The national conversation surrounding the proposed Stand Your Ground legislation continued on Tuesday evening, as Member of Parliament for Oropouche East, Dr. Roodal Moonilal, hosted a public consultation with his constituents.
Dr. Moonilal revealed that over 500 home invasions are reported annually to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, averaging more than one per day. He emphasised that legislative changes are on the horizon, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to restoring safety and security in communities nationwide.
“That means every single day that we live, a family in this country has suffered this heinous crime. They did nothing for ten years, nine and a half years, they did nothing. Today is our 94th day in office as a cabinet, as a government today, 94. In less than three months, because this was on the table way before, we have produced the draft legislation, the draft policy, and articulated it to the public.”
Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, noted that this proposed legislation is intended to give every citizen the opportunity to defend themselves. He explained that home invasions, for example, are not simply crimes of opportunity but rather a form of organised crime.
“It’s not what you think it is, just passing and jumping out of a car and running in a man’s house. No, they monitor, and they are prepared.”
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and veteran attorney-at-law, Darrell Allahar, clarified the legal boundaries of the proposed Stand Your Ground legislation. He stressed that the use of lethal force would only be justified if a person has a genuine and reasonable belief that they, or a family member, are in imminent danger of being killed, sexually assaulted, or seriously harmed.
“Again, it is not to open the floodgates for you to kill anybody that comes into your yard, not to kill the lady who comes to sell you magazines or the man who comes to sell you mangoes, because the law has safeguards. The law also has safeguards as well for law enforcement officers who you identify as law enforcement officers.”
Member of Parliament for Oropouche West, Dr. Lackram Bodoe, also held a public consultation on Stand Your Ground on Tuesday evening. Member of Parliament for Couva South, Barry Padarath, will hold his public consultation on Wednesday at 6pm.