Trinidad and Tobago’s main opposition political party, the People’s National Movement (PNM), has put the ruling People’s National Congress (UNC)-led administration under pressure over three high-stakes issues during a post-General Council press briefing held at the party’s Port of Spain headquarters, Balisier House. PNM Chairman Marvin Gonzales led the questioning, flanked by deputy chairman Sanjiv Boodhu and Diego Martin West Member of Parliament Hans des Vignes, opening with demands for clarity on the unexplained absence of top law enforcement official Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro.
Gonzales directly addressed Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, calling for public answers to four core questions: Where is Commissioner Guevarro currently located? Is he still within Trinidad and Tobago’s national jurisdiction? If he has left the country, when did his departure take place? And has an acting commissioner been formally appointed to carry out the role’s responsibilities during his absence?
Citing unconfirmed intelligence received by the PNM, Gonzales claimed Guevarro had already left the country, and alleged that the Police Service Commission (PSC), the body constitutionally tasked with overseeing police leadership appointments, had failed to fulfill its legal obligation to name an interim replacement. He also called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who serves as chair of the National Security Council, to issue a public explanation for the lack of transparency around the absence.
A senior, anonymous police source later confirmed that Guevarro had been granted emergency personal leave, but could not verify whether the commissioner had traveled abroad. This is not the first time Guevarra has been out of the country: in October 2025, during an official trip to an international law enforcement conference in Denver, Colorado, Deputy Commissioner Junior Benjamin was formally appointed acting commissioner for the full week of Guevarro’s absence, from October 16 to 22.
Shifting focus to the government’s proposed artificial intelligence data center project in Golconda, Gonzales launched a scathing attack, labeling the plan “absolutely ridiculous” and questioning whether the administration has followed proper legal and procedural protocols. He said the government has failed to answer critical public questions about the project, including what environmental impact assessments have been completed, whether the region can support the facility’s significant water demand, and what approvals have been secured from relevant regulatory bodies.
Gonzales highlighted growing global pushback against large-scale data centers, noting that jurisdictions across the United States, Europe, China, and the United Kingdom have introduced new restrictions or even bans on the facilities over documented harms to local communities and livelihoods. He questioned whether Trinidad and Tobago was being positioned as a “dumping ground” for high-impact commercial projects that other nations have rejected, and criticized the government for failing to conduct meaningful consultations with local residents before announcing the plan.
He went further to accuse Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal, who has publicly championed the project, of acting irresponsibly and violating his oath of office, which requires all ministers to uphold the country’s constitution and laws. Gonzales warned that the PNM would take an uncompromising stance on the issue, and pledged to defend Golconda residents if Moonilal continues to fail to represent the interests of his constituency.
The final issue raised at the press conference centered on a sealed unexplained wealth case linked to PNM headquarters at Balisier House. Gonzales accused ruling party Senator Anil Roberts of breaking court-imposed gag rules by discussing details of the sealed court documents during a recent appearance on state-owned television and radio. He confirmed that the PNM would not deviate from legal protocol by discussing the party’s legal strategy or trying the case in public, despite Roberts’ public comments.
When asked whether the PNM feared that the case would lead to the public disclosure of the party’s donors and financiers, Gonzales acknowledged that many political contributors expect and deserve confidentiality for their personal information and business interests. He noted that direct donations from members of the public at Balisier House have been a longstanding practice for the PNM, as they are for all major political parties in the country.
Gonzales alleged that the UNC administration’s push to unmask PNM donors is rooted in political retaliation, arguing that the government’s goal is to intimidate current and potential supporters and cut off the PNM’s access to campaign funding. He framed the move as more than just an attack on the opposition: “This is not only an attack on the PNM, it is an attack against the democracy of Trinidad and Tobago, and an attempt by the UNC Government to establish a one-party state in this country,” he said.
He argued that efforts to deter private donations to the opposition directly undermines democratic competition by limiting the PNM’s ability to carry out its political work, and urged all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to recognize the threat to core democratic principles, regardless of their political alignment.