Attorney General John Jereme has declared that Trinidad and Tobago is at war with gangs and criminal enterprises, following a recent national security incident that triggered heightened protection for members of Parliament and key government officials.

Speaking during a parliamentary debate on the Criminal Records Rehabilitation of Offenders Bill 2026, Jereme referenced an incident “last Friday” in which a member of “one of those communities” sparked a national security scare serious enough for security services to increase protections across the political establishment. Although he did not identify the specific community involved, he insisted he refused to be intimidated” by those behind the threat.

Jereme framed the government’s security posture as a de facto declaration of war on organized crime, pointing to the state of emergency and the deployment of what he described as “absolute force” against criminal networks. He stressed that the government would continue to target gang activity regardless of where criminals operate, making clear that such groups are not confined to traditionally marginalized neighborhoods.

Referencing comments from a colleague representing Toco/Sangre Grande , Speaker 2 underscored that gangs are active both in inner-city communities and in affluent districts. Areas such as Belle Road, Serrano Road, West Moorings and Goodwood Park were cited as examples of the geographic spread of criminal networks. The speaker stopped short of naming the political representatives for those constituencies but suggested that gang influence cuts across social and political boundaries.