Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday said “no international law was breached” by Trinidad and Tobago’s cooperation with the United States in regional anti-drug operations, insisting she remains unapologetic about supporting Washington in its fight against transnational crime.
“We remained focused against transnational organised crime and today I make no apology for standing side by side with our oldest trading partner, the leader of the free world in this hemisphere. I make no apology today and I am happy,” Persad-Bissessar said as she outlined her administration’s achievements since taking office in April last year and presented its legislative agenda for 2026.
In an apparent reference to Opposition criticism, Persad-Bissessar defended the government’s actions, citing legal advice.
“If you had some good lawyers, we have some very good ones, including the Attorney General (John Jeremie), they will tell you that there was no international law that was breached when we were taking out people…in their boats, trafficking, human trafficking, drugs, children,” she said.
“Transnational crime, that is what we were fighting and we make no apology today,” she added, drawing desk-thumping and loud applause from government members.
She continued, “Find a good lawyer because we have the legal opinions on this matter and again we make no apology for it. In any event, I remember right here in this Parliament…a member on this side (now Opposition) say what (US President Donald) Trump going to do we…Well, we now finding out what Trump did us and what they could do. They are finding out, very disrespectful.”
Her comments come amid heightened regional and international scrutiny of US-led counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. Earlier this month, US military forces invaded Venezuela, detained its leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and transported them to New York, where they now face drug-related charges. Trump has since said Washington will “run” Venezuela.
Last October, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned US military strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific, describing the lethal attacks as violations of international law.
Under international law, the intentional use of lethal force “is only permissible as a last resort against individuals who pose an imminent threat to life,” he added, noting that based on “very sparse information provided publicly by the US authorities, none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to pose an imminent threat to lives of others.”
During her parliamentary address, Persad-Bissessar also thanked Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness for assisting Trinidad and Tobago as it prepares to introduce zones of special operations (ZOSOs), an initiative aimed at sustaining recent reductions in murders and other crimes during a state of emergency (SOE) expected to end this month.
Jamaica established ZOSOs under the 2017 Special Security and Community Development Measures Act to tackle high crime in targeted areas through enhanced security and community development, with extensions regularly approved by Parliament.
“We have spoken personally and I ask for him (Holness) to share with us what they were doing with the special zones and our Minister of Homeland Security (Roger Alexander) visited Jamaica in fact and spent time there with their police force,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said discussions following Alexander’s return led to the drafting of ZOSO legislation, which is scheduled for debate on Friday.
“So we remain focused as a priority on safety and security. We remain focused against transnational organised crime,” Persad-Bissessar added.
