Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is under mounting criticism after publicly endorsing a recent U.S. military strike on a vessel Washington claimed was carrying drugs from Venezuela, telling reporters that she had “no sympathy for drug traffickers” and that U.S. forces should “kill them all violently.”
The remark, made following President Donald Trump’s announcement of the attack, has ignited outrage from opposition figures, security experts, and regional commentators who warn it could put Trinidad and Tobago at diplomatic and security risk.
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Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles led the charge, condemning the prime minister’s statement as “reckless, disgraceful, and inconsistent with the oath she has taken to uphold the Constitution and the law.” She argued that such inflammatory rhetoric was unbecoming of a head of government and could endanger legitimate Trinidadian fisherfolk, offshore workers, and others who operate in contested maritime spaces.
“Her inflammatory social media output draws our country into unnecessary conflict over which we have little to no control,” Beckles wrote in a Facebook post. She further questioned whether Caricom had been consulted before Persad-Bissessar’s “unprecedented alignment with foreign military action.”
While affirming the opposition’s support for robust measures against drug trafficking, Beckles stressed that any action must be “lawful, coordinated, and respectful of national values and international obligations.” She also criticized Persad-Bissessar for addressing media questions via WhatsApp rather than through a full press briefing, which she said undermined transparency.
“Trinidad and Tobago deserves leadership that is strong, wise, and responsible,” Beckles said. “We cannot and ought not to support impulsive, inflammatory, dangerous rhetoric that can undermine our security and credibility.”
Regional security analysts echoed those concerns. Dr. Garvin Heerah warned that while strong rhetoric against organized crime may resonate politically, endorsing extrajudicial violence risked eroding democratic norms. “Leaders must uphold due process and avoid encouraging tactics that bypass legal institutions,” Heerah told the Express. “Adopting a ‘kill them all’ posture requires clarity, intelligence, and judicial oversight, otherwise it undermines the very rule of law leaders are sworn to protect.”
Criminologist Daurius Figueira went further, branding Persad-Bissessar’s response as reflective of “a classic hard-right politician following Washington’s lead.” He questioned what Trinidad and Tobago stood to gain from such alignment, noting that the Trump administration had already curtailed key trade preferences that once benefited the twin-island state.
The controversy comes as Trinidad and Tobago continues to navigate its delicate role as Caricom’s lead on regional security. Critics argue that Persad-Bissessar’s comments have heightened tensions with Venezuela and risk weakening her credibility both at home and within the wider Caribbean community.
