Jennifer Johnson-Carroll, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, raised concerns about the country’s escalating crime situation during her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, describing repeated states of emergency as evidence of the serious security challenges facing the twin-island nation.
Johnson-Carroll, who was born in Port of Spain before emigrating to the United States as a child, told senators that Trinidad and Tobago’s recurring states of emergency reflect the severity of criminal activity that has affected the country for several years.
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“I do know that they have had several emergency orders, which doesn’t bode well with regards to the criminal activities that’s been occurring for a number of years,” she said during the hearing.
Asked about the stability of Trinidad and Tobago’s government, Johnson-Carroll declined to offer a definitive assessment before assuming the post, saying she would first engage with U.S. Embassy officials and the Trinidad and Tobago government if confirmed.
She also identified border security, illegal migration, narcotics trafficking, and declining energy production as key issues that could shape future relations between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. Johnson-Carroll noted that the country’s porous maritime borders present ongoing security challenges that require continued cooperation between both nations.
The ambassadorial nominee praised Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), describing it as an important partnership in combating transnational crime, improving border security and strengthening regional law enforcement cooperation. She said expanding security collaboration would be among her top priorities if confirmed.
In addition to security, Johnson-Carroll said she hopes to strengthen economic ties, promote trade and investment, and expand energy cooperation between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. She pointed to her background as a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, former Florida lieutenant governor, and international business executive as experience that would help guide her diplomatic work.
Her nomination will now be considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before advancing to a vote in the full U.S. Senate. If confirmed, Johnson-Carroll would become the next U.S. ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago at a time when both countries are seeking closer cooperation on regional security, economic development and energy issues.
