分类： politics

During a parliamentary sitting on Wednesday, Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General John Jeremie made a striking announcement: the United States government has revoked travel visas for multiple members of the country’s self-named elite “1%” criminal gang, a well-resourced white-collar criminal group with deep ties to the previous ruling People’s National Movement (PNM). The announcement came as Jeremie tabled a motion requesting a three-month extension of the country’s ongoing state of emergency (SoE), an anti-crime measure implemented by the current ruling People’s National Partnership led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Jeremie explained that U.S. authorities used their advanced intelligence capabilities to assess the activities of these individuals before making the decision to revoke their visas. The Trinidad and Tobago government had no involvement in the U.S. visa action, he emphasized, but the national government retains full authority to crack down on illegal activity occurring within its borders.

In his address to parliament, Jeremie pushed back against the narrow public perception that gangs in Trinidad and Tobago are limited to working-class street organizations such as the numbered groups SIXX, Seven, and Eight. Under the country’s existing Anti-Gang Act, a gang is defined as any formal or informal grouping of two or more people that engages in criminal activity—a definition that explicitly includes the elite “1%”, he argued.

Jeremie recalled a 2017 interview with CNN personality Anthony Bourdain, where a prominent “1%” member openly described the small group as the most powerful in the country. While the individual later apologized for the offhand comment, Jeremie told lawmakers the claim was entirely accurate. For a decade under PNM rule, the “1%” grew to become one of the most well-connected, resourced groups in Trinidad and Tobago, he said, controlling large swathes of the national economy.

He highlighted the group’s systemic economic privilege: while ordinary citizens must queue at banks to access a maximum of $200 in foreign currency for travel, requiring proof of a booked trip, “1%” members access hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars on revolving credit monthly to fund their businesses, travel, and lavish lifestyles. Jeremie alleged the group has directly funded the PNM, been revered by party leadership, and effectively taken control of the party, with opposition politicians acting as willing pawns for the elite gang.

The disclosure of visa revocations came after a journalist from Guardian Media Ltd — which Jeremie claims is owned by the “1%” — first questioned him about the reports. Jeremie initially ignored the question, but later had multiple members of the group approach him in his office to confirm their U.S. visas had been revoked.

In a hardline warning to the elite gang and all criminal groups in the country, Jeremie stated that the era of elite impunity is over. “To those persons among us who consider that their wealth allows them guarantees from prosecution, and from the attention of law enforcement bodies, we say those days are behind us. If you behave as gang members do, you shall be treated in exactly the same way that blue-collar gang members are,” he said. Whether a group calls itself the “1%” or one of the country’s known street gangs, the maximum-security Teteron Prison is waiting for those convicted of gang activity, he added.

Jeremie also issued a direct warning to group members who have targeted him and Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, hiding behind their media holdings to launch criticism and allegedly plotting more direct action. “if, as our intelligence suggests, you have in contemplation more and direct action, the indignity of the cells at Teteron await,” he said.

The Attorney General declined to elaborate further on allegations of improper state land deals, which he said went right up to the night of the last general election, noting that the matter is currently under active investigation by the Commissioner of Police. He added that the PNM not only turned a blind eye to white-collar gang activity by the “1%”, but also failed to address growing street gang violence across the country.

Jeremie stressed that equality before the law applies to all citizens regardless of class: a violation of the law by a wealthy member of the “1%” is no different than a crime committed by a young, low-income person in the neighborhoods of Morvant or Laventille. While Trinidad and Tobago has no control over the visa action taken by its northern ally, the country’s law enforcement agencies will act on credible intelligence of criminal activity by the group, he confirmed. The government’s crackdown on all gang activity will not be deterred by threats or pushback, Jeremie added, even as he acknowledged potential personal and political consequences for himself and the Prime Minister.

Beyond the announcement of visa revocations, Jeremie made the case for extending the current state of emergency, highlighting its strong early results under the current administration compared to SoEs implemented by the previous PNM government. He cited an internal analysis from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Strategic Analytics and Intelligence Department, which evaluated three consecutive states of emergency between December 2024 and June 2026. The analysis found that SoEs implemented by the current United National Congress (UNC)-led administration were far more effective at reducing crime. The current SoE has delivered the strongest overall crime reduction outcomes, with substantial drops in violent crime, kidnappings, robberies, firearms offenses, and total reported serious crime, while murder rates have remained below the levels recorded in the same period of 2025. Jeremie noted that the country is significantly safer today than it was during what he called the “horrible years” of PNM rule.

A coalition of 13 trade unions across Trinidad and Tobago has formally requested a meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to address mounting grievances over newly established 15 no-protest zones, arguing that the restrictions have negatively impacted their members and undermined core democratic rights.

Shortly before 11 a.m. local time yesterday, the group, led by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA), hand-delivered a formal letter of request to the Prime Minister’s Office, kicking off a public push for negotiation over the controversial policy outlined in Legal Notice No 40 of 2026.

The regulation, signed by Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro on May 27, bans all public protest and demonstration within 500 meters of 15 critical state sites. The restricted locations include the country’s national legislature the Red House, both the Trinidad and Tobago international airports, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and every police station across both islands. Notably, the order was signed on the same day that supporters of activist Kaia Sealy held a demonstration near the DPP’s Port of Spain office, which was ultimately dispersed by law enforcement.

Speaking to reporters gathered outside the Prime Minister’s Office after delivering the letter, TTUTA president Crystal Ashe emphasized that the coalition is not seeking confrontation with the ruling government, but is pushing for open discussion to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

“The letter’s core purpose is to secure an audience with the honorable Prime Minister, so we can identify common ground and resolve the concerns we have over this legislation,” Ashe explained. He pushed back against the sweeping restrictions, noting that the 500-meter buffer requirement poses practical and ideological challenges to democratic activism: “Do we need to carry a measuring tape every time we gather to voice our opinions? This is ridiculous. Trinidad and Tobago is a democracy, and governments should not strip citizens of their long-held rights to peaceful protest.”

Ashe was careful to clarify that the unions support public safety measures put in place by the administration, but argue that the no-protest zone policy was developed without any input or consultation with organized labor or civil society groups. “We are not attacking the government,” he stressed. “We back any reasonable action to keep the Trinidad and Tobago public safe. But this specific move was not well thought out, and it was done without any dialogue or communication with the groups that will be most affected by it.”

Addressing questions about the absence of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) from the action, Ashe rejected claims of division within the labor movement, saying “there is no rift, no split between us. We could not wait for every organization to join this effort, because our members are hurting, and people need their voices heard now. That is what the trade union movement was created to do.”

Ashe said he remains optimistic that Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar will agree to meet, saying he is confident she “will do the right thing” and not ignore the unions’ request. While the 13 unions have held preliminary discussions about next steps if the request is denied, Ashe declined to share specific alternative plans publicly.

In a formal news release following the delivery of the letter, the coalition expanded on its concerns, framing the policy as a direct threat to democratic rights for workers and labor organizations. “The trade union movement views this development as a direct attempt to restrict and weaken the ability of workers and their representative organisations to exercise their democratic right to peaceful protest and public demonstration,” the release stated.

Closing his public remarks, Ashe reaffirmed that the request for dialogue is made in good faith, aligned with the country’s long democratic traditions. “We remain hopeful that constructive discussions will take place in the spirit of cooperation, respect and partnership that has traditionally characterised industrial relations in Trinidad and Tobago. Such an approach would be consistent with the customs, practices and democratic traditions of our beautiful twin island Republic. The trade union movement stands ready to engage in respectful dialogue and looks forward to a positive response from the Office of the Prime Minister.”

As debate over an extension of the national State of Emergency (SoE) prepares to kick off in Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has doubled down on the policy, pushing back against growing criticism from labor unions, business groups, and the main opposition party while affirming that most law-abiding residents and enterprises back the government’s security crackdown.

Hours before the scheduled parliamentary vote, 13 national trade unions delivered a formal letter of protest to the Prime Minister’s Port of Spain office, specifically opposing a new restriction that bans all protests within 500 meters of 15 high-priority government sites. These restricted zones include Parliament, courthouses, prisons, police stations, and other key state facilities. Questioned by local outlet *Trinidad Express* immediately after receiving the letter, Persad-Bissessar brushed aside the unions’ concerns, arguing that protecting public safety is the state’s non-negotiable primary duty.

To counter claims that the ban unjustly limits the right to protest, the Prime Minister broke down the country’s geography to put the restriction in context. Trinidad and Tobago spans 5,131 total square kilometers, she noted, and the 500-meter buffer zones around the 15 sites add up to just 11.77 square kilometers – less than 0.23% of the nation’s total territory. That leaves more than 99.77% of the country open for peaceful assemblies, she emphasized. Persad-Bissessar also explained the security logic behind the 500-meter rule: the distance is sufficient to neutralize the lethal threat of small arms and rifle fire from outside the restricted zones. The ban, she added, was implemented after repeated incidents of provocation against the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), including a mass gathering outside the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s office intended to intimidate and harass staff working there.

The Prime Minister warned that previously permitted gatherings near high-security sites have been infiltrated by dangerous actors, including gang members, individuals with criminal records, and bad-faith political agitators. That puts both legitimate protesters and public servants working in or visiting these facilities at risk, she argued. In a sharp rebuke to critics who claim the SoE violates freedom of speech and assembly, Persad-Bissessar pointed out the absurdity of current opposition: opponents hold public rallies to complain they cannot host public rallies, and post widespread statements across mainstream media and social platforms claiming their voices are being censored.

She urged skeptical union and business group leaders to stop focusing on political posturing and instead prioritize delivering tangible benefits for their members, noting that most rank-and-file members actually support the government’s measures. Responding to calls from some business organizations for the government to release public evidence proving the SoE is effective at curbing violence, Persad-Bissessar argued that most criticism from elite business leaders amounts to nothing more than self-promotion, and does not reflect the views of the majority of law-abiding business owners and residents who back the security policy.

Addressing decades of systemic violence that has shaken the nation, the Prime Minister laid out the urgent rationale for the SoE: over the past 25 years, Trinidad and Tobago has recorded more than 10,000 murders, over 20,000 reported rapes and sexual assaults, and tens of thousands of robberies, assaults, and other violent crimes. She recounted the human cost of the ongoing gang violence, noting that children and women have been brutalized, and men have been murdered for refusing to join gangs or resisting extortion schemes. “The protection of law-abiding, God-fearing citizens of this country from violent threats supersedes everything,” she said, emphasizing that the emergency measures are temporary, designed to break a cycle of violence that has devastated communities for a generation.

While the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce has publicly endorsed the SoE and even proposed adding targeted hotspot curfews, Persad-Bissessar confirmed that additional curfew measures are not currently under consideration by the government.

On the opposition side, the country’s main opposition party, the People’s National Movement (PNM), has already announced it will vote against the SoE extension during Wednesday’s parliamentary debate. Persad-Bissessar blasted the PNM’s pre-vote position, claiming that party leadership has received direct orders from powerful backers to reject the extension regardless of the government’s evidence. She argued that the PNM has ignored the fact that the majority of murder victims across the country come from the party’s own traditional electoral strongholds, accusing the opposition of prioritizing the interests of its wealthy backers over public safety. She added that if the PNM chooses to walk out of the debate entirely, the party is within its constitutional rights to do so.

Asked whether she expected support from independent senators for the extension, Persad-Bissessar dismissed the idea, claiming independent lawmakers are effectively aligned with the PNM regardless of official party status. To critics who argue the SoE violates constitutional rights, she issued a blunt response: she has no intention of debating with bad-faith political and racial agitators who are only seeking publicity.

Closing with a message on the government’s core priority, Persad-Bissessar noted that communities across the country are united in demanding peace and security. For the first time in years, she said, young people can hold public walks for peace – events that would not have been safe amid previous waves of violence. Young Trinidadians and Tobagonians are fed up with seeing their loved ones killed in senseless gang wars that oppress entire communities, she said, and the government and security services will take all necessary steps to give these young people and communities a shot at a safer, better future, even in the face of opposition from small, self-serving segments of society.