The US State Department has described the Trinidad and Tobago capital of Port of Spain as being a critical-threat location for crime directed at or affecting US Government interests.
At the same time the Department identified the city as a low-threat location for terrorist activity directed at or affecting official US government interests.
The State department’s 2017 Crime and Safety Report, which was released last week, identified crime in the twin island republic as the main threat to visitors.
“Given the crime rate and some weaknesses in border control, there remains a continued concern that T&T could be utilised as a transit point for potential terrorists or terrorist organizations. US citizens are advised that US government personnel and their families are restricted from travelling to the following areas — Laventille, Sea Lots, Cocorite, Beetham, the Interior of (Queen’s Park) Savannah, Downtown Port of Spain (after dark), Fort George (after dark), and all beaches (after dark),” the report says.
The report stated “most crimes are crimes of opportunity”, adding that “American citizens have been victims of pickpocketing, assault, theft/robbery, fraud, and murder” and while “there is no evidence to indicate that foreigners, specifically expatriates, are specifically targeted, crimes (robbery, break-ins/burglary, vehicular break-ins, home invasions, assaults (including sexual assaults)) do occur in areas frequented by tourists and in which the expatriate community lives.”
The report also stated that “Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) 2016 crime statistics show a 1.4 per cent increase in overall serious criminal activity, as compared to 2015 but violent crime remains a major concern for local security services and the general population.”
Trinidadian police seized 765 firearms last year and identified the gun as the weapon of choice to commit murders. Almost 81 per cent of the murders were committed using a gun in that country.
“According to TTPS statistics, there were 462 murders in 2016, 420 murders in 2015, and 403 murders in 2014, out of a population of approximately 1.3 million people,” the report states.
The State Department also mentioned that there were no known indigenous terrorist groups operating in the country but it was reported that Trinidad nationals have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight for the terrorist group ISIS.
“Given the crime rate and some weaknesses in border control, there remains a continued concern that T&T could be utilized as a transit point for potential terrorists or terrorist organizations. Although terrorism poses a low threat to travelers to T&T, all should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks. These could take place in public areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers. Travelers should review the US Department of State’s most recent Worldwide Caution,” the report states.
