Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi has characterized Trinidad and Tobago’s recent engagement in the US Southern Command Counter Cartel initiative as an extension of longstanding security cooperation rather than a novel development. Speaking to journalists outside Parliament, Al-Rawi emphasized the nation’s historical collaboration with American agencies while issuing a stark warning against constitutional overreach in crime prevention measures.
The Shield of the Americas security framework, which Trinidad recently joined, represents continuity rather than innovation in bilateral relations according to the senator. He referenced decades of operational partnerships including Operation Tradewinds military exercises, Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA), and routine collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation. “These are standard operating procedures,” Al-Rawi noted, highlighting that transshipment drug operations fundamentally drive criminality in the region.
Al-Rawi expressed particular concern about the government’s deployment of a state of emergency (SoE) as a primary crime-fighting tool. He clarified that constitutional emergency powers should remain reserved for genuine crises, noting that existing legislation already enables joint patrols and coordinated operations with presidential authorization. “What will be novel is the duration of this emergency declaration,” he cautioned, adding that “permanent emergency powers cannot constitute a sustainable security strategy.”
Regarding diplomatic implications, the senator dismissed anxieties about compromised sovereignty, stating the US partnership hasn’t negatively influenced Trinidad’s regional relationships. He emphasized that “political framing and presentation” matter more than the operational details of security cooperation.
Concurrently, Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein voiced strong support for strengthened US-Trinidad security collaboration, rejecting claims of eroded sovereignty. “The United States has historically been both trading partner and security ally across various administrations,” Hosein stated, noting “enhanced diplomatic engagement” under the current government.
The minister separately addressed global conflicts, expressing solidarity with oppressed Muslim communities worldwide. During the holy period of Ramadan, Hosein called for peace in Gaza and other conflict zones, stating that while his views might not alter geopolitical outcomes, collective prayers could alleviate global suffering.