Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander announced the move during a sitting of the House of Representatives, saying the Zones of Special Operations and Community Development Measure Bill would provide special measures to protect public order, citizens’ security and public safety in designated high-crime areas. Alexander stressed that the initiative was not intended to be only another law-enforcement tool, but would also involve social interventions such as housing, health care, infrastructure improvements, medical assistance and programmes for vulnerable residents. He cited work being conducted through his Tunapuna constituency office, including engagement with young men, computer assistance for elderly residents and help for people requiring medical care.

A previous version of the legislation, the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) Bill, 2026, failed in the Senate in January after the Government could not secure the required three-fifths majority. The bill faced criticism over human rights protections and proposed powers, including warrantless searches, curfews of up to 72 hours, detention authority and joint police-military operations. The legislation also proposed a Social Committee to coordinate development measures in communities placed under ZOSO designation. Alexander defended the Government’s wider security strategy by reporting that, by the 191st day of the State of Emergency, protective services had conducted 13,108 operations, arrested 5,767 people, recovered 318 firearms and seized 6,414 rounds of ammunition. He said 702 Preventive Detention Orders had been approved, 573 had been executed and 240 detainees had subsequently been charged. He also reported that serious crimes declined by 14.1% compared with the same period in 2025, while murders and robberies were also lower. However, he warned that the end of the emergency powers does not mean the security threat has disappeared, saying police investigations and operations would continue through surveillance, warrant execution, gun-suppression exercises, high-visibility patrols and joint operations.