The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is advancing efforts to modernise its border security systems, with assistance from the United States to enhance passenger screening and identify potential threats before travellers arrive.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the announcement following Eid al-Fitr celebrations, outlining key developments in the country’s broader crime-fighting strategy.
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“We continue to engage the US authorities in many fields, a very important one is what is happening at our airports now with the online entry forms,” she said.
Central to the initiative is the planned implementation of the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), which will allow immigration officials to vet passengers prior to arrival. According to the Prime Minister, legislation to support the system is expected to be introduced shortly.
“By next week, Friday or thereafter, we’ll bring a piece of law, the APIS legislation. When we link these together, even before you land, we can have a clear idea whether there’s a good guy or a bad guy, to put it simply, landing here,” Persad-Bissessar explained.
The system will work alongside new online immigration forms introduced at the country’s ports of entry. As of March 17, travellers entering and leaving Trinidad and Tobago can complete arrival and departure documentation digitally, replacing the long-standing paper-based process.
The Prime Minister said the initiative reflects a wider push to modernise national security infrastructure through international collaboration.
She also defended the Government’s continued use of a State of Emergency (SoE), citing measurable reductions in crime.
“We have seen crime at the lowest it has been in many, many years. The murders have been down by 42 per cent. People are saying, why another SoE? Because only 42 per cent down, we have to work to bring it down further,” she stated.
Persad-Bissessar further addressed concerns surrounding the recent removal of a U.S.-operated radar system previously based in Tobago, noting that it had provided valuable support during its deployment.
“We were lucky to have it the time we had it. They need it for their own use, as you know. They’re on another front, and they probably need it for that purpose. But it did serve us well, and we thank them very much for it,” she said.
She disclosed that the radar system cost approximately US$3 million per day to operate, with expenses fully covered by the United States, including staffing, accommodation, and maintenance.
The issue has drawn criticism from the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), with deputy political leader Sanjiv Boodhu raising concerns about transparency in the handling of the radar’s installation and removal.
Despite the criticism, the Government maintains that strengthened partnerships and upgraded systems such as APIS are critical to improving national security and safeguarding the country’s borders.
