Mid-Year Budget Watch: Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo says global confidence in T&T is rising, citing Moody’s keeping the rating but improving the outlook, and announcing CAF plans to start construction this year for a Tobago/region-facing presence by 2027. Public Sector Relief: Tancoo also assured nurses and teachers that relief from ongoing salary talks will be funded in the 2027 Budget, as Parliament considers a $2.927b supplementary request. Aviation & Tourism Infrastructure: Tobago’s ANR Robinson airport terminal has been fully certified and handed over for operations, while tourism stakeholders head into the budget review with modest expectations and worries around marketing, airlift, arrivals, infrastructure, crime perceptions and consultation. Energy & Industry Signals: Moody’s upgrade is also being linked to renewed interest in restarting the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery, and AMCHAM warns that national division could derail benefits from the Lo­ran gas licence for Shell. Governance & Oversight: SporTT is seeking answers from TTFA over how $6.9m in World Cup qualifying funds were accounted for, with claims of unpaid wages and vendors. Finance & Fraud: The Central Bank has filed a High Court suit to recover about $18.8m tied to an alleged forged $20m government cheque. Agriculture & Housing Pressure: Farmers warn “ease of doing business” is failing them, and housing developers call for faster approvals and state help to narrow the construction-cost/affordability gap. Trade & Capital Markets: West Indian Traders extended its IPO closing date to June 22.