Caption: Minister of Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein

By Alicia Chamely

EIGHTEEN state-run companies are in breach of the Companies Act, having not filed annual returns. Two were struck off the Companies Registry for not filing for three years.

This was revealed by Minister of Legal Affairs Sadam Hosein at Thursday’s post-cabinet press conference at the Red House, Port of Spain.

Hosein also announced the Cabinet approval for an amnesty period for companies that may have difficulty filing various post-registration documents.

He said many state enterprises are incorporated through the Companies Act, which means they are obligated to comply with the regulations and laws set within the Act, the same way private entities are.

Hosein, referring to the number of state companies acting in non-compliance of law, said, “This all took place within the last administration; it is either mismanagement or sheer incompetence at most of these state enterprises.”

He said this lack of compliance and accountability can now be seen with the issue the government is having with the boards of state companies that refuse to step down.

The two state-owned companies that have been struck off the Companies Registry for not filing annual returns in three years are:

• The National Marine and Maintenance Services Company Ltd. Date removed: 16 Jan 2025
• Tourism Trinidad Ltd. Date removed: 10 March 2025

The 18 state-owned companies that are in breach of the Companies Act, having not filed any annual returns in almost three years are:

• Alutrint Ltd
• The Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD)
• e Teck
• ExporTT
• Golden Grove Buccoo Ltd
• InvesTT
• The National Commission for Self Help Ltd
• National Helicopter Services Ltd
• National Information and Communication Technology Company Ltd
• National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (NIDCO)
• National Investment Fund Holding Company Ltd (NIF)
• Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Ltd
• Rural Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (RDC)
• Couva Medical and Multi Training Facility Ltd
• T&T Creative Industries Ltd
• T&T Free Zones Company Ltd
• T&T Mortgage Finance Company Ltd
• TTT Limited