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Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has issued a warning to criminals, their financiers and facilitators, declaring that “no money, status or political connections” will protect them as the Government continues its crime-fighting campaign following the end of the State of Emergency.
Speaking in Parliament while introducing the Special Operations Bill 2026, Persad-Bissessar said the conclusion of the State of Emergency would not provide a sanctuary for people involved in criminal networks.
She said her Government intends to pursue not only people directly involved in violent crime but also those financing and facilitating criminal activity.
“We will find you. We will dismantle your networks,” Persad-Bissessar said.
The Prime Minister said authorities would seek to seize illegal drugs, firearms and criminal proceeds and bring accused offenders before the courts.
“No money, status or political connections will save you,” she declared.
Persad-Bissessar also accused the former PNM administration of presiding over what she described as a “two-tier justice system”.
She said her Government intends to dismantle what she described as unequal treatment under that system. The allegation was made by the Prime Minister during her parliamentary presentation.
Persad-Bissessar said her administration would uphold the Constitution and due process but would not apologise for placing law-abiding citizens first.
She pointed specifically to families affected by violent crime, businesses facing extortion, young people threatened by gangs and residents living in communities affected by criminal activity.
The Prime Minister argued that gangs which impose illegal curfews, extort businesses, recruit children and force families from their homes are attempting to exercise criminal control over communities.
She said the Government intends to use the proposed Special Operations framework to target alleged gunmen as well as the drugs, weapons and money supporting organised criminal activity.
Persad-Bissessar repeatedly declared that criminals and gangs would not prevail under her administration.
“Under my UNC Government, the criminals will not prevail. Under my UNC Government, the gangs will not prevail. Under my UNC Government, law and order will prevail,” she said.
She added that safety and the people of Trinidad and Tobago would prevail and pledged that her administration would do everything it could to make the country safer.
Persad-Bissessar said the Government would “leave no stone unturned” in pursuing criminals, drug traffickers and human traffickers.
Her warning came as the Government prepares to debate the Special Operations Bill 2026, which is intended to replace nationwide emergency measures with targeted security operations in designated areas.
