Public outrage over the fatal police shooting of courier Joshua Samaroo intensified this week as protesters gathered in Port of Spain demanding accountability from the country’s top security officials. The demonstration followed growing concern over the circumstances surrounding the January 20 incident, which left Samaroo dead and his common-law wife Kaia Sealy critically injured.

The protest, held outside Woodford Square opposite Parliament, drew friends, relatives, and civil society supporters who accused authorities of failing to uphold transparency and proportional use of force. Demonstrators called for the resignation of Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro and Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, arguing that leadership accountability is necessary to restore public trust in law enforcement.

Speakers at the protest described Samaroo as unarmed and attempting to surrender when police opened fire on the vehicle he was driving. According to those addressing the crowd, multiple shots were fired, fatally wounding Samaroo and leaving Sealy paralysed. Protesters questioned whether the level of force used was justified and whether established police protocols were followed.

One speaker, a close friend of Sealy, highlighted the long-term consequences of the incident, noting that two children are now without their father and a mother faces a life-altering injury. Others expressed frustration that suspects in other high-profile cases have been arrested and tried without lethal force, while Samaroo was killed during the encounter.

The protest remained peaceful, though the presence of riot police briefly heightened tensions before officers stood down. Organisers reiterated that their aim was not confrontation, but accountability and reform. Participants dispersed after roughly half an hour without incident.

Public scrutiny has also been fuelled by the circulation of video footage online, which appears to show Samaroo’s vehicle stationary with his hands visible prior to the shooting. The footage has raised questions about official accounts of the incident and renewed calls for independent investigations, clearer use-of-force standards, and the mandatory use of body-worn cameras by police officers.

Despite the growing pressure, there has been no indication that the Police Commissioner intends to step aside, and no detailed findings from the ongoing investigation have been released. For many, the protest marks a broader reckoning with police accountability in Trinidad and Tobago, reflecting long-standing concerns about transparency, oversight, and the balance between public safety and civil rights.

Source: Guardian Media Ltd., “Cop Guevarro under pressure” (guardian.co.tt).