Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro is defending the decision to place the Maloney Housing Development under a ‘closed area’ on Tuesday night, insisting that the measure was necessary in response to intelligence indicating escalating gang violence and an increasing threat to innocent residents.
The declaration, made under the Special Operations (Closed Area) Order, 2026, imposes a curfew from 9pm to 5am, making Maloney the first community in Trinidad and Tobago to be placed under the Order’s provisions.
At a Media Conference on Wednesday, Commissioner Guevarro said police officers and Defence Force personnel have since been deployed to the community.
“I took the necessary steps to invoke provisions of the Special Operations Act, 2026. The President subsequently exercised her authority under Section 11.1 of the Act and declared the Maloney Buildings Housing Development, located within the Policing District 2, as a closed area.”
He said the decision was based on intelligence indicating a heightened risk of further violence, particularly to innocent residents.
“Most concerning to me was the fact that innocent citizens were being caught in the crossfire. The video which circulated nationally and internationally was not merely a recording of a criminal act. It was a visual representation of ordinary citizens, law-abiding citizens being terrorised. It showed women running for cover, showed little children fleeing in panic, and it showed a community being held hostage by criminality.”
Commissioner Guevarro said residents requiring access to or from the community during curfew hours can seek assistance through the micro police units.
“The simplest method utilised is walk in to the micro police unit and apply for a permit. They will be able to issue you the permit. The other is if you are going to visit, our police officers have something they call discretion that we utilise. Even though last night a curfew was in effect, it didn’t mean to say we stop people from entering their homes, you know. We spoke to the members of the public as they were entering the community, we let them know what was going on.”
A Gazette notice is expected to outline the categories of persons exempted from the restrictions.
The Police Commissioner also defended the operation, arguing that the focus should remain on addressing the violence that prompted the intervention, rather than criticising the measures taken to combat it.
He maintained that protecting residents from criminal activity remains the priority and insisted that the decision was based on intelligence and evidence, and that the legal requirements for invoking the Act were satisfied.
“As long as I hold the office of Commissioner of Police, I will utilise every lawful power and every lawful authority and every lawful tool available to me to protect the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. The Special Operations Act was enacted to be used when circumstances demand it, and the circumstances demanded it. The law was followed, the evidence was considered, the intelligence was assessed, and the threshold prescribed by the Parliament was met.”
The Commissioner did not disclose how long the operation will continue or what further measures may be taken.
He said operational details will remain confidential but indicated that the legislation could be used again if similar threats emerge elsewhere.
“If people behave themselves, that is one piece of legislation I had in my toolkit that I wish I didn’t have to use. Honestly, I wish I didn’t have to use it, but just know that I am prepared to use it.”