Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, has declared the nation’s School-Oriented Policing Initiative a successful endeavor following the arrest and charging of 19 students for various offenses during its initial implementation phase from September to December 2025. The disclosure was made during a Senate session in response to an inquiry from Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts-Radgman.
Launched as a cornerstone of the government’s broader security strategy, the program involves the strategic deployment of Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) officers to educational institutions deemed ‘high risk.’ Minister Alexander emphasized that the primary objective is prevention and protection, creating a visible law enforcement presence to deter violence and ensure the prompt addressing of any threats to the safety of students and staff.
According to official data provided to the Express newspaper, the charges brought against the 19 students included:
– One count of assault with a weapon
– Two counts of possession of a weapon
– One combined charge of possession of a weapon and assault with a weapon
– Five counts of marijuana possession
– Three counts of possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking
– One combined charge of trafficking marijuana and weapon possession
– Two counts of robbery involving laptops
– Two counts of assault by beating
– Two counts encompassing obscene language, resisting arrest, and disorderly behavior
In subsequent remarks, Minister Alexander positioned the initiative as a decisive break from the policies of the former administration, which he accused of allowing school violence to ‘flourish.’ He credited Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar with mandating the direct intervention of police within schools and the legal prosecution of violent students.
Beyond enforcement, the Minister is advocating for a holistic approach to the root causes of student misconduct. Following visits to four schools in his Tunapuna constituency, Alexander reflected on the prevalence of students from single-parent households, sharing his own background to illustrate that one’s origins do not predetermined one’s future. However, he also issued a stern call for greater parental accountability, announcing his intention to bring legislation to Cabinet that would legally hold parents responsible for their children’s actions. He argued that behavior modeled at home is often replicated in schools, and that the state cannot be solely responsible for child-rearing.