Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar with US Chargé d’Affaires Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz, Deputy Chief of Mission Charles Fanta III and other officials at her home in Palmiste on Saturday.
By Prior Beharry
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is assuring citizens that her Government is “working quietly, steadily, and decisively” to keep Trinidad and Tobago safe following a US Embassy security alert over the Divali holiday.
The alert, issued Saturday, advised Americans to avoid US government facilities in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend. In its wake, acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin and Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander confirmed the country is under a heightened security alert, urging citizens to remain calm as precautionary measures are in place.
On Saturday, Persad-Bissessar hosted US Chargé d’Affaires Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz at her home, along with Deputy Chief of Mission Charles Fanta III and a US Navy officer. The gathering included a shared meal and the ceremonial lighting of deyas in observance of Divali.
In a Divali message posted on social media Monday, the Prime Minister drew on the festival’s symbolism of light over darkness and good over evil, calling on the nation to “stand together against crime, fear, and injustice.”
“I understand that there may be feelings of anxiety at this time,” she said. “My Government and I have been working quietly, steadily, and decisively through every available channel to keep you safe.”
Addressing the ongoing rise in violent crime, she said gangs, illegal firearms, and human trafficking have left “law-abiding families and communities” living in fear. “Our goal is clear — to reduce the number of victims and ease the heartbreak that too many families and communities endure each day,” she added.
Persad-Bissessar linked security efforts to broader social measures, highlighting unemployment as a driver of instability. She announced that more than 20,000 jobs would be made available through a national recruitment programme intended to provide employment, skills training, and “pathways to financial independence.”
“By empowering our people with work and dignity, we attack the root causes of crime and strengthen the very foundation of our nation’s security and prosperity,” she said.
The Prime Minister closed with a call for unity and resilience: “Thank you for your strength, patience, and calm as we navigate all challenging times together… Let us choose goodness, courage, and unity to make our nation safe for all. Shubh Divali!”
