Another Caribbean Newspaper Cuts Jobs to Stay Afloat

A major newspaper in Trinidad and Tobago is moving to cut staff as the regional media industry continues to face mounting financial pressure and shrinking advertising revenue.

The Trinidad Express has informed the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) that it is planning a restructuring exercise that will reduce its editorial team from 33 to 26 employees.

Those facing the axe include two sub-editors, a night editor whose position is being made redundant entirely, and four reporters, three based in Port-of-Spain and one in San Fernando.

The union, which represents staff at the newspaper, says it is preparing to challenge the decision and ensure legal procedures are followed. In a statement to employees, BIGWU said it understands the anxiety the announcement has caused but assured workers that it is actively engaging management on the matter.

The announcement comes just weeks after the newspaper’s parent company, One Caribbean Media, reported a profit of $4.36 million for the first quarter of 2026. Despite that, company chairman Faarees Hosein said the media sector continues to face a difficult advertising environment, though he noted early signs of recovery and ongoing efforts to cut costs and improve efficiency.

Across the Caribbean, traditional media houses have been under pressure as advertising shifts online and revenues decline.

In recent months, several outlets have either scaled back operations or shut down entirely. In January, Trinidad’s Newsday ceased operations, leaving dozens of employees out of work.