By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE crime rate in Trinidad and Tobago has been compared to that of Washington, DC, by US Vice President JD Vance.

Vance made the comparison on Wednesday, saying the US capital crime rate was worse than Trinidad and Tobago.

He said, “DC, a week ago, had a higher murder rate than Trinidad and Tobago which the US State Department has said ‘you shouldn’t visit because it is unsafe.’”

Vance made the statements while defending President Donald Trump’s security measures as he greeted National Guard troops at Union Station alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

However, Vance was not very welcomed by protestors who booed at him, saying they want the military out of their streets. He thanked the military, police and other security forces “for actually keeping this place safe.”

The visit comes just nine days after the Trump administration enforced a federal intervention to address crime in the nation’s capital.

Vance said in the past nine days, there was a 35 per cent reduction in violent crime and an over 50% reduction in robberies.

Speaking above the protestors, Vance called them  “a bunch of crazy protestors” and American citizens should able to enjoy their cities with their families.

“We made a lot of progress in the past nine days and we are going to make a whole lot more,” he said.

The US State Department travel advisory on Trinidad and Tobago states, “Reconsider travel to Trinidad and Tobago due to serious risks from crime. There are also heightened risks of terrorism and kidnapping. Violent crime is common in Trinidad and Tobago. It includes: murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion and kidnapping.

The advisory was issued on May 7 and was updated to reflect the end of the State of Emergency issued by the previous administration and has not been updated since.

Trinidad and Tobago is under a second SoE this year which came into effect on July 18 and further extended for a period of three months.