Lead Editor-Politics
Criminologist Dr Randy Seepersad is warning of a potentially dangerous omission in the Special Operations Act, saying the legislation does not expressly exempt ambulances and emergency medical personnel from restrictions imposed on communities declared closed areas.
His concern comes as the Maloney Buildings Housing Development becomes the first community subjected to the legislation, with residents placed under a nightly curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, Seepersad said his examination of the legislation revealed uncertainty surrounding how medical emergencies would be handled during such operations.
“Suppose somebody has a heart attack in a community which is under lockdown, and they have that heart attack in the middle of the night during the lockdown period, what happens? Do you write to the police and wait on a permit while a person is having a heart attack?” he questioned.
Seepersad said while the legislation identifies certain exempted personnel, including members of the police service and Defence Force, emergency medical workers are not specifically included.
He acknowledged that the Act contains broader provisions allowing movement in certain circumstances but argued that these do not clearly address medical emergencies.
He is therefore recommending either a legislative amendment or a blanket authorisation from the Commissioner of Police to ensure emergency medical personnel can enter and leave closed communities without unnecessary restrictions.
Maloney murder rate almost twice national average
However, despite identifying shortcomings in the legislation, Seepersad believes there is a reasonable basis for selecting Maloney for special operations, pointing to historical murder statistics showing that the community’s murder rate was almost twice the national average.
He said an analysis he conducted using national murder data between 2018 and 2022 found that Maloney recorded an average annual murder rate of 74 per 100,000 people, compared with the national average of 36.7 during the same period.
According to his calculations, Maloney ranked 62nd among communities nationally, placing it within approximately the top 12 per cent for murder rates.
“Maloney had a murder rate which is almost twice the national murder rate,” he explained.
However, he stressed that the statistics covered Maloney as a whole, whereas the area currently under restrictions represents only a smaller section of the community.
Seepersad also cautioned that high murder rates alone should not determine which communities are placed under special operations.
He explained that authorities must consider whether recent criminal incidents or intelligence suggest a likelihood of further violence, particularly retaliatory gang attacks.
“If the Special Operations Act is deployed properly, then meaning it’s data-driven, it’s intelligence-driven, and it’s focused especially on violence that is likely to result in further violence, then it is in fact more than likely going to have a suppressive effect on crime,” he said.
Crime suppression alone not enough
But while Seepersad believes the legislation could deliver immediate results, he is questioning its ability to produce sustainable reductions in crime without accompanying social interventions.
He argued that the Act focuses heavily on law enforcement suppression while failing to address the underlying conditions that contribute to gang activity and criminal behaviour.
Seepersad questioned whether sufficient attention was being paid to youth development, educational opportunities, family support and programmes designed to prevent young people from joining gangs.
He noted that the earlier Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) Bill, which was not passed, contained provisions addressing social interventions in communities subjected to restrictions.
He argued that the absence of similar provisions in the Special Operations Act represents a fundamental weakness which should be addressed, potentially through an amendment.
On concerns that lockdowns could push criminal activity into neighbouring communities, Seepersad said his evaluations of previous violence-interruption programmes in Trinidad and Tobago found no evidence that murders were displaced. He explained that gang violence tends to remain geographically concentrated, although crimes such as robberies, home invasions and vehicle thefts could potentially shift elsewhere.
Don’t stigmatise Maloney residents
Meanwhile, Seepersad is urging the authorities to ensure that residents of Maloney are treated with dignity and respect as police implement the legislation.
His comments follow concerns raised by Trincity/Maloney MP Camille Robinson-Regis, who accused the Government of imposing restrictions without adequately informing residents, leaving some frightened and confused about the permit system.
Seepersad acknowledged that some difficulties could arise during the first few applications of the legislation but said clear protocols and effective communication were critical.
He stressed that the overwhelming majority of people living in communities affected by such operations were law-abiding citizens who should not be made to feel like criminals.
“The national public certainly should not stigmatise people in a particular community simply because that community has been locked down,” he said.
Seepersad argued that the restrictions should be understood as a response to the actions of a small minority rather than a reflection of the entire community.
Special operations must be applied equally
Seepersad also welcomed the decision to apply the legislation in Maloney, a People’s National Movement (PNM)-controlled constituency, despite Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s earlier suggestion that special operations would be limited to United National Congress (UNC)-held constituencies because of the Opposition’s lack of support.
He said laws must be applied nationally and equally, describing the decision as a positive indication that the legislation was being implemented without political distinction.
