The government of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) has sparked widespread debate and criticism for its aggressive policies centered around state-sanctioned killing. Since assuming office six months ago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has prioritized executions, advocating for the resumption of the death penalty for prisoners on Death Row. This stance has been further reinforced by Defence Minister Wayne Sturge’s promotion of ‘shoot first, kill first’ legislation, framed as a stand-your-ground policy. Most recently, the PM has aligned TT with the United States’ controversial strategy of targeting small boats in the Caribbean Sea, a move that has been described by international observers as a ‘kill them all violently’ approach to foreign policy. Critics argue that these measures lack empirical evidence to support their efficacy. The global trend has shifted away from the death penalty, with studies showing it does not deter crime. Similarly, stand-your-ground laws in the U.S. have led to increased violence rather than reduced crime. The U.S. government’s tactic of extrajudicial killings at sea to combat drug trafficking has also been widely criticized as ineffective and counterproductive. Mexico’s ongoing cartel violence, with over 30,000 homicides annually, serves as a stark reminder that murder does not equate to peace. The TT government’s reliance on such medieval solutions raises questions about its legitimacy and effectiveness. As the U.S. reportedly destroys nine small boats, killing 37 people, including two TT citizens, the Prime Minister has yet to define what constitutes success in this brutal anti-drug policy. Attorney General John Jeremie’s lamentation of TT’s high murder rate and near ‘state of anarchy’ further highlights the irony of a government attempting to curb violence through more violence. This approach not only undermines the social contract but also risks plunging society into deeper chaos, as even political philosopher Thomas Hobbes acknowledged that a government’s legitimacy hinges on its ability to protect, not threaten, its citizens.