Trinidad and Tobago Public Servants Receive Partial Backpay Amidst Lingering Concerns and PSA Leadership Scrutiny

Initial Backpay Disbursed to Public Servants

Public servants across Trinidad and Tobago have started to receive an initial cash payment of their backpay, with disbursements occurring on or before December 23, 2025. This payment follows an agreement between the Public Services Association (PSA) and the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) for a ten per cent wage increase. The overall deal is projected to cost the State approximately $3.8 billion in backpay. New salaries reflecting this increase are anticipated to be paid starting in January 2026.

Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo confirmed the payout via a social media statement, asserting that salaries and backpay were paid on time. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar also acknowledged the initial payment, stating that any remaining outstanding arrears would be settled in the new year in accordance with legal frameworks.

Complaints Persist, RHA Workers Express Disappointment

Despite the initial payments, significant complaints have emerged, particularly from workers within the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). Many RHA employees reported not receiving their backpay, even though the PSA had requested their inclusion in the disbursements. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar acknowledged the disappointment among RHA workers, explaining that the sums owed to them relate to backpay accumulated over several years and involve a distinct legal and negotiating framework that cannot be resolved overnight.

Further complicating the situation, the Chief Personnel Officer, Dr. Daryl Dindial, clarified that the payment made by December 23, 2025, was an 'advance, flat-rate payment in lieu of arrears,' and not the full $3.8 billion. He indicated that the total backpay would not be paid entirely in cash or within a single financial year, with the advance estimated at no more than $500 million for the approximately 80,000 PSA members.

PSA President Under Scrutiny Amidst Allegations of Unresponsiveness

The handling of the backpay issues has led to increased scrutiny of the Public Services Association's leadership. Former PSA president Jennifer Baptiste-Primus publicly accused current PSA President Felisha Thomas of 'hiding' from her members amidst the ongoing concerns. Reports indicate that Guardian Media was unable to contact Thomas for nearly three weeks during this critical period, which included discussions around non-cash payments and the complaints from RHA workers. Social media users have also echoed sentiments accusing the PSA president of abandoning her members.

The PSA, through a bulletin dated December 10, 2025, informed RHA-employed workers that it had written to Chief Executive Officers requesting an advance on their arrears by December 23, 2025. The union also stated that it would need to meet with RHAs to finalize a similar Memorandum of Agreement for salary increases, allowances, and arrears for these workers.