In a significant political development, former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has publicly challenged current Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s approach to the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) Bill, 2026. The controversial legislation, which passed the House of Representatives on January 16, is currently undergoing Senate debate requiring a three-fifths majority for final approval.
The proposed law would empower Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, in her capacity as National Security Council chair, to designate specific areas as Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) for periods up to 180 days, following consultation with police and military leadership. This measure has sparked intense parliamentary discussion, with the government holding 15 Senate seats against the Opposition’s 6 and Independent senators’ 9.
Through a January 22 Facebook statement, Rowley expressed profound concerns about the legislation’s potential societal impact. He criticized the administration’s rhetoric toward independent senators, noting Persad-Bissessar’s suggestions that their opposition stemmed from alleged ties to his party, the PNM. “If I had said anything nearly as offensive and arrogant,” Rowley remarked, “everyone in this country would have known not to accept that from the Prime Minister.”
The former leader argued that the bill represents inappropriate crime-fighting methodology for Trinidad and Tobago’s diverse society, warning that it could stigmatize communities and remove fundamental rights without proper parliamentary oversight. Rowley cautioned that unsupervised authority would inevitably “breed abuse and resentment,” questioning whether crime-fighting justification would sufficiently address potential fallout when the law is implemented. He maintained that his administration was held to higher standards, expressing pride in having met those expectations during his tenure.