, “No, I would not. Not at this point.”
In his 2025/2026 National Budget, Tancoo announced a 100% increase in taxes on alcohol, an increase in the Amusement Gaming Tax from $6,000 to $24,000 per screen, and an increase in the liquor licence fee from $1,800 to $9,000.
The Express article was prompted by a list of bars allegedly closed due to increased taxes that was being circulated on WhatsApp and social media.
While some of the listed establishments said their closures were due to increased costs, many said their closures were not tied to the tax increases.
The Bar Owners Association of T&T (BOATT) said it was false to attribute the closures solely to increased taxes. BOATT pointed out that the new gaming tax would not be applied until licence renewal in April, and that although alcohol price increases have put strain on establishments, they were not behind any closures.
Tancoo also addressed questions regarding wage negotiations between the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA).
He said negotiations had been completed and that “what is being put in place now is the mechanism” for teachers to receive their pay.
Asked when teachers would receive their back pay, Tancoo said he did not have that information.
