Trinidad and Tobago has faced a troubled economic outlook since 2014, when energy prices declined. The twin priorities since then have been, first, to address crime and the national security situation, and second, to put the economy on a solid foundation to limit the effects of volatility in the energy sector. Thankfully, the country has not suffered a natural disaster. However, like most countries, we had to allocate additional resources to address the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased our debt burden.
Managing crime will remain a priority for some time. The high crime rate in Trinidad and Tobago is the result of a combination of social, economic, institutional and transnational factors. No single cause explains the problem; rather, several factors interact and reinforce each other. Therefore, addressing crime requires a multi-pronged approach. Extending the State of Emergency for another 90 days is a temporary measure.
It is estimated by the Ministry of Homeland Security that 40 Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs) were issued between March 18 and May 25, 2026. An additional 11 PDOs were subsequently published, targeting alleged gang leaders and organised crime figures. The individuals detained were alleged to be “operating in roles ranging from leaders and enforcers to shooters, drivers, stash men and logistical facilitators.” The “intelligence” leading to these detentions rarely translates into legally enforceable charges, converting these detentions into something resembling a “catch and release” exercise.
The country needs a more permanent solution rather than a series of ad hoc measures that do not translate into long-term success. The Attorney General’s segway into a commentary on white-collar crime was an unnecessary extravagance that had racial overtones. He is no neophyte, as this is his third stint as Attorney General, and he knows full well how such comments will be interpreted.
There is enough legislation enacted over the last 20 years which gives agents of the State the power to pursue laundered or tainted money. The issue here is enforcement and the necessary intelligence work to ensure that any accusation made can ultimately be proven. Furthermore, there are mechanisms for sharing information and intelligence between states on cross-border crimes. This requires proximate action, not grandstanding in Parliament.
Experience from other countries in the region shows that lasting reduction requires a combination of measures. These include more effective policing and intelligence operations, faster courts and higher conviction rates, educational reforms, and anti-corruption measures. These are largely operational considerations requiring leadership and management interventions, not talk. This requires non-partisan, genuine cooperation among all political parties as a national priority that does not change with changes in government.
The same approach is required to achieve economic progress. The Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, in their latest Article IV report, speak to the impact of global uncertainty on the domestic economy. The evidence is that the deep economic issues must be addressed if the economy is to achieve sustainable growth. Managing the size of the fiscal deficit and debt service levels is critical. A major positive is the increase in energy prices, which will assist in this regard. Moody’s Investors Service revised Trinidad and Tobago’s sovereign rating outlook to Stable from Negative, primarily due to improved energy prices.
Addressing the crime situation and improving this country’s economic outlook both require patience, discipline and leadership.
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