The opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) in Trinidad & Tobago has voiced strong objections to a plan proposed by the country’s Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, which would see the United States asked to revoke visas of individuals based abroad deemed to be spreading “misinformation” via social media. Minister Alexander said he intends to write to the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires to communicate his concerns.

Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles and former Prime Minister Stuart Young have criticized the proposal, calling it an attempt to stifle free expression and pointing to broader concerns about government oversight of online commentary. Beckles described the initiative as anti-democratic and fundamentally at odds with constitutional freedoms. Young warned that deploying emergency powers or visa revocations against social-media users could threaten civil liberties.

The government’s stated objective is to address online content that allegedly threatens national security, including death threats and defamation on social platforms. However, the PNM emphasizes existing criminal laws sufficiently enable prosecution of harmful content without resorting to foreign government intervention.

Analysts note the disquiet stems from the idea that the policy could set a precedent for targeting dissenting voices under the guise of national security. The controversy raises questions about the balance between protecting security interests and safeguarding free speech in the digital age.