Trinidad and Tobago has a long-standing history of vetted units, and the newly introduced US vetting policy for local officials likely stems from misinformation that led to SORT’s shutdown.
The recent announcement of the US offering their services to be part of a vetting process for specific local law enforcement officials is indeed welcome news and should be embraced, as it would serve the nation well.
This new policy, however, may be in response to the shutting down of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT), which came about as a result of certain officials, who had direct contact with a high Government official, feeding false information to US authorities.
This perhaps explains the exuberance by some to tout the new initiative, even though Trinidad and Tobago has always had vetted units within its law enforcement agencies, ranging from Intelligence Units in the TTPS, TTDF, and SSA, to Special Branch, SIU, and special investigative and operational units, including SAUTT.
In addition, the same SORT was not only vetted locally but by the US as well, which is not being mentioned. To further clarify, SORT was never funded by the US, despite misleading claims made by the Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs. This is irrefutable, as no new unit is ever funded by the US.
These facts are important to understand because even though SORT was instrumental in effectively ending kidnapping for ransom, home invasions, and extortion while significantly reducing gang warfare, I came under covert attack from certain individuals who are responsible for providing false information to the US and who are closely aligned to a senior Government official.
The unjust targeting of SORT has resulted in many of its officers being suspended for over three years without investigation, charges, or disciplinary action. These officers remain in limbo, and taxpayers will now bear the financial burden of millions of dollars in legal costs as these officers take their cases to court.
Beyond the monetary costs, the shutdown of SORT, arguably the most effective unit ever established, has led to the resurgence of kidnapping, extortion, home invasions, and gang warfare. The annual murder toll has soared from under 350 (August 2020 to August 2021) to over 600, marking the highest figures in our country’s history for two consecutive years.
The double standard is evident as well because while the reasons given for SORT’s shutdown are for human rights violations, not only has no one from SORT been charged for this or any other crime, there are three operational units within the TTPS and TTDF that still receive US funding, even though several officers in these units have been charged with crimes such as kidnapping and murder.
Additionally, several police killings by officers in these units are under investigation by the Police Complaints Authority.
Sadly, the media have not challenged the Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs on these facts, which not only undermines Trinidad and Tobago’s national security but also jeopardises the safety of US personnel residing in the country.
This situation underscores the urgent need for robust, unbiased vetting processes involving both local and international oversight, which is why the NTA wholeheartedly supports the US’s involvement in vetting local law enforcement personnel.