Finance Bill 2025 Passed: Tougher Road Traffic Penalties Among Key

The Finance Bill 2025—featuring a wide range of legislative updates, including new and increased road traffic penalties—was passed in Parliament last night with the support of the Government’s majority.

Piloting the legislation, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo described the bill as a “decisive step” toward strengthening governance, modernising outdated statutes, enhancing public safety, and creating a more equitable tax system in Trinidad and Tobago.

During the debate, Tancoo outlined 23 clauses aimed at amending 21 existing pieces of legislation. He said the reforms are designed to update penalties across several sectors, close longstanding loopholes, improve the efficiency of public institutions, and introduce new revenue measures critical to the country’s fiscal stability.

According to the Finance Minister, the legislative package also delivers on several of the administration’s key campaign commitments, signalling what he called a continued push toward modern, transparent, and responsible national management.

The bill’s passage sets the stage for the rollout of the updated road traffic penalties—part of a broader strategy to improve road safety and reduce dangerous driving behaviours—as well as the implementation of the other measures in the coming months.