Senior Reporter
The State has officially designated three major Middle Eastern paramilitary and political organisations as terrorist entities, triggering an immediate freeze on any Trinidad and Tobago assets linked to the groups.
In a significant national security development, the High Court of T&T ordered the freezing of all local property associated with Hezbollah, Hamas and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The orders, published in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette yesterday (April 13), mark one of the most far-reaching applications of the Anti-Terrorism Act in recent years.
The declarations were issued by High Court judges between April 8 and 9 and require ongoing six-month reviews by Attorney General John Jeremie, underscoring continued judicial and executive oversight of the listings.
According to the Gazette, Justice Carol Gobin issued freezing orders on April 8 in relation to both Hezbollah and the IRGC. A separate order issued by Justice Jacqueline Wilson on April 9 listed Hamas as a declared entity.
The High Court orders directed that all property owned or controlled locally by the three organisations, whether wholly, jointly, directly or indirectly, must be immediately frozen. The measures also extend to assets that may be held through intermediaries or proxy arrangements.
However, the local organisation/s linked to the three groups were redacted in the gazetted notice.
The publication in the Extraordinary Gazette signals the formal legal activation of the orders, making them enforceable across all financial institutions, property registries and relevant regulatory bodies within T&T. Further updates are expected following the Attorney General’s six-month statutory review cycle, which could determine whether the listings remain in force or are subject to variation based on intelligence and legal assessments.
The move places T&T within a tightening global framework targeting terrorist-financing networks, particularly those identified by international bodies such as the United Nations Security Council under Resolution 1373 and monitored through Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliance mechanisms.
Countries across Europe, North America and parts of the Caribbean have increasingly moved to align domestic legislation with international sanctions regimes targeting organisations such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the IRGC, all of which are subject to varying degrees of designation by major global powers, including the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union.
Efforts to contact Defence Minister Wayne Sturge and Caricom and Foreign Affairs Sean Sobers were unsuccessful yesterday, as calls to their phones went unanswered.
However, attorney CJ Williams yesterday queried the timing of the decision made by the Government.
“While issues of national security are often cited to justify limited disclosure, there must still be clarity on the data driving these decisions. Is Trinidad and Tobago now at a point where actions are being taken solely on the say-so of foreign powers, without independent scrutiny by the Office of the Attorney General?” Williams asked.
He added, “As far as I am aware, the law has not changed. Such determinations should be grounded in reports from the Strategic Services Agency (SSA). However, those reports have not been made available for the past two years.”
Williams added that the lack of transparency significantly limits the ability to properly assess or advise on the Government’s latest move, particularly given what appears to be a consistent failure to produce SSA reports.
Muslim organisation worried about stigmatisation
The Concerned Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago is accusing the Government of advancing a foreign-aligned agenda that unfairly targets Muslims following the declaration against the three international bodies and the court applications.
PRO Imtiaz Mohammed said yesterday that the move by the Attorney General raises “serious concerns” about bias and timing, arguing that it also risks reinforcing stigma against Muslim communities locally and internationally.
He questioned why the applications are being pursued at this time, pointing to ongoing national concerns, including crime levels and the effectiveness of the State of Emergency. Mohammed suggested the Government may be using the issue to divert attention from domestic challenges.
The group further accused the State of aligning itself with the foreign policy positions of United States and Israel, linking the legal action to wider geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
While stating that he does not support terrorism, Mohammed said the organisations named in the court filings are viewed by some as resistance movements, a position that is expected to intensify public debate in T&T.
He also called for accountability on the international stage, referencing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and questioning whether similar scrutiny would be applied to other global leaders accused of war crimes.
