A protest demanding transparency over the prosecution of Kaia Sealy — a woman charged in the January police-involved shooting death of her common-law husband Joshua Samaroo — ended in the detention of three people, including the demonstration’s lead organizer Alyssa Phillip, in downtown Port of Spain on Wednesday.
Just minutes before police took her into custody near the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office on Richmond Street, Phillip told reporters: “The only weapon we have are our voices. And that is the weapon that they are afraid of the most.” As officers led her to a police vehicle, she shouted defiantly to the crowd, “This is not the end of the fight!”
The other two people detained include well-known local blogger and influencer Jason De Silva, and Phillip’s mother Camille Caresquero. Police have not yet confirmed whether Caresquero was formally arrested or accompanied her daughter voluntarily. As of Wednesday evening, all three were held at Port of Spain’s Central Police Station, and law enforcement sources had not announced any formal charges against the detainees.
The protest unfolded against a pre-existing warning from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) issued on Tuesday that barred public gatherings outside the DPP office. Despite the order, demonstrators began assembling shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday.
De Silva was the first protester detained. After multiple verbal warnings from officers over his conduct, he continued questioning whether the police response aligned with democratic standards, accusing law enforcement of “weaponising the State against citizens.” When De Silva attempted to leave the area, a team of senior officers led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Garvin Henry and Senior Superintendent Baird moved to arrest him. Video and on-site photos captured De Silva dropping to his knees, raising his hands, and repeating the phrase “hands up, don’t shoot” before officers removed him from the site.
As more protesters arrived, many told on-site reporters they were shocked arrests began before the demonstration even fully got underway. Law enforcement responded by deploying large numbers of officers from multiple specialized units, including riot police, with Deputy Commissioner of Police Suzette Martin spotted coordinating with senior leadership at the scene.
When the crowd grew to roughly 50 people gathered on the adjacent sidewalk, ACP Henry first approached Caresquero to issue an order: the group had to clear the sidewalk for public passage and stop loud chanting that constituted a public disturbance. Caresquero agreed and relayed the warning to other protesters. When Phillip arrived shortly after, Henry repeated the instructions and ordered the entire group to move further down the street, away from the DPP building. The crowd complied, relocating to the front of Sacred Heart Catholic Church at the intersection of Sackville and Richmond streets.
By this point, riot police had blocked Richmond Street and diverted vehicle traffic toward Charles Street. After gathering at the new location, the crowd opened with a prayer before launching into chants, including calls for the resignation of Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro and Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, and slogans condemning TTPS actions in the Samaroo case.
ACP Henry approached the group a second time to reissue warnings about blocking the sidewalk and loud chanting, noting that under the country’s current state of emergency, unsanctioned public assembly was prohibited. Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdulah attempted to mediate the standoff, but officers proceeded with enforcement.
Phillip then read a prepared statement to the crowd, growing visibly emotional before she began loudly leveling accusations against the police service. It was at this point that Henry signaled for her arrest. When Senior Superintendent Baird moved to detain Phillip, Caresquero grabbed her daughter to stop officers, leading police to escort both women to a waiting police vehicle on Sackville Street. Protesters followed, chanting “shame” in condemnation of the law enforcement action.
Riot officers then formed a linked human blockade with batons across the street, ordering the crowd to disperse on three separate occasions. When protesters did not leave, officers advanced to push the entire group — including one young child accompanying their mother — back to Richmond Street. After the forced dispersal, the protesters agreed to relocate to Port of Spain’s Woodford Square, where they held a short prayer before disbanding. Police were quick to follow the crowd to Woodford Square, but officers observed no further unrest and no additional arrests were made.
Wednesday’s demonstration stems from the controversial decision to charge Sealy with manslaughter over Samaroo’s death, alongside three counts of shooting at police officers and multiple firearms-related offenses. The case has sparked fierce national debate in Trinidad and Tobago after leaked video footage emerged earlier this year showing police opening fire on the vehicle Samaroo and Sealy were occupying following a high-speed chase through St Augustine on January 20. Samaroo was killed in the shooting, while Sealy survived but was left paralyzed. Her family reports she is currently in the United States receiving ongoing medical treatment for her injuries.