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The fatal shooting of a 30-year-old labourer by police in Moruga on Friday has sparked calls from his family for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police said around 1.30 am, officers from the Marabella Police Station acted on information regarding a robbery suspect and went to a wooden structure in St Mary’s Village along Moruga Road.
Before entering the structure, police said officers announced their presence but encountered Romario “Brandon” Borneo, also called Banky and Lorenzo, who matched the description of the suspect. Officers claimed Borneo pointed a firearm at them and despite commands for him to drop the weapon, he did not comply and was shot. He was taken to the Princes Town Health Facility, where he was pronounced dead . A homemade shotgun and a single 12-gauge cartridge were reportedly recovered from the scene.
Speaking at their mother’s home in Marabella yesterday, Borneo’s older sister, Alicia Charles, said the family is concerned about the lack of information being provided by authorities, including the location of Borneo’s body. She said her brother’s friends said he was with them and was intoxicated when he went home.
“I am confused as to what took place. His ex-girlfriend went into the house, and they saw six gunshot holes by the headside of the bed. And, particles of his brain residue on the bed.”
Charles said her mother went to the Princes Town Police Station, but they were not given any details as to what happened or the location of his body. They were told that they would have to wait until Monday.
Charles said Borneo’s ex-girlfriend had informed his mother about the shooting. But the family has disputed police claims that he was a robbery suspect. “That has nothing to do with it. When one of his relatives called (the police) to ask if he have any pending warrant or wanted for investigation, they said ‘no’. So how can you be saying that he is a robbery suspect?”
Charles said that Borneo was in Marabella at his family’s home for about nine months, helping with the construction of his aunt’s home and left about a week ago.
Pleading for information and a thorough investigation, she said: “I would like them (police) to contact the family. Give us some insight what is really going on. If you all are officers and you have to protect and serve, we supposed to know something. We literally in the dark.”
The sister said she was not aware of Borneo having a gun, and previous criminal charges against him had been “thrown out” by the court. Police Commissioner Alister Guevarro did not respond to messages for comment on the matter.
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2026.4.19 PM: no need for curfew, issues statement on municipal officer’s murder and Cumuto bodies
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says there is no need for a curfew.
This came as she issued a statement addressing both the murder of a municipal police officer and the discovery of over 50 bodies at the Cumuto Cemetary.
Regarding the officer’s murder, she said it was not an attack on the TTPS or national state security services, but instead, an “internal betrayal” perpetrated against the Municipal Police Service.
62 guns and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen in that incident in San Fernando.
Regarding the bodies in Cumuto she said they were unclaimed bodies being disposed of improperly and not victims of homicide.
Her full statement is as follows:
I have been advised that the incident which occurred earlier today at the San Fernando City Corporation Municipal Police station on Kings Wharf was not an external attack on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) or the National State security services.
It was an internal betrayal perpetrated against the Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service (TTMPS) attached to the San Fernando City Corporation. It should be noted that The TTPS is a distinct entity from the TTMPS. TTPS officers were not involved in the incident. The Ministry of Homeland Security and the TTPS will provide full support to TTMPS, San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris and the San Fernando City Corporation to investigate and bring this matter to closure and recover the stolen items.
Secondly, I have also been advised that the corpses discovered at the Cumuto Cemetery were actually unclaimed bodies that were being improperly disposed off and NOT victims of Homicide. This matter will also be resolved in the coming days.
There is NO need for any curfew. Law enforcement continues to make progress to subdue our over two decades old crime crisis. Law abiding citizens are encouraged to go about their lawful business as usual.
I thank Commissioner of Police (CoP)
Guevarro and his TTPS officers for responding swiftly to the incidents at the San Fernando City Corporation Municipal Police Station and the Cumuto Cemetery.
2026.4.19 Police in Trinidad and Tobago investigate after 56 bodies are found dumped at a cemetery
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Police in Trinidad and Tobago said they were investigating after 56 bodies — mainly of infants — were found dumped at one of the country’s cemeteries on Saturday.
The twin-island Caribbean nation has been struggling with surging crime, including deadly gang violence, which prompted authorities to extend an existing state of emergency last month.
The gruesome discovery was made at the cemetery in the town of Cumuto on Trinidad, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the capital, Port of Spain.
According to a police statement, 50 bodies were of infants while the remaining were of four men and two women. Police said five of the adults had toe tags, such as those found in morgues, and that a man’s and a woman’s body has signs of an autopsy. They did not immediately say if any of the bodies had been identified.
Police said they were working to determine the origin of the human remains and any associated breaches of law or procedure.
“Every cadaver must be handled with dignity and lawful care,” police commissioner Allister Guevarro said in a statement. “Any individual or institution found to have violated that duty will be held fully accountable.”
2026.4.19 Acting corporal found dead in station; 4000 rounds missing
In a brazen and deeply disturbing incident, an acting woman corporal Anusha Eversley attached to the San Fernando Municipal Police was found shot dead inside the station early this morning. The shocking discovery was made around 6 am by colleagues when they reported for duty.
Initial reports indicate that firearms and ammunition are also missing from the station’s armoury at Kìngs Wharf, raising serious security concerns.
The victim would have reported for last night’s shift.This story will be updated as more details are disclosed.
Missing are 52 glock pistols, six shotguns, four mpx, and 4000+ 9mm ammo.
Guardian Media understands Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro is on his way to the scene.
2026.4.18 Woman killed, 2 men injured in Edinburgh 500 shooting
A 32-year-old woman is dead and two men are injured following a shooting at a home on Victoria Drive West, Edinburgh 500, yesterday evening.
Police said the circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation and the motive has not yet been determined.
The deceased has been identified as Shanice Morris, a CSR at Progressive Credit Union.
Reports indicate Morris had been taking part in a night football league at the Edinburgh 500 Recreational Grounds when she received a call that her boyfriend had been shot.
She then went to his home, where she was later shot and killed.
Her boyfriend, a 34-year-old man, sustained gunshot injuries in the attack. Another injured victim is a 36-year-old Lance Corporal of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
All three victims were shot around 7.20 pm. Officers arrived at the scene at approximately 7.45 pm and found Morris lying on her back in a pool of blood. She was unresponsive. The two injured men were found on the porch.
Officers recovered 16 spent shell casings from the scene.
Investigators are also reviewing the possibility that Morris may not have been the intended target.
The incident comes one month after a 30-year-old soldier, Jaelani Garcia Williams, was killed on Le Clave Road, Edinburgh 500, after being shot multiple times. No arrests have been made in that case.
2026.4.12 Murder count hits 100. Homeland Security Minister says Govt not sitting idly by on crime
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says the Government will not sit by and watch crime continue as the country reached the 100 murder mark yesterday.
He also says he will not grade his performance and will let the people do that for him as the Government’s one-year anniversary in office approaches.
Alexander spoke with the media at the graduation ceremony for some 52 budding hairdressers at the Roslyn Hall and Lounge, Auzonville Road, Tunapuna, yesterday.
“I am not prepared to grade myself. I will tell you what, that’s the question I should ask the young people here today, what grade they will give their MP?”
The murder count climbed to 100 after the murders of two men in Arima and Diego Martin.
Police reported that around 4 pm on Friday, Joel Plaza, 50 of Bypass Road, Maturita Trace Extension, Arima, was offloading items outside his home when he was killed. No motive was given for his killing.
The second incident took place just after midnight yesterday at River Estate, Diego Martin, near Dirk’s Mini Mart. Police reported that armed men exited a white vehicle and opened fire on McDonald Bailey, 52, of Blue Basin Road. Two other men were also injured in the shooting.
Asked about the Government’s plan to address violent crimes, Alexander said, “Let us be real about this. I’m saying to you, it’s a work in progress. You see how many things are happening at the Ministry of Homeland Security? You know why? Because I am a go-getter. This Government will not sit idly by and watch things continue. But again, it’s a work in progress.”
In a media release yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Suzette Martin said the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service continues to implement “a multi-pronged, intelligence-driven approach” to address violent crime, adding that there is more work to be done.
“Central to this strategy is the targeting of underlying drivers, particularly gang-related activity. Through focused anti-gang initiatives and the strategic use of legislative powers available under the current State of Emergency (SoE), we are actively working to disrupt criminal enterprises and dismantle organised networks,” she said.
She added that effective policing requires public partnership, resulting in the TTPS expanding its community-led intervention programmes that are critical in reducing the risk of retaliatory violence and fostering cooperation between law enforcement and communities.
The Gold Commander for the SoE assured that the police remain steadfast in their commitment to protect and serve with pride.
“We will continue to leverage modern policing strategies, strengthened partnerships, and community collaboration to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety Alexander added that parents play a critical role in addressing crime in the country, adding that some murders are due to family disputes and other non-gang-related causes.
“If the police put out in the public domain the information that we have about murders, very few of it will be gang-related, eh. The behaviour of some citizens, the anger, the frustration, the hurt, and most of all, the control of property, is resulting in a lot of these things taking place,” he said, adding that “We have become a materialised society.”
During his presentation to graduates, Alexander took time out to comfort Iesha Kallicharan, whose mother, Tricia Maharaj, was gunned down when she went to view a car that her killers claimed was for sale. He said Kallicharan displayed strength by attending the graduation days after the murder.
“You, as participants, must stand with her and give her the courage to continue; it is not over.”
His encouragement came after telling the graduates to live by the words of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t stop till you get enough.”
He encouraged the graduates to “get your own money and build your own future to be less dependent on us” by “making your own money.”
Not wanting to leave out the men, he said there are plans to introduce courses in tailoring, welding and other skills.
2026.4.9 After abuse, friends say woman withdrew before Ghany’s killing
A woman held in connection with the fatal shooting of Steve Solomon Ghany Junior remained in police custody up to Thursday morning but had not yet given a formal statement to investigators.
Police sources said a recorded statement is expected after the completion of a post-mortem examination, which was scheduled to be conducted at the Forensic Science Centre.
Ghany Jr, 37, of Alexander Road, Vistabella, San Fernando, was shot and killed around 10 am on Wednesday after a confrontation with a female relative at his home. Police said the licensed firearm used in the incident was handed over to investigators.
Investigators were told the woman reported acting in self-defence after Ghany allegedly threatened to kill her and her two daughters, aged four and nine.
Multiple gunshots were heard during the incident, and Ghany sustained several wounds to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A close family friend told Guardian Media that the woman had endured years of abuse and had gradually withdrawn from her social circle over the past year.
“She started pulling away from everybody,” the friend said, describing a noticeable change in her behaviour.
The woman, a mother of two young daughters, is said to have become increasingly isolated, with those close to her expressing concern about her well-being in the months leading up to the incident.
An employee at the house reported hearing several gunshots at the time of the shooting.
Following the incident, the two children, now traumatised, were taken to stay with relatives.
Police also confirmed that several weapons were seized from the family’s home as part of the ongoing investigation.
Friends and relatives of the woman described Ghany as abusive and said the relationship had been marked by ongoing domestic problems.
Investigators are continuing to piece together the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter.
Just days before his death, Ghany had reportedly met with Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander at a rifle range, where they engaged in recreational shooting.
The killing adds to a history of violence affecting the Ghany family.
In December 2024, his stepmother, Monica Ghany, was shot and killed while driving along Lady Hailes Avenue in San Fernando after visiting her ailing husband, Steve Ghany Snr.
Her son, Matthew, Ghany Jr’s stepbrother, was also injured in that attack but survived.
Police said the woman remains in custody as investigations continue.
2026.4.9 Jet ski horror
Girl, 7, dies after collision at Pigeon Point; manhunt on for operator
A perfect day at the beach ended in horror yesterday, after a runaway jet ski ploughed into a vacationing Barrackpore family and killed seven-year-old Angelica Jogie at Pigeon Point, Tobago.
Scores of visitors, both local and foreign, were at the popular beach relaxing after the Easter weekend when tragedy struck.
According to reports, around 4.30 pm, Jogie was playing in the water with a large group of relatives, within the area designated for bathing only, when the jet ski suddenly motored past the barrier and slammed into Angelica, her parents and her uncle.
The jet ski operator never stopped and remained on the run from the police last night.
The incident caused massive panic as relatives pulled the bleeding and unconscious child to the shore. Lifeguards rushed to their assistance and administered CPR, but Angelica remained unresponsive.
Concerned onlookers found a doctor, a UK visitor vacationing on the island who was at the beach, who also tried in vain to resuscitate the girl.
Emergency responders then took her and the injured relatives to the Scarborough General Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Immediately after the incident, the Pigeon Point Heritage Park was locked down, with security barring all entry. The bars and other food outlets were also reportedly closed soon after.
In an interview with Guardian Media, Trinidadian couple Suzie and Anand, who went with their daughter to fish at Pigeon Point, expressed outrage.
“It supposed to be a safe space. It has barriers. To know the jet ski came in and broke the barriers, I don’t know what to say…Sometimes them jet skis does be wild,” Suzie said.
Her husband believes the industry is not properly regulated, noting that users and patrons are not insured if something goes wrong. It’s a risk you taking,” he said.
In an emergency media conference around 8.05 pm last night, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine expressed condolences and apologised to the family.
Augustine said the entire Buccoo Marine Park, including Pigeon Point, will be closed today to facilitate investigations. He said the police will be probing the incident, while the Tobago House of Assembly will also launch its own probe.
“We are investigating on our end to see if workers and operators, if they didn’t operate within the systems that they ought to follow,” Augustine said.
He said all stakeholders will be reminded about the regulations surrounding the park. He also confirmed the jet ski operator remained at large after fleeing the scene.
“The operator of the jet ski should not be hiding. You should really make yourself available for a conversation with the TTPS so we can know how the jet ski ended up in the zone designated for bathers,” Augustine said.
He revealed that the THA was found legally liable for a similar incident involving a jet ski in the past at Pigeon Point, and warned operators that tough legislation is coming to crack down on illegal activities.
“It just shows that when people don’t follow the rules, we end up in tragedy.”
At the Scarborough Hospital last night, a relative of Angelica, who did not want to be named, said she remained stunned by the incident.
“Is a whole group of us was bathing. How he could not see us? He did not even stop when we shout out. He just looked back and drive off,” she said.
She said her husband (Angelica’s uncle) received a gash to his head while Angelica’s mother was suffering from immense pain to her back. Angelica’s father was also seriously injured.
The incident comes less than one month after Augustine vowed to stamp out lawless behaviour at the Buccoo Marine Park during a plenary sitting.
Tourism Secretary Zorisha Hackett visited the family at the hospital last night to express her condolences.
Meanwhile, in a statement last evening, the Division of Tourism, Culture and Antiquities condemned unsafe or unauthorised operations of watercraft within designated bathing areas. The division noted that it issued an April 2 advisory which reinforced regulations governing the use of the marine park.
“That advisory clearly outlined operational requirements and safety protocols for all marine park users, including strict restrictions on unauthorised jet ski activity within the park.”
The THA has also promised to provide counselling to the victims.
An early morning shooting in Moonan Road, Wallerfield, led to the death of a 34-year-old man and the wounding of two others, including his pregnant girlfriend, relatives say.
Guardian Media visited the home yesterday, where relatives of Anthony Francis, alias “Smalls”, confirmed he was shot and killed by a gunman as he slept just before 2 am.
Relatives said the attacker pointed his gun through Francis’ bedroom window and shot him.
His girlfriend and another man were wounded during the attack.
Francis’ younger brother, Larry Francis, said he was deeply hurt by the incident and confirmed that his brother was recently released from police custody as part of enquiries into cars that were vandalised in the neighbourhood.
He acknowledged that while he and his brother have had difficulties with the law, they were doing their best to keep their business legal by raising livestock in the neighbourhood.
“I can’t say we innocent, we live life, we do things in life… but I thank God for being able to be outside and alive.”
He noted that his brother’s girlfriend’s infant son, from a previous relationship, was also on the bed when the shooting began and narrowly escaped the gunfire, but was grateful that he escaped unharmed.
“They fence out we yard, they shoot a man here, they shoot him (Francis), he gyal there… it had a child in the room… thank God the child lived.”
When asked if he was optimistic that the police would find his brother’s killers, the younger Francis would only say, “They could do their thing, but I know it have a God.”
Another resident who was at home when the shooting began said he recalled hearing the gunfire.
He said after a few moments, he saw one of the wounded men running into his room.
“I was just trying to figure out what was going on when one of my friends ran in the room saying he got shot.
“Then I noticed he had two bullet wounds in his foot.
“When I run across to see what was going on, I see both of them (Francis and his girlfriend) on the ground bleeding.”
The man said he was fearful for his own safety as he reflected on how unexpected the shooting had been and considered leaving the neighbourhood for his own safety.
“Right now I uncomfortable… I want to see if I can spend a night out of here until next week.
“I don’t think anything might happen now because there will be a lot of attention as the scene is so fresh, but I will put myself in a gear and get out of the scene.”
At Francis’ home, relatives were seen burning bloodstained blankets and sheets in the backyard as they also mopped up bloodstains in the bedroom.
Relatives also pointed to the broken bedroom window from where the gunman was able to carry out his attack.
Police from the Region II Homicide Bureau of Investigations are continuing enquiries.
2026.4.7 TTPS raids lead to multiple arrests over Easter weekend
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said multiple anti-crime operations conducted over the Easter weekend led to several arrests for ammunition-related offences in the South Western Division.
During an exercise in the Oropouche district around 1 am yesterday, officers searched a residence in Rousillac under the Emergency Powers Regulations.
Seven 12-gauge cartridges were found in a bedroom. A 52-year-old male labourer and a 29-year-old female were arrested on suspicion of possession of ammunition. Both remain in police custody.
In a separate intelligence-led operation in La Brea around 4.50 am on Sunday, officers searched a premises in Sobo Village and found five rounds of .45 ammunition. Four men, ages 21 to 23, were arrested.
Police said they are expected to be charged.
Additional exercises in Oropouche, Fyzabad, Penal and Siparia included searches, road traffic operations and stop-and-search activities. Officers also issued tickets for traffic violations.
Police also charged two suspects in connection with a firearm and ammunition discovery in Point Fortin on February 28. A 22-year-old male and a 17-year-old female are due to appear before the South Criminal Court on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old male also faces charges linked to a home invasion on February 22, including robbery with violence, possession of a firearm and ammunition, and shooting with intent.
The TTPS said it continues operations under the State of Emergency and urged the public to report suspicious activity.
Five men have been freed of murdering a couple in Laventille after spending almost a decade on remand awaiting trial.
Olatunji “Ola” Denbow, Michael “Mikey” Findlay, Kyle Belgrave, Seon “Max” Barnswell, and Kelon Maxine were discharged after State prosecutors offered no evidence against them when their case came up for trial before High Court Judge Trevor Jones at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, yesterday morning.
The men were accused of murdering Andre La Touche and Abiola Noel on February 22, 2016.
According to police reports, Noel, 25, and La Touche, 28, were leaving Noel’s Eastern Quarry, Laventille home in a silver Nissan Tiida around 8.30 am when gunmen approached the moving vehicle and fired several shots at it.
La Touche, the driver, crashed the vehicle into a concrete dumpster. The State’s case against the men was based on claims made by former resident Crystal Lewis.
Lewis claimed that when the couple arrived at Noel’s home the previous night, one of the men approached them and warned them that La Touche was not welcomed in the community.
She further alleged that she saw the men chasing after the car and were shooting at it the following morning.
The men, who were mostly represented by a team of attorneys from the Public Defenders’ Department (PDD) led by Stephen Wilson, Delicia Helwig-Robertson, and Shane Patience, were seeking to rely on a statutory declaration given by Lewis in 2022.
In the document, Lewis claimed that she framed the men at the request of the police so that they (the police) would not prosecute her then-boyfriend for firearm possession.
“I felt pressured into giving the statement and I therefore gave the statement based on promises made to me by police officers,” Lewis said, as she claimed that she currently lives in the United States.
In announcing the decision by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to discontinue the case, prosecutors Solange Devenish and Tammy Cato noted that the State did not accept the contents of the declaration.
However, they noted that the decision was based on the fact that they could not locate Lewis to testify against the group.
They said it would be unfair for Lewis’ statements implicating the men to be used as evidence when their attorneys would not be able to cross-examine her over claims in the declaration.
Lewis was also the State’s main witness against three men from Enterprise, who were accused of murdering a fellow resident in 2015.
In 2021, the charges against the trio were dismissed, after a magistrate refused an application to use her witness statements in her absence. The magistrate found that the Justice of the Peace (JP), who certified Lewis’ main statement, admitted that she (Lewis) did not show him any identification documents first.
The JP also admitted that the signature placed by the woman, who was brought to him, differed from signatures on other documents attributed to Lewis.
The five men were also represented by Ayanna Norville-Modeste, Michael Modeste, Makeda Derrick, Markus Isaac, Michelle Gonzales, Sarah Julien, Rosario Sookdeo and Andrew Sharpe.
Another brazen murder has claimed the life of a 39-year-old South Oropouche father, reigniting urgent calls for stronger action to combat crime, including the resumption of hangings.
Shandon Arjoon was shot around 11.20 am along Southern Main Road in South Oropouche near the underpass yesterday.
He had recently purchased a parcel of land at that location on which he was constructing a building for commercial and residential use.
According to reports, he was standing near the site when a gunman crossed the road, and fired two shots at him. As Arjoon collapsed, the gunman ran off and was seen changing his clothes as he made his escape.
Arjoon’s father, Keith Arjoon, gathered at the scene along with his wife and other relatives as crime scene and homicide detectives processed the scene. Arjoon’s father said he did not know why someone would kill his son. “Shandon don’t gamble, drink or smoke. I don’t know why someone will do this,” he said. While he is hoping to eventually find out who pulled the trigger or why, he had no confidence that his son’s murder would be solved.
“They just need to break neck,” said the grieving father, who believes that if convicted murderers face the hangman, murders in the country would decrease.
He said the perpetrator approached his son from the back, so he did not even get a chance to use his licenced firearm.
Meanwhile, Arjoon’s uncle, Clint Arjoon, who is also the president of the Fyzabad Business Chamber, said his nephew told him he received threats, but he did not want to disclose any further information that could possibly “disrupt the investigation.”
Despite the police and government claims that crime has decreased, Clint Arjoon, who was a victim of a kidnapping and robbery, was not satisfied that enough is being done to eradicate crime in Trinidad and Tobago. He said people were still migrating because of the crime situation.
“I think that authorities still have to do more, and actually show that they are doing more, and not just talk about them doing more, because this what happened today, it hit close to home.” He added, “If you look, every year crime in this country has only been increasing, it not decreasing. While the authorities might claim the numbers are down because of one political party to the other, I think they are still not doing enough.”
Lamenting that Arjoon was killed on his father’s birthday, he said his nephew was involved in his father’s business, he was dedicated to his four-year-old daughter and was a decent individual.
Siparia Mayor Doodnath Mayrhoo, who is also the councillor for the electoral district where the murder occurred, lamented that nowhere is safe in T&T.
“The Southwestern Division was once one of the safest places in the country, and it seems as though nowhere is safe at this point in time.”
Though the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) bill was not passed due to the lack of support from the Opposition and Independent Senators, Mayrhoo was confident that the Government was putting measures in place to curb crime. He said he also supports the return of hangings.
“If this Government chose to go the way of the hangman. I will fully endorse that and support that and speed up trials within the five-year term limit for trials and bring back the hangman because it seems that is the only way we can curb the crime in this country because it seems as though nowhere is safe in this country at this point in time.”
Noting that the crime situation had gotten out of hand, Mayrhoo appealed to citizens to stop the senseless killings and settle disputes using non-violent measures. “I am calling on these gangsters and gunmen to put down these guns. You are destroying the fabric of this country…and we cannot tolerate it anymore.”
While there was speculation that Arjoon’s murder was linked to a land dispute, homicide investigators, up to last evening, were still trying to confirm a motive.
While T&T remains under a State of Emergency (SoE) aimed at curbing violent crime, business operators along High Street in San Fernando say robberies and pickpocketing continue much as before.
Several owners and employees yesterday said while business activity continues as usual in the city’s main commercial district, incidents such as jewellery snatching and robberies have not disappeared, and they believe a stronger and more visible police presence is needed to deter criminals. Although officers are frequently seen along High Street and nearby streets, some workers believe the patrols focus largely on traffic duties rather than crime prevention.
Greater San Fernando Area Chamber of Commerce president Kiran Singh said the business community had recently been alerted to two daylight robberies in the downtown area. Speaking on CNC3’s The Morning Brew yesterday, Singh said there was a robbery earlier this week along Coffee Street and another on High Street last week. He said the brazenness of the crimes was troubling, given that the country is currently under emergency regulations designed to suppress criminal activity.
Singh suggested that many of those committing the crimes appear to be young offenders who are unafraid of the consequences.
“It is frightening that we are in a State of Emergency, and these guys have no apparent care or concern or fear of the law that under a State of Emergency, their rights can be taken away without notice or regard, and they seem to be taking these brazen chances, and they are using guns, arms and ammunition to commit these robberies,” Singh said.
While no one was injured in the incidents, Singh said such crimes leave lasting psychological effects on victims and can deter customers from visiting the area. He added that criminals are often able to escape on foot even when police patrols are in the area.
Although the chamber does not expect officers to be present on every corner, Singh said they have repeatedly called for stronger patrols, including the use of Defence Force personnel to support police operations. He noted that the army maintains a base in nearby La Romaine and its resources could strengthen patrols in the city.
Along High Street itself, some workers say they have witnessed incidents that suggest criminals are still operating in the busy commercial area.
Security guard Nazim Ishmiel, who works at RT Jewellery, believes there should be more officers patrolling the shopping district focusing specifically on crime rather than traffic enforcement. He recalled a recent robbery along High Street in a busy area surrounded by taxi drivers and businesses.
While acknowledging the State may be seeking to raise revenue through traffic enforcement, Ishmiel said the public’s primary concern remains safety.
“Not too long ago, right on High Street, a busy place with taxi drivers and stores and there was a robbery. No police presence, but at a certain time, you see police come out to issue tickets and direct traffic or whatever the case might be, but the problem in Trinidad right now is crime,” Ishmiel said.
He said the last joint patrols he recalled seeing were during the Christmas season, when criminal activity appeared to drop. He also said the SoE has not noticeably changed conditions on the ground.
“With the police presence, I do not feel safer. I have to safeguard my own safety.”
Employees at nearby businesses shared similar observations about the environment along High Street.
At Frontline Deli, worker Alesha Khan recalled seeing a thief snatch a handbag from someone’s hand before being chased and eventually caught by workers in the area, who then contacted the police. She also said she heard about a recent robbery at a mobile phone store and believes such incidents are not unusual in the busy commercial district.
“They (police) should be around more during the busy hours. I feel like they only come out at night and in the evening. Lunchtime is usually the busiest hour, so a lot of things happen. You never know,” Khan said.
However, not all business leaders share the view that crime remains a major concern in the downtown area.
San Fernando Business Association president Daphne Bartlett said she has observed a significant increase in police activity and believes officers are doing a commendable job maintaining order.
Bartlett said she has not received reports of robberies or snatch-and-run incidents recently and believes the situation has improved, compared with previous years when such crimes were more frequent.
“We have not had any robberies that I know about. We have not had any snatch and run, the kind of splurge we had in recent years, with people leaving the banks and somebody would grab the envelope and run. I have not heard any of that for about six months,” Bartlett said.
She added that enforcement efforts have also helped bring greater discipline to parking and traffic along High Street and expressed support for Government’s approach to tackling crime under the SoE.
Meanwhile, police say officers from several units are actively patrolling downtown San Fernando.
A senior officer from the Southern Division said personnel from the San Fernando Police Station, Southern Division Task Force, Criminal Investigations Department and the Municipal Police are conducting both foot and mobile patrols in the area. The officer rejected claims that police presence is focused only on traffic enforcement, saying, “If police are on patrol and see any criminal activity, they must attend to it as it falls within their duties.”
The officer said data also shows a significant decline in crime across the division in recent months, while Defence Force personnel remain available to assist police operations if needed.
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2026.3.4 Woman to appear in court on larceny charge
A woman is expected to appear before the High Court on March 9th to answer to a charge stemming from an online vehicle sale.
On September 2nd 2024, a man responded to an online ad for the sale of a white Nissan Wingroad valued at $50,000.
The victim said he deposited a down-payment of $6,000 into a local bank account, however he never received the vehicle and attempts to recover his money were also unsuccessful.
On March 3rd 2026, officers of the Fraud Squad executed a search warrant at a residence in Sangre Grande, where they arrested Chinara Collingwood.
She was formally charged with Larceny of the sum of $6,000 and has since been granted $30,000 bail.
The TTPS is reminding persons to exercise caution when conducting online transactions and to verify the legitimacy of sellers before making advance payments.
The body which washed ashore at Hope, Tobago, on Tuesday has been identified as that of Trinidad resident Stacy Samaroo.
Samaroo, 36, of Golconda Village, San Fernando, had reportedly been vacationing in Tobago before she disappeared. She was identified for the police by her mother via several tattoos she had on parts of her body. The woman’s mother travelled to the island after hearing reports of the incident in Hope on Tuesday.
According to police, around 3 pm on Tuesday, officers were on patrol along Windward Road, Mt St George, when they were alerted by residents.
The incident caused a commotion, as people began gathering as the body began drifting towards the shoreline. The body was retrieved from the sea and police confirmed marks of violence were observed.
DMO Dr Ariella Campbell visited the scene and ordered the body’s removal to the Scarborough Mortuary pending a forensic autopsy.
A man who was working nearby told Guardian Media he assisted in pulling the body ashore.
“The place was crawling with people already,” Anthony Marcano said.
“When it washed up on shore, a man come and ask if I could give him a hand. He give me a gloves and tell me help him pull the body up away from the waves.”
Marcano said a rope was tied around the woman’s neck.
“It looked kinda scary. It is something I was very sceptical about. First time I come across that kinda thing. I walk away because I start to feel uncomfortable.”
Homicide bureau is investigating.
The incident is expected to be classified as the second murder in Tobago for 2026.
On Monday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called a fresh State of Emergency (SoE), citing a rise in gang violence and murders since the expiration of the previous SoE in January.
However, the Tobago House of Assembly said the island was experiencing low levels of serious crime and gang violence. It encouraged residents and visitors to go about their normal routines, stay vigilant and comply with instructions from the protective services.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service carried out 95 operations on the first day of the State of Emergency (SoE), which began on Tuesday, resulting in 18 arrests and the seizure of three firearms.
According to the operational report covering March 3-4, officers targeted 24 priority offenders during coordinated exercises across several divisions.
Police conducted 718 searches of vehicles and premises and executed 36 traffic operations.
Officers arrested 18 people and charged ten of them.
During traffic exercises, police detected 138 traffic offences.
Firearms seized included three pistols. No revolvers were recovered during the reporting period.
The figures reflect intensified enforcement activity within the first 24 hours of the SoE as law enforcement agencies continue operations aimed at disrupting criminal activity and apprehending priority targets.
2026.3.3 Trinidad and Tobago declares new state of emergency over persistent violent crime
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Trinidad and Tobago declared a new state of emergency Tuesday, only about a month after the end of the previous one, as authorities in the Caribbean nation continue to grapple with high levels of violent crime.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar cited credible reports of attacks planned against law enforcement officers in reimposing the emergency, which grants the government additional powers, including to make arrests and conduct searches without warrants.
Trinidad and Tobago has spent roughly 10 of the last 14 months under an emergency, with the last one ending Jan. 31.
Bissessar said the country’s National Security Council has noted that ongoing crime has led to “multiple deaths due to mass shootings and that the continuance of reprisal shootings amongst criminal gangs, if left unchecked, would endanger public safety.”
The state of emergency has an initial duration of up to 15 days, but the government can extend it if needed. Government officials did not immediately announce any plans for a curfew.
The latest move to curb crime is expected to have a negative impact on tourism revenue.
“It really isn’t good for tourism,” said Reginald Mac Lean, president of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association.
With ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Mac Lean said the state of emergency comes “at a time when we should be capitalizing on what is happening in the rest of the world, to encourage people to come to our shores.”
The twin-island nation has already recorded 63 killings so far this year, just one killing shy of the count for the same period last year.
The country’s main opposition slammed the newest state of emergency, accusing the government of failing in its attempts to address the crime situation.
“This government has demonstrated time and again that it prefers authoritarian measures over sound, strategic crime management, and once again, it has chosen to restrict the freedoms of citizens rather than address the systemic problems of crime in Trinidad and Tobago,” opposition leader Pennelope Beckles said in a statement.
2026.2.28 Triple murder in Laventille sparks calls for another SoE
Even as Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressed serious concern over yesterday’s triple murder in Laventille, at least one resident is again calling for a State of Emergency (SoE), saying the country’s crime situation is out of control.
Declining to give her name, the young woman, who is the companion of one of the murdered men, said, “Yes! I think a lot of people would welcome another SoE in the country.”
Speaking from the community of McShine Lands, Laventille, she said the killings left several children fatherless, forcing mothers to take on the role of breadwinners overnight.
The victims, who were shot around 1 am, were identified as Jesse Nelson, Keon Alexander, and Dwayne Alexander. All three lived just a short distance from where the shooting occurred.
While many residents in the immediate area declined to speak with Guardian Media, one woman quietly commented, “They were like brothers to me. They were good men,” before flicking her cigarette butt into a nearby drain. Standing in her doorway, she confirmed sending her children to school while anxiously awaiting their return.
A man sitting nearby, near a pile of empty puncheon bottles, said, “This is the third time they shoot up my house.” Both residents recalled the men laughing and talking just minutes before gunfire erupted.
According to reports, the victims were liming on a stairwell outside one of the homes when three gunmen ran up and opened fire before fleeing south toward Straker Village, Laventille.
Yesterday, the area remained quiet except for barking dogs, with residents keeping behind locked doors.
Dian Nelson, the mother of 33-year-old Jesse Nelson, broke down as she described her son as a loving father who was well respected in the community. She confirmed that Nelson, a fabricator, had survived a similar shooting in 2023, during which he was shot more than 20 times, but maintained he had never been involved in criminal activity.
A close female friend of Nelson said, “He was a loving person, well-known in the community, always willing to help. He respected the elderly and was a great father.” She noted that the three victims were close friends who often cooked and hung out together, saying, “They used to cook together, hang out together. As they say, buss a pot and lime together as friends.”
Referring to the fear and quiet in the area, she said, “This community has lost many lives. I moved away years ago because of the crime, but even being back here is traumatising because of the bloodshed.” She called for long-term security measures to restore law and order, adding, “The government needs to do something about the crime situation because it is getting out of hand.”
Asked if she would support another SoE, she replied, “Yeah, I think an SoE or something similar should be put in place to deal with crime because it is literally getting out of hand. How many children have to be fatherless? How many mothers have to become breadwinners in these hard times?”
A shopkeeper living on the hillside opposite the shooting site echoed the concern, saying, “They are starting to kill one another inside now. It is complete madness.”
Government response
Responding to a question from Port-of-Spain South MP Keith Scotland in the House of Representatives about immediate and long-term security measures following the triple murder and the broader upsurge in homicides, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander said the situation had effectively placed him in “a Zone of Special Operation.”
He said an early-morning meeting with the T&T Police Service executive had been held to implement strategies aimed at making the area safer. While he declined to provide specifics, Alexander said measures would include “targeted operations, assistance from teams outside, both air and other operations, and continued investigations of gangs after the SoE, which will form an integral part of ongoing investigations.”
Alexander assured that the area would be treated “in a particular way … almost like a zone.”
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro declined to comment on the killings or whether another SoE was being considered.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said she had “very serious concerns” and intends to convene another meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) to discuss strategies. She described it as “regrettable” that President’s Senators and Opposition Senators did not support the ZOSO Bill, noting she had met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who praised the legislation.
Persad-Bissessar added, “There are other things we can do, and when the NSC meets, we will have that discussion.” She is expected to convene the meeting “very soon.”
2026.2.23 Court reserves judgment in Republic Bank break-in appeal
Justices of Appeal Mark Mohammed, Maria Wilson and Ricky Rahim have reserved judgment in an expedited appeal brought by Republic Bank Limited (RBL), which is challenging a High Court ruling ordering it to compensate a former employee following a 2022 break-in at its Couva branch.
The panel heard submissions from Senior Counsel Kerwyn Garcia, who appeared for the bank, and attorney Kiel Taklalsingh, who represented former employee Curtis Mathura.
In October 2024, Justice Carol Gobin ruled in favour of Mathura, finding that the bank’s security systems fell below the required standard of care after he lost approximately $300,000 in jewellery and foreign currency stored in his safety deposit box.
Mathura, who worked with RBL for nearly 31 years before retiring, had maintained a safety deposit box at the Couva branch since 2013. He stored jewellery, including irreplaceable family heirlooms from his parents and grandparents, as well as foreign currency.
Between May 29 and 30, 2022, intruders drilled a hole through a wall of the bank and accessed several safety deposit boxes, including Mathura’s. No one has been charged in connection with the incident. Mathura filed suit after the bank denied liability and refused compensation.
In his appeal submissions, Garcia argued that Gobin was “manifestly wrong” in her findings. He contended that the extraordinary nature of the break-in was not the proper test for determining whether the bank exercised ordinary care.
Garcia submitted that RBL had implemented multiple layers of security, including motion sensors and CCTV systems, thereby meeting the contractual obligation to provide a secure environment.
Addressing evidence that a plastic bag had been placed over a surveillance camera for more than 24 hours without detection, Garcia said continuous live monitoring was not contractually promised. He argued that CCTV footage was reviewed after an alarm was triggered and, since no alarm was activated, this did not establish that the system was flawed.
He further submitted that the installation of additional cameras after the heist did not amount to an admission that the prior system was inadequate, but rather reflected enhanced precautionary measures.
Taklalsingh, however, maintained that the length of time the intruders operated undetected demonstrated a failure to meet the standard of ordinary care and due diligence.
He argued that the thieves were able to cover a camera, use high-powered tools to bore through concrete, access the vault, and exit the premises—all over a period of roughly 28 hours—without detection.
Responding to questions from the bench, Taklalsingh said the $200 annual security fee paid for the safety deposit box created a reasonable expectation that the bank was providing security for customers’ belongings. He added that insurance coverage was merely suggested, not contractually required.
While acknowledging that employees activated the bank’s security system, including motion sensors, Taklalsingh said that was insufficient if intruders were able to remain inside the building from about 1 am on Sunday until 5 am the following day without being detected.
The judges indicated that the matter is significant and said a written judgment would be delivered as soon as possible.
Mathura is also represented by attorneys Stefan Ramkissoon, Rajiv Sochan and Matthew Allahar. Garcia was assisted by attorneys Tonya Rowley and Hillary Muddeen on behalf of RBL.
2026.2.19 One dead, two wounded after east Port-of-Spain shooting
A shooting in east Port-of-Spain today ended with the death of one man and the wounding of two others, police said.
Sources and residents confirmed the shooting took place at 10:45 am near the Mango Rose Housing Complex in east Port-of-Spain.
One man identified as Dwayne Simon was killed, while two others were wounded.
The wounded men were taken to hospital where they remained up to 11:30 am today.
Officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force who were in the area on a school visit went to the scene and were later joined by officers of the Besson Street Police Station and the Port of Spain Task Force.
One man who was struck by bullet fragments from the attack said he was throwing away garbage at a nearby dumpster before going to work when he heard gunfire.
Investigations continue.
2026.2.17 Teen killed, two shot during J’Ouvert revelry
Officers of the Region I Homicide Bureau and the Port-of-Spain CID were kept busy on Carnival Monday as a 19-year-old man was killed and two people were shot in two separate incidents in Woodbrook and Ariapita Avenue, St James.
Police said the incident occurred during J’Ouvert celebrations.
In an official statement yesterday morning, Carnival Gold Commander and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Suzette Martin confirmed that a man was stabbed to death at the corner of De Verteuil Street and Ariapita Avenue during J’Ouvert celebrations.
Police sources later confirmed that the man was identified as 19-year-old Jayden Rouff of Laventille.
Sources said the teen was attacked during the crowded celebrations and sustained life-threatening injuries.
Investigators said Rouff was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he was declared dead shortly after arrival.
Police also confirmed that two men were wounded during a shooting at the corner of Mucurapo Road and Damien Street, St James.
They were identified as a 20-year-old and a 24-year-old, both from Laventille. The 20-year-old was shot in the leg, while the 24-year-old was shot in the right foot.
Both men remained hospitalised until late yesterday evening and were said to be in stable condition.
—Shane Superville
Cops probe alleged
sexual assault
And police are investigating a report of sexual assault which occurred during J’Ouvert celebrations in Port-of-Spain yesterday.
Police said a 34-year-old woman of Diego Martin reported that around 9.08 am, while along Tragarete Road in the vicinity of the Ministry of Agriculture building and participating with a J’Ouvert band, she was approached from behind by a male individual.
According to reports, the suspect began dancing behind the victim and subsequently engaged in an alleged non-consensual sexual contact. The victim immediately pushed the suspect away as he attempted to leave the area.
Security personnel with the band intervened promptly, detained the suspect, and handed him over to responding police officers. The victim positively identified the individual, who was taken into custody at the St Clair Police Station.
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‘It was very heartbreaking, children in the area don’t even want to come back outside’
One day after a brazen daylight shooting at a Couva communal playpark left a couple dead, residents remain traumatised and afraid to leave their homes. Bloodstains were still visible on the grass and road at the playpark, and an eerie silence blanketed the community at Jade Court when Guardian Media visited yesterday. A football and a lollipop on the playground were stark reminders of the terror that unfolded on Friday, when Devaughn Toussaint, 38, and his girlfriend, Amelia Hernandez, 34, were killed.
The couple share a three year old child.
The ruthless killings, captured on CCTV, have triggered nationwide outrage.
Hernandez had just arrived home and parked alongside the park near Toussaint’s home. He came out to help her offload items from the trunk. Just after 2 pm, a gunman exited a grey Corolla, approached the couple, and opened fire.
The couple ran in different directions as the shooter pursued Toussaint, shooting him several times. Hernandez grabbed her daughter and ran through the playground as other children screamed and fled. She stumbled, and as her daughter watched, the gunman shot her dead. Screaming and crying, the child stood frozen for a few seconds before running away. The killer fled.
Resident Bishop Ezekiel Clarke, president of the Couva Police Station Community Council, said the attack had shaken the area. “For a man to run up on other people and fire shots and, in the end, murder two people in front of several little children, that is atrocious. This is unacceptable.”
He said the incident should concern not only residents but the entire nation, and called for introspection “because we are going down a point of destruction.”
Clarke, who preaches at the School of St Francis Spiritual Baptist Church in Mon Repos, Morvant, described Toussaint as quiet and easygoing.
Still reeling from the incident, Kathy, a 42-year-old mother of three, said her ten-year-old son was one of the children running during the shooting.
Describing how she felt upon seeing the video, she said, “Heartbroken, because next thing it was my child lying on the ground if a bullet had passed. The man was shooting wildly; it could have been my child. It was very heartbreaking, and my son is traumatised along with the other children in the area here because they don’t even want to come back outside to play.”
Describing her community as close-knit and peaceful, she added, “The children are always outside playing. Sometimes, all after nine parents sit outside on the bench. The children run in the park because it is a secure, safe, comfortable area.”
Another resident said his two nephews, aged six and eight, were also playing in the park when the gunman started shooting. One of his nephews had his hands over his ears as he ran for his life.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles said the incident also left her heartbroken. In a Facebook post, Beckles stated, “Having witnessed this horrific video of such a heinous shooting, my heart breaks for these children. I pray they receive the psychological and social support they need, especially the daughter of the deceased. Sweet Trinidad and Tobago, we are better than this brutality.”
Psychiatrist Dr Varma Deyalsingh expressed concern over the incident and warned about the psychological toll of violence in communal spaces.
“When violence penetrates residential communities, it creates collective insecurity. Social spaces shrink. Families withdraw. Public life contracts. A society cannot thrive when its citizens are psychologically barricaded. The result can be heightened public anxiety and reduced social trust. Repeated exposure to such violence creates chronic, traumatic stress at a societal level.”
2026.1.10 Signal Hill man shot dead, Tobago’s first murder
Police are investigating the murder of a man who was shot dead at Signal Hill, Tobago, on January 9.
The victim has been identified as Jamaille Fraser, 25, also known as “Stumpy,” of Cornal Rock Avenue, Signal Hill.
Police said Fraser’s murder is the first for the year in Tobago.
According to a police report, around 10.34 pm on January 9, a resident returning home from work found a man lying motionless on the ground with what appeared to be head injuries.
The victim was wearing a white vest and short pants.
Police were called in, and the victim was identified.
First responders observed what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the victim’s head.
Fraser’s body was taken to the Scarborough Regional Hospital Mortuary, pending an autopsy.
Investigations are ongoing.
2026.1.8 Diego’s deadly dawn: Residents cry for hangman’s return
DESPITE TT closing 2025 with its lowest murder rate in a decade, the dawn of 2026 has brought little comfort to the residents of Diego Martin. A bloody start to the year has left the community reeling, with three of the nation’s 11 murders occurring in their boundaries. As grief turns to frustration, the cry for the return of the hangman is echoing through the area.
The latest victim to be added to the grim national list is 33-year-old Elijah Williams of Blue Basin. Williams was shot and killed on January 7, marking the second murder in that specific enclave in less than 24 hours.
When Newsday visited the borough on January 8 to speak with residents, the atmosphere was a mix of sombre resignation and simmering anger.
Sitting in the shade on Beausejour Road, accompanied by two men, Larry Duprey did not mince words. To him, the current state of “lawlessness” requires a return to the ultimate penalty.
“Crime comes from the top,” Duprey said, nursing a strong drink. “But what can probably stop it is to bring back hanging. When criminals realise there is a life-or-death consequence for their actions, they will reconsider their actions more seriously.”
While Duprey supports capital punishment, he also pointed to the “empty pockets” driving young men towards criminal activity. He cited chronic unemployment in Diego Martin as a major contributing factor pushing youths toward criminality.
“To get young people away from crime, you have to give them jobs. Give them hope. Lack of both is a serious problem,” he lamented. “When a man doesn’t have a dollar in his pocket, that will worry anybody. Everybody needs to earn an honest dollar. Everybody has commitments: everybody needs to survive, right?”
Further up the road at the Patna Recreational Ground, Zachary Looney, popularly known by his sobriquet “DJ Versatile,” was spending quality time with his young son. For him, the issue is not merely political but spiritual and structural. He argued a change of government alone would not solve the scourge of violence.
“Governments come and go, but the problem still isn’t solved,” Looney said.
“You can have programmes from now until kingdom come, but everybody has free will. Everybody has a choice. Having a police presence does not guarantee safety in these communities. You can do all kinds of things, but men have free choice, and sometimes they choose to go down the wrong road.”
Looney clarified that his comments were not a judgement on Williams, whom he did not know personally. Instead, he noted while some murders are the result of “criminal elements” choosing a life of crime, many others involve innocent victims caught in the crossfire.
Looney offered an alternative to the now defunct social employment programmes like the cepep and URP projects. He proposed the state should utilise young offenders sentenced to hard labour for community upkeep under heavy police supervision.
“If the jails are being overrun and there is no space, let them do hard time. If you get rid of the programmes, let the prisoners do the work of Cepep/URP. Let them clean the communities and upkeep the savannahs,” Looney argued.
He suggested this would alleviate the issue of “ghost contractors”, a point of contention in Parliament. Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen, speaking in the House on November 26, said a significant portion of the URP workforce existed only “on paper”. Of the 928 workers listed, many could not be found, and some were not even residing in the country.
“It solves two problems in one,” Looney said. “It saves taxpayer money and actually gets the work done in the community where it is needed.”
Not everyone in the borough believes the gallows are the answer. Amanda Francis argued the focus should remain on socio-economic empowerment and judicial efficiency.
“We have to find ways to make sure the most vulnerable in society are able to have their needs met with dignity,” Francis told Newsday.
“Empower them to take care of themselves and show them there are better options. The government can use better marketing to make sure citizens actually know about the social programmes that are in place to help.”
Francis does not support the call for resuming hangings, arguing it is an ineffective way to reduce crime in a system where the “big fish” rarely face the rope.
“We need to focus on improving our detection rate and the processing times in the courts. We also need to make rehabilitation the main focus of the prison system. So far, our approach has just been to punish, and that hasn’t really given the results we want.”
At the Bagatelle Junction, a resident identified only as Ms Judy waited for a bus. For her, the rot starts in the home.
“It starts at home with good family values and things like the family sitting down together.”
She insists the first thing is God, and he is the foundation thought she acknowledges at times: “You try to guide them (young people) in the right path, but sometimes they still go out and think differently because of the friends they keep.”
As she spoke, a police van filled with officers patrolled past the junction. Judy, who has lived in the borough for 43 years, nodded toward the vehicle.
“We are glad when we see them. We are glad for the presence of the police up and down. We welcome that, but they need to beef it up.”
The political pendulum
The conversation surrounding the death penalty is not a new one, but it has regained momentum following the 2025 General Election cycle. During the campaign, then-opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar promised to resume hangings if her party was returned to political power.
Now serving as Prime Minister, Persad-Bissessar said during a post-Cabinet press conference at the Red House on May 15 she has instructed her legal and security team to investigate the resumption of the deathy penalty.
Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, Minister of Justice Devesh Maharaj and Attorney General John Jeremie have been tasked with updating the Cabinet.
Despite the Prime Minister’s previous campaign promises, the government has yet to provide a definitive timeline for when, or if, the state will pull the lever.
Newsday reached out to Persad-Bissessar via WhatsApp for comment on the Diego Martin community’s call for the return of the hangman and for an update on the government’s current stance. As of press time, no response was received.
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