Minister of Defence and Minister in the Ministry of Homeland Security Wayne Sturge is assuring law-abiding citizens they have nothing to fear under the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs).
Speaking during debate on the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill, 2026, in the Senate on Wednesday, he said the establishment of Zones of Special Operations is not designed to target ordinary citizens, but rather to dismantle criminal networks operating within communities.
“This is a targeted approach that is designed to go after those who the Act speaks quite clearly about, not the ordinary citizen. The ordinary citizen can go about his business unless there is reasonable suspicion.”
He explained that the Zones of Special Operations allow security forces to focus on known criminal elements while maintaining the rights of residents.
“It relies on the fact information from informants, it relies on intelligence, it relies on things perceived. So it’s not simply you are wearing your pants below your buttocks and I can see that you are wearing a Hanes underwear.”
Leader of Government Business Darrell Allahar said while he understands that Zones of Special Operations may cause some inconvenience for residents, the measures are necessary for the greater good.
“Yes, we are speaking about temporary inconvenience for persons in a community but Mr. President, there are places in this country where not even the Kiss van will dare go to deliver bread, or WASA, or T&TEC, or the cable. They have to use DIRECTV because nobody goes in there. Sometimes the police is wary to go inside of there. We have to retake our communities, Mr. President.”
Meanwhile, Independent Senator Dr. Marlene Attzs has shown her support for Zones of Special Operations, saying that the government should be given the opportunity to craft and implement policies it believes can restore order and address the crime scourge in the country.
She noted, however, the success of the policy depends heavily on proper execution.
“The success of this Bill will, to my mind, be dependent in part on how the power is exercised, how discretion is constrained, and how accountability and enforceability are enforced, as well as the issue of transparency.”
Dr. Attzs has suggested a whole-of-government approach, one that integrates education, youth development, social services, employment creation, and sustained community engagement.
“Given the fiscal constraints facing the economy, every dollar spent must work harder to deliver lasting value to the people of Trinidad and Tobago, not just in the short term. Sustained value for us over time. Security measures may suppress violence in the short term, as I mentioned, but without sustained social investment, they cannot produce the kind of and quality of enduring stability or long-term economic and social returns.”