“Only those of the criminal class should fear the Special Operations Bill.”
That’s according to Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge, who sought to address concerns surrounding the proposed legislation during debate on the Special Operations Bill, 2026, in Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives.
“What we are doing is we are looking to target a minority of people who are causing mayhem.”
Minister Sturge said the legislation will give law enforcement greater leverage to target gangs and tackle violent crime within designated closed areas, while maintaining that the measures will protect the rights of law-abiding residents.
“So we, we are going into the community, we are not ceding authority to the bandit. We are going into the community to ensure that the shopkeeper is able to make his sales and his profits without having to pay tax to the bandit.”
Minister Sturge also noted that officers operating within designated districts will be held accountable for misconduct, with disciplinary action mandated under the legislation.
He said the measures are intended to ensure compliance, with officers required to undergo training in human rights and the appropriate use of force.
“So what the Bill does is to ensure that we choose specialist officers who have specialist training and experience so that they can de-escalate, so that they can properly communicate with the community, so that they are trained in the use of force so that there is no indiscriminate shootings and so on. They know when to shoot, if to shoot.”
As the Government moves to strengthen its response to serious and gang-related crimes, Minister Sturge maintains that the Bill strikes a balance between empowering law enforcement, protecting law-abiding residents and bringing those involved in criminal activity to justice.