Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Monday praised ‘the great men and women of our protective services’ insisting that ‘no one’s wealth or social status will put them above the law’.
In a statement posted on her social media page X, Persad-Bissessar noted that since the increase in American support to the protective services in Trinidad and Tobago that began last year, ‘we have witnessed a heightened unease and furor among those who have built their wealth and social status by upholding illegality and criminality to benefit their friends, families, and financiers while simultaneously destroying the prosperity and happiness of law-abiding citizens. ‘They have spread false narratives to stoke hatred between the two major ethnic groups and launched unrelenting attacks on the American government and our protective services through their social media trolls, deranged commentators, race grifters…..’
But she said that despite the attacks from ‘criminal entities through their agents in the legal fraternity, business community, mainstream and social media to incite hatred against our protective services, the men and women of the police, defence forces, SSA and prison service through great efforts and personal sacrifices managed to bring down serious crimes by 15 percent in 2026’.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said she is ‘thankful to the brave men and women of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies who daily undertake the difficult responsibilities of protecting our nation and safeguarding our freedoms, often under immense pressure and unfair criticisms.
‘The protective services continue to demonstrate astuteness and diligence in their actions while maintaining the freedoms of all citizens,’ Persad-Bissessar said,expressing ‘sincere gratitude to COP Allister Guevarro, SSA (Strategic Services Agency)Director Alicia Henry, CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) Commodore Don Polo, Prison Superintendent Elvin Scanterbury, and all their colleagues’.
She said exterminating the evil local drug mafia which has entrenched itself across all classes of the society is not a job for weak men and women.
‘We are committed to seeing this mission through along with our international partners professionally and fairly. For too long this country has accepted a tiered justice system in which different rules, conditions, and treatment apply to persons and groups in society based on income levels, ethnicity, where they live, and who they fund.
‘That time has come to an end. No one’s wealth or social status will put them above the law. Persons from Laventille, Siparia, West Moorings, or any other part of Trinidad and Tobago will face the same application of justice,’ she said in apparent reference to the detention of prominent businessman Dominic Hadeed and his wife, Genevieve, who were released last week after the Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander revoked a preventative detention order (PDO) that kept them behind bars for a month.
Since then there have been calls for the removal of Attorney General, John Jeremie and Alexander from the Cabinet.