Stakeholders back Guevarro after first 100 days in office

CRIMINOLOGIST Darius Figueira believes Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro and acting Prisons Commissioner Hayden Forde must tell the public about what is being done to address the threat which resulted in the declaration of a state of emergency (SoE) in Trinidad and Tobago in July 18.

He was giving his views on Guevarro’s first 100 days in office as police commissioner on September 27.

Parliament approved Guevarro’s nomination on June 13, with unanimous support from both government and opposition MPs. He was appointed police commissioner five days later.

Figueira said the calling of an SoE was one of Guevarro’s first major acts as commissioner.

Guevarro, via a two-page statement on July 18, announced that an amalgamation of criminal gangs had compiled a hit-list of key members of the criminal justice system and other public officials.

He alleged these gangs had been funding themselves by criminal activities including robbery, kidnapping people for ransom and the extortion of business places.

Figueira told Newsday, “The most important event during his first 100 days has been the calling of the state of emergency. The reasons given was a threat to members of the State apparatus and the reason for the threat was supposed gang leaders who are in remand and plotting from inside to wage war on the state apparatus.

“This points to the condition in which the Prisons Service presently find itself because the threat emanates from the Remand Yard. So that state of emergency lit up the Prisons Service but we are yet to be told by the minister, the Police Commissioner and the Commissioner of Prisons, a full description of why did that threat emanate from the Prisons Service and what has been done, to date, to address that threat.”

He noted certain prisoners were moved to different locations, “but we have not been given an analysis of why the threat emanated from the Remand Yard and the list of realistic measures, based upon a description of the nature of the threat, to outline to us, the members of the public, that this threat has now been grappled with and will never again reoccur.”

Instead, Figueira observed, “What we have been presented with is a series of issues concerning persons who are in detention under the state of emergency, back and forth over legal claims being made by persons who are detained and have been removed from the Remand Yard under the state of emergency. So that means the base of the threat persists, prolonged incarceration in the Remand Yard.”

He said emphasis is being placed on the number of people arrested and the quantities of illicit drugs and firearms seized, “but less and less is being spoken about the primary threat that caused the state of emergency.”

Figueira said when the SoE was declared, the country’s murder toll was on the decline.

“So the issue is not the murder toll. That is and old issue. The issue now is an entirely different issue that was given for calling the SoE and we need more focus on that. So we want to know if we are facing an extension again.”

Other stakeholders, meanwhile, have applauded Guevarro’s performance.

TT Chamber of Commerce president Sonji Pierre-Chase said the organisation is encouraged by his proactive and inclusive approach to leadership.

She told Newsday his ascent to the post came at a time when the public’s confidence in the Police Service was at an all-time low.

“The Chamber is encouraged by the commissioner’s strong stance on the fight against organised crime, proliferation of gang activity and general criminality,” Pierre-Chase said.

Referring to TTPS statistics, she said, there has been a recorded decline in violent crimes as the country has recorded 269 murders, compared to more than 467 for the same period in 2024.

Pierre-Chase said the Chamber met with Guevarro and his executive team in early September and pledged its support in the continuing fight against crime.

“The Chamber is, therefore, encouraged by his commitment to working with key stakeholders, including the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce. His philosophy of all hands on deck is the kind of collaborative spirit we need to confront the pressing issue of crime.”

She added the chamber has a number of initiatives scheduled to be rolled out in partnership with the Police Commissioner.

“We look forward to engaging with him further to ensure that together we make a meaningful impact in reducing crime across the country.”

Tobago Chamber of Commerce president Curtis Williams, too, applauded Guevarro’s first 100 days in office.

“The first 100 days have shown progress through community engagement, greater transparency and a reduction in homicides. Higher detection rates are encouraging as they signal consequences for crime and may help deter attacks on businesses,” he said.

Williams noted, however, that while serious crime figures are improving, there is no clear data showing declines in business-related crimes such as fraud, theft and vandalism.

But he recognised that 100 days “is a relatively short window.

“Many of the structural changes required to improve policing culture, clear judicial backlogs and achieve long-term crime prevention, will take significantly more time to manifest.”

Williams said the Tobago business community is eagerly awaiting Guevarro’s official visit to the island.

PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales said Guevarro has shown the ability to take full public responsibility for his job.

“The job is a difficult undertaking and he shows great promise,” he told Newsday via WhatsApp.

Gonzales said, though, he will need the support of all stakeholders to succeed.

‘Everyone must play their part. His success will be the country’s success.”

However, he cautioned Guevarro about commenting on “certain matters that are for the domain of politicians both local and foreign.”