Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram says farmers may soon begin receiving “periodic updates” on the status of their cases, an issue that has long frustrated victims who report crimes but receive little to no follow-up from police.
Speaking during the debate on the Victims’ Rights Bill, 2026, in the Senate, the Minister said the proposed legislation is intended to ensure that all victims, including farmers, are treated with dignity, compassion and respect.
He said farmers across Trinidad and Tobago have been suffering in silence for years, as praedial larceny continues to devastate livelihoods, erode confidence, and threaten national food security.
“This is one of the main reasons farmers have left the agricultural sector because after reporting a crime, there is no follow-up, no updates. Silence breeds frustration, silence breeds distrust. Victims deserve communication. They deserve transparency. They deserve to know that their case matters.”
He also assured that the Government is working to reduce incidents of praedial larceny, which costs the Caribbean an estimated US$321 million annually.
“When we entered into office, Mr. President, there was only one operational vehicle in the Praedial Larceny Squad. Today, there are nine. This Government, Mr. President, has moved to strengthen operational capacity, repair vehicles, acquire additional resources, and improve responsiveness.”
During his contribution, Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge said victims are often treated as nuisances when seeking updates from law enforcement.
“I was once seen as a nuisance when my car was stolen and they apprehended the chap, I think two days later. And I didn’t even know when the case was coming up for trial. You know what eventually happened? It was dismissed for non-attendance of the virtual complainant. That’s me.”
He urged the Opposition to support the legislation, noting that it introduces measures to hold officers accountable.
The Victims’ Rights Bill, 2026, aims to ensure victims are properly treated throughout the investigative process while improving access to the support services for their recovery.