Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General John Jeremie delivered a stark assessment of the nation’s security situation during a regional judicial forum in Barbados, stating the twin-island nation has confronted “rampant” gang-related violent crime for over ten years and does not qualify as “a zone of peace.”
Addressing the 2nd PACE Attorneys General Roundtable in Bridgetown on January 24, Jeremie spearheaded a special session titled “Successful Approaches to Gang Prosecution.” His presentation detailed the substantial challenges facing Trinidad and Tobago’s justice system in combating sophisticated organized criminal networks and persistent violent offenses.
“Peace is not merely the absence of war. It constitutes a state of harmony and well-being,” Jeremie asserted, clarifying his characterization of the country’s security environment.
According to an official release from the Attorney General’s Office, Jeremie outlined the government’s comprehensive strategy to counter gang violence through legislative reforms coupled with targeted social programs and specialized law enforcement operations. This multi-faceted approach particularly focuses on communities disproportionately affected by gang-related violence and homicides.
The regional roundtable, convened from January 21-23, was jointly hosted by the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union, and the Office of the Attorney General of Barbados. Jeremie led a delegation comprising legal technocrats from both the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice, alongside members of the judiciary.
Discussions throughout the event centered on the theme “Advancing Judicial Reform, Regional Collaboration and Backlog Reduction,” emphasizing cross-border cooperation in addressing shared security challenges throughout the Caribbean region.