A significant legal development has emerged as Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander revoked a preventative detention order (PDO) against Christian Joshua, a detainee held under the state of emergency provisions who faces charges of motor vehicle larceny. This reversal now enables Joshua to pursue bail proceedings, reigniting debates about the appropriate application of PDOs within Trinidad and Tobago’s justice system.
Joshua’s legal representative, Attorney Keron Ramkalwhan, raised serious concerns regarding the ministerial order’s justification, suggesting that PDOs may be employed for statistical optics rather than legitimate security purposes. Ramkalwhan emphasized the peculiar circumstances: Joshua was already in custody after being denied bail on September 2, yet received a PDO dated September 6 that wasn’t formally served until September 30.
The initial PDO alleged Joshua’s involvement in an organized vehicle theft network that purportedly used stolen cars to support gang-related violence. However, Ramkalwhan challenged its validity, stating, ‘The issuance of a preventative detention order against someone already lawfully detained raises fundamental questions about its purpose. Either the minister acted without current information, or these orders serve symbolic rather than practical security functions.’
With the order’s revocation on December 5, Joshua will now seek bail through renewed applications while preparing to withdraw existing proceedings before the state of emergency review tribunal. The case has drawn attention to broader concerns about transparency and proper procedure in national security measures.