Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, SC, having a word with other Members of the Government Bench. Photo: T&T Parliament
By Alicia Chamely
HARSHER penalties for intruders and more rights for homeowners are one step closer to being enacted into law as the Home Invasion (Self-Defence and Defence of Property) Bill 2025 is passed by the Lower House.
Despite objections from the Opposition, the bill was passed on shortly before midnight on Wednesday during a sitting of the Lower House at the Red House, Port of Spain. The bill will be taken to the Senate for debate, before it could be officially enacted into law.
Twenty-three Government members voted in favour, while 10 members of the People’s National Movement (PNM) voted against the bill.
Taking to X (formerly twitter) soon after the passing of the bill, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced, “Citizens, I am pleased to announce that moments ago the Home Invasion (Self-Defence and Defence of Property) Bill, 2025 was passed in the House of Representatives.”
Persad-Bissessar, who campaigned heavily on stricter home invasion laws and easier access to firearms for the protection of homeowners, stated, “This law puts the rights of law-abiding citizens first and sends a clear message: attacks on our homes will not be tolerated.”
She outlined the key provisions of the bill, which included $750,000 fine and 25 years’ imprisonment – to gang members, organised criminals or offenders acting in the presence of a child, senior, person with a disability or other vulnerable individual.
The bill also calls for a $500,000 fine and an imprisonment for 20 years for home intruders.
Provisions relating to self defence and the right to defend one’s property included the right refuse retreat and to exercise deadly force where there was genuine belief that it was necessary to prevent imminent death, grievous bodily harm, or grievous sexual assault.
Noting the Opposition’s lack of support, Persad-Bissessar stated, “Regrettably – though unsurprisingly – the Opposition voted against this critical legislation, once again failing to put the safety of our people first.”
During Wednesday’s debate, Opposition member Keith Scotland argued the Bill was “draconian” and could result in a higher number of murders in domestic disputes, land disputes and tenant/landlord conflicts.
He questioned when property began to equate to the value of life and stated the Bill could lead to the death of “innocents.”
Making his agruement against the Bill, Scotland said, “This bill must be rejected. It is to be rejected, Mr Speaker, because it is, in our view, draconian, it is disproportionate, it is dangerous, and most importantly, in the delicate balance that is Trinidad and Tobago, it is socially reckless.”
“We say it will not make homes safer. What will it do? It will encourage the use of lethal force in trivial situations. It will exacerbate domestic disputes,” he said, “It will undermine the public trust in law enforcement, and it will, most importantly, put vulnerable members and segments of this society at risk, including the elderly, children and, most importantly, persons with mental illnesses in Trinidad and Tobago.”
