Political scientist Dr Maukesh Basdeo says the decline in murders highlighted by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar represents measurable progress in the country’s fight against crime.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday noted that there were 118 fewer murders between January and July 2026 compared with the same period in 2024, the previous administration’s last full year in office. She credited the Government and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) with making progress under the State of Emergency.
In an interview with TTT News, Dr Basdeo said the figures show a decline in crime, while public perception will take time to reflect that progress.
“The data and what we call the perception, what we call the fear of crime, are two significant issues that are correlated and could be distinctive. One could be seen in the context of qualitative as against quantitative… it’s clear that the data is showing that there has been a decrease in the crime rate at different categories of crime.”
He said the decline in murders will have a positive psychological effect on communities, although he acknowledged that people’s sense of safety is influenced by what they see and hear around them.
“The context of the fear of crime is something that, psychologically, the community must develop on their own, and that can only believe in what they see and what they hear. So you may find in certain communities where there’s a decline in what we call murder rate, it can have a positive psychological effect.”
Dr Basdeo said crime statistics and public perception should both be considered when assessing the country’s progress in tackling crime.