00:00This bill gives you your rights, your rights to defend your home, to defend your property, to defend yourselves and to defend your family.
00:11But we must always bear in mind that this too comes with immense responsibility.
00:17Attorney at law Narad Harry Kisun speaking during a UNC public meeting in the Shogonis East constituency
00:24for the government's proposed stand-your-ground legislation, officially called the Home Invasion and Defense of Property Bill 2025.
00:33The MP for Shogonis East is the Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, Vandana Mohit.
00:39I cannot understate the fear, the frustration and trauma that so many of my constituents have endured over the years.
00:48Night after night, home invasions continue to plague communities, robbing families not just of their belongings, but of their peace of mind.
01:01And no area in this constituency has suffered more than Kunupia.
01:07In fact, Kunupia currently holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of home invasions recorded in recent times.
01:19Attorney at law Harry Kisun was part of the panel at the consultation, and he said that the structure where one lives is one's castle,
01:27as he said the bill has an expanded definition of the word home.
01:32Regardless of whether you permanently reside in that property or not, it is your residence.
01:39So, you are allowed to protect your home.
01:44Now, interestingly enough, the legislation also applies to movable residences.
01:50We don't really much use them in Trinidad, but motorhomes, and if you fancy a yacht.
01:55But, if those are your residences, you are allowed to defend them and yourselves.
02:03And Mr. Ramkisun spoke about the expanded definition of property under the bill.
02:09Your land around your property, right?
02:13This is what you use in addition to your dwelling home.
02:16This is where you might plant your trees, your crops.
02:19This is where your dogs may be.
02:20This is your curtilage around your home.
02:26Interestingly as well, that does not have to be clearly demarcated by a fence.
02:30It is what is adjacent to your home.
02:34However, the attorney at law sought to make certain things very clear about what is and what is not one's home or property under the bill.
02:43What is not covered and what we may need to consider is agricultural lands.
02:50Now, I know a lot of you will have these two-acre currently lands.
02:54You are not allowed to go and say that is your home and you are defending it.
02:58If they come to Tiefdi Zabuka in the two-acre land, leave them alone.
03:01Mr. Ramkisun also spoke about the difference between a home and a public space.
03:06So, that is important for the shopkeeper who has the door in the back and the staircase to go upstairs.
03:13He can defend his shop as he can defend his home.
03:16However, it is a little different if you have a parlor in front of your house that is not covered as part of your home.
03:23That is now considered as a separate building and that is a public space.
03:30And no, we are not allowed to use force in the public spaces.
03:34Existing legislation for self-defense in public spaces was not the focus of the consultation,
03:40which was about a bill regarding home invasions,
03:43which is set to be on the agenda of the parliament when it resumes after its July-August recess.
03:49Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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