Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has vowed to use Special Operations to put down gangs operating in Maloney, declaring that her Government will do whatever it takes to protect residents from violence and intimidation.
In a strongly worded social media post, Persad-Bissessar said the Government would continue deploying security forces in the community, including through special operations, to confront gangs accused of terrorising residents.
Her comments followed a security operation launched on Tuesday night involving members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) in Maloney, within Police District Two.
Under the Special Operations Act, the Maloney Buildings Housing Development has also been declared a closed area, with residents subject to a nightly curfew from 9 pm to 5 am. The restrictions were imposed through Legal Notice No. 848, dated November 10, 2026.
The Prime Minister claimed gang members avoided confronting the security forces during the operation, choosing instead to hide.
“That is what happens when fake bad man meet real bad man,” she declared.
Persad-Bissessar said law-abiding residents, particularly women and children, should not have to flee their homes because of gangs firing indiscriminately in their community.
She also criticised the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration and the sitting MP for Maloney, accusing them of failing to protect residents from violent gangs over the years.
The Prime Minister said her Government would continue providing State security protection to any community where residents wanted it, regardless of political affiliation.
“If there is one law-abiding citizen in any community who wants that protection, your prime minister and my government will move to provide it,” she said.
She thanked the police officers, soldiers and
