00:00Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says he welcomes, quote,
00:04the continued reduction in homicides across Trinidad and Tobago
00:07as efforts to strengthen national security and restore public confidence continue, end quote.
00:14And the security minister said in a statement on social media that, quote,
00:17according to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the TTPS,
00:21homicides have declined from 542 in 2024 to 292 in 2026,
00:28representing a 46.1 reduction and 250 fewer murders, end quote.
00:36The UN Select government has declared progress in the state's war on crime,
00:39in particular murders, since it defeated the PNM in the general election on April 28, 2025.
00:46Minister Alexander's statement about the TTPS data on Tuesday
00:50follows comments made by opposition leader Penelope Beckles
00:53during a media conference last week
00:55as she made reference to the killings at the Coover Beauty Spa
00:58and Salon of its owner and one of the spa's clients last month.
01:02The issue of Kavita Dewseran and Cheryl Dickson
01:06follows on the heels of the Minister of Homeland Security,
01:11the Minister of Defence, as well as the Prime Minister,
01:15boasting about the reduction of crime.
01:18Now, when you boast about the reduction of crime,
01:21the people of Trinidad and Tobago do not forget
01:24that for the majority of the period that you have been in government,
01:29it was under a state of emergency.
01:31The state of emergency that began in March of this year
01:34and ended in September of this year
01:36gave broader powers to the police and the military.
01:38However, the SOE did not contain a curfew
01:41and allowed for public gatherings,
01:43but near the end of it,
01:44new distance limits were established for protests
01:47near several state facilities.
01:49And under the state of emergency,
01:51as we know,
01:52hundreds of persons were arrested,
01:54most of them not charged.
01:56Then you have the detention order,
01:59where at the end of the state of emergency,
02:02almost everybody was released and not charged.
02:04The people of Trinidad and Tobago,
02:06I want to say to you,
02:08please, do not forget this.
02:10Because when they come and boast
02:12and give you the impression that they have done so well,
02:15that is the total opposite.
02:16The government has maintained that the SOE was a success
02:19and led to progress in the state's war on crime.
02:22Minister Alexander's statement on Tuesday
02:24was accompanied by a breakdown of the statistics
02:27by the police service
02:28that states in 2024,
02:30there were 542 murders,
02:32In 2025, there were 322 murders,
02:36and from January 1st to November 10th, 2026,
02:40there had been 292 murders.
02:43The TTPS data states that 2026 is 9% lower than 2025.
02:50Minister Alexander said he remains committed
02:52to supporting stronger law enforcement,
02:54improving public safety,
02:56and ensuring that every citizen can live in a safer
02:58and more secure Trinidad and Tobago,
03:00and added that the work continues.
03:03The TTPS data shared by the Homeland Security Minister
03:06was also shared by other members of Cabinet on social media,
03:10including Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath,
03:13Energy Minister Dr. Rudal Munilal,
03:15and Rural Development and Local Government Minister
03:17Khadija Amin.
03:19Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
03:21The TTPS data accounts for the
