The Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Bill 2026 has been passed unanimously in the House of Representatives.
The legislation, piloted by Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Sean Sobers, repeals and replaces existing law and provides for the collection, sharing and regulation of passenger data for people travelling to, from and through Trinidad and Tobago.
The bill, which also supports the CARICOM Advance Passenger Information System, was approved with 37 votes in favour and none against.
The government says the new legislation will strengthen border security while improving how passenger information is managed.
Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Sean Sobers says unlike previous efforts, this administration intends to ensure the system is fully implemented.
“A lot of what has been said on the other side speaks to whether or not we would be able to operationalize this piece of legislation. How would we intend to operationalise this legislation? What is the cost? What we’re gonna do there? What are we gonna do elsewhere? And it sounded to me as if I was listening to the UNC when we were in opposition and we were criticizing the then government on many of the pieces of legislation that they brought to the Parliament — they could never operationalize.”
Minister Sobers also pointed to past legislation that, he says, was never properly implemented.
“I was in the Senate for a period of time and we had the DNA regulations we were dealing with, and he also spoke then illustriously about the situation and said he had over a thousand kits — DNA kits — on the port, and as soon as this was passed those kits would be utilized. Years after, where are we today?”
He maintains that government is prepared to deliver on this measure and ensure it becomes operational.
“Under the UNC administration, trust me, we know how to operationalize legislation. We know how to make promises and to keep them, and this particular piece of legislation that we will pass — we intend to ensure that it is operational as soon as we get it passed.”
Minister Sobers added that the system will be implemented at no upfront cost to the government through a concessional model, aimed at strengthening national security without placing pressure on taxpayers.