Trinidad and Tobago Crime
Trinidad & Tobago now murder capital of the Caribbean
SPEYSIDE, Tobago — With a steady rise in violent crime including an alarming increase in homicides, Trinidad and Tobago has overtaken Jamaica as the “murder capital of the Caribbean”.
While homicides increased two percent in Jamaica in 2008, murders were up a staggering 38 percent in Trinidad and Tobago.
Although much of the violence is gang-related, in recent years tourists have increasingly become targets for robbery, sexual assault and murder.
In October 2008, a Swedish couple was chopped to death in their hotel room in Tobago.
Just 10 days later in Tobago, two British females were robbed and sexually assaulted by a bandit who forced his way into their holiday apartment.
Travel warnings
The US and the UK issued travel advisories warning travelers about increasing violence and the failure of police in Tobago to apprehend and prosecute criminals.
“You should be aware that there are high levels of violent crime, especially shootings and kidnappings,” states a travel advisory issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in October 2008. “British nationals have been victims of violent attacks, particularly in Tobago where law enforcement is weak.”
A US travel advisory issued about the same time warns travelers that armed robbers have been trailing tourists as they depart international airports in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Violent crimes, including assault, kidnapping for ransom, sexual assault and murder, have involved foreign residents and tourists (and) incidents have been reported involving armed robbers trailing arriving passengers from the airport and accosting them in remote areas…the perpetrators of many of these crimes have not been arrested.”
Highest crime rates
According to the Economist, the English-speaking Caribbean, which extends from the Bahamas in the north to Trinidad & Tobago in the south, averages 30 murders per 100,000 inhabitants per year, one of the highest rates in the world.
By comparison, the murder rate in both Canada and the UK is about two per 100,000.
With 550 homicides in 2008, Trinidad and Tobago has a rate of about 55 murders per 100,000 making it the most dangerous country in the Caribbean and one of the most dangerous in the world.
The rate of assaults, robbery, kidnapping and rape in Trinidad and Tobago is also among the highest in the world.
According to a report issued by the United States State Department, gang-related homicides and other crimes will continue to increase in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009 and 2010.
Comments
Where are all the Leaders and role models for the young male who are doing all these killing. Rather, than everyone wining on a worldwide blog, Maybe, positive and accomplished male figures should start lecturing to these young male about life in general and doing good. Maybe if these young men are aware of how they're being as monster while at the same time giving their county a bad image, then they're would understand. Plamt a positive seed while they're young and from the time they're a born through age 15. That is what will make a big difference and bring up decent young men, Slandering T&T is not the solution...The county needs another Eric William...
Well you are right about the indians, I would know being indian myself coming from the class system of their native India they bring with them that culture and instill in their children to hate. What an ignorant state of mind to live in, my mother case in-point. Indian my father half black and indian however, she's the biggest racist teachig her kids to hate the other half of them selves "self hatred". However, Jamican is not a race it's a nationality with many races calling them selves Jamicans.
This article is RUBBISH. How on earth did the author come up with the ludicrous statistics
trinid and tobago is an island one that i stayed not by choice but by incarsiration bu8t in my time there i saw read and heard things that opend my eyes to life even being in prison istill saw trinid and tobago that has good people with good hearts good wisdom and great believs life will happen but most of all life will go on i would like to belive that one day man no matter what colour what ever race will come together embrace and work together and make the world a better place.
To “Hypolite”: You spoke the truth so eloquently and with the perfect amount of biting sarcasm, it was gorgeous. What's more, it was factually based instead of biasly influenced...cudos.
I live in the US, and to be honest I look at how the [American] “culture" behaves towards other nations and it's absolutely nauseating. The Bible teaches ..."Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?...You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye"…
For those who can't put that in perspective, just consider for a second that all of the scoffing and belittling you do of other countries could be easily done even more so to our own beloved, corrupt United States. Don't consider yourselves superior because we're better at concealing our indecency. There’s a reason why other nations aren’t as enamoured by the United States as they were in say, 1995.
And if you wouldn't greet a Trinidadian, Tobagonian, Hatian, Jamaican, Bahamian, African or a tourist of any other race with a stupid, exaggerated smile and a Pina Colada at the airport, then you shouldn't go to any other country expecting that facade no matter how tall or white you are. Like "Hypolite" stated - save it for Hollywood and try a little cultural immersion instead.
No one here is denying that crime is a huge problem in TnT, and God willing one day soon the population will overcome its stigma of negativity.
But not kissing the asses of spoiled US tourists does't make the people villians. You want a big foreign smile? Take a Caribbean cruise instead, they smile a lot and carry your bags too.
I look at the goings-on in TnT and am so disheartened. The murders, crime, political corruption, police indifference...it's an ugly scar on the face of an otherwise beautiful, exciting, culturally rooted and proud country that will hopefully see a positive transformation in the near future. Having many friends and family from the islands, I know that as a community they're all tired of seeing their home constantly defaced by these criminals on the loose. Hopefully the voices of the people will rise above the clamour of lawlessness, and Trinidad and Tobago can revert back to being the once safe and peaceful, tropical haven it was only a decade ago.
It is good that everyone can contribute about the impact of crime on society especially (Trinidad and Tobago), however it is ironic that in all the pages of comments ther are very few contributions on solutions. People crime is not isoloated to one specific country. The effects of crime affects the life of every single person as long as your are living. So let us not just talk about the negativity let us offer suggestions that may perhaps impact positively to making a difference. It is not everybody can leave T&T or for that matter anywhere in the world that might be in the clutches of crime.So let us talk about the ills yes but offer solutions to make society a better place. Thank you I love to read your contributions.
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most lawless countries I have ever been to or have even lived in,my advice to people all over the world is to stay away from that island,criminals have no accountability to anyone due tok the fact that the criminal justice system is a joke as well as the police force.My advice to foreigners looking for a vacation to please stay away from Trinidad and Tobago or better known as the capital of crime.
Truth is that Jamaicans and Indians are the two most disliked of immigrants all around the world. One because of the violence the other because of the scams. Both are considered lazy, quick to take advantage of any liberal laws, especially immigration laws, Indians are among the most racist people in the world, but both merely export the values and slum culture to their new countries. Jamaican youth is considered to be no better than a violent, uneducated rabble that quickly finds its way onto the welfare roles then into prison, The Indians pretend a work ethic and usually with fake degrees get by for a generation or so, then follow the Jamaican example. To bad either of these nationalities were ever allowed to emigrate to Canada or the USA.
This is the prevailing belief in Trinidad and Tobago ... one of denial and flawlessness.
I came across the article where this American white male, as he describes himself, came to T&T on a 6 day vacation...now, I know that a few of our people can appear to be unfriendly especially when they don't know you but most are very respectful if you treat them respectfully...if you set up your face and appear to act superior to them, like anybody else of whatever race or colour...you may get the same and equal reaction in turn. IT IS A BIT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT MY PEOPLE ARE RUDE TO FOREIGNERS WHEN THE FOREIGNERS ARE KIND TO THEM....Sounds far fetched... I'm not saying that he didn't meet with some mean people but my T&T People are quite nice even more so to foreigners. I am sorry he had such a bad time but I have been to America and Canada and not everyone was nice, but that didn't cloud my judgement of your entire country.
Kayode Clarke of Hibiscus Ave, Edinburgh Gardens II, Chaguanas and #2 Billy Hammond Road, off Welcome Road,off Esmaralda Road, Cunupia and 48 Mendez Drive, Champs Fleurs and IBG Phonics, 25 Stanore Avenue, POS and Shannon Oudit of #75 Mary st, Sangre Grande, are robbing family, friends and business people tens of thousand of $$ by borrowing for false investments and schemes. Clarke is driving a new Range Rover PCL 14. The police charged Kayode Clarke for fraud, he is out on bail and it's business as usual. Kayode Clarke claims that the assistant commissioner Gilbert Reyes is his uncle so he is untouchable. Shannon claims that Inspector Travajo is his uncle so he has protection. If you are a victim of these two call the Grande police station and the fraud squad Tell your friends not to lend them money.See photos of these two on facebook. Be aware of these two bandits.
I do agree at 100% with you Hypolite! I am from Haiti but living in the UK after spending a good part of my life in France. In both countries they are several areas that I have to avoid because of the lack of insecurity.
I ever hardly hear or see anything about Haiti! The capital, Port au Prince, even had the title as the "world's kidnapping capital", when there are more people being kidnapped in Mexico, Brazil or Colombia than Haiti! When do all these villains come from? They have been deported from the US and Canada!
I have visited a lot of countries (US, Canada, Africa) and I never expected people to treat me like a queen just because I live in Europe. Conversely, I have met many people from developed countries who like to go to places like Africa, the Caribbean or South East Asia because they are idolized because of where they come from!
If only those people in Africa, Caribbean and Asia could realise that the politics of industrialised countries rest heavily on keeping them as deprived and poor as possible in order to satisfy their ego and pretending to do "humanitarian works" while fulfilling their greediness by stealing as much natural resources as possible from these "poor" countries, while pretending to help them! Don't we ever ask ourself why there are so many paedophile on the loose as well as sex tourists in countries such as Haiti, Thailand, Philippines, Egypt...?? They all come from industrialised countries and think they can do what they want! It is only a small fraction of the population, but they cause so much damage and do no care about the consequences that it is nerve wrecking!
Please explain to me why you would have on as a "feature article" the "Trinidad & Tobago now murder capital of the Caribbean" not once, but twice when that story is 9 months old? THAT IS SO MEAN!!!!!
Hello fellow Trini
It's nice to know that there is no place in Canada that's unsafe. I hope you get your residency papers. I hope you are not one of those who are doing like others did in the mid 80s and claimed refugee status.....
I read your comment, which I found interesting, as some things while true, others seem rather exaggerated. Anyway.....
Trinidad when I left it to live on a neighbouring island years ago was a safe place. My family and I would sleep with the doors unlocked up to around 1999 (I'm from Diego Martin). I have become unhappy to see what has become of it only 11 years later. But, I must tell you, unlike Grenada where I live now - Trinidad has never ever depended on tourism. Tobago maybe, but not Trinidad. Thus, I and many other Trinis don't feel the need to be overtly fake with grandiose expressions of kindness to every white, brown, black or yellow person who is a tourist. Just like when I visit NYC, Washington DC, Pennsylvania or Florida - no one is overly kind to me.
The Government and Opposition are crap, they're power hungry just like most other governments in the world today. Unfortunely, their grassroot supporters cannot tell that they are often the most ignored (I suspect it happens to grassroot supporters of the Republican and Democratic parties in the US too....esp in states like Kentucky and Louisiana etc.)
I agree with you about the high murder rate and it is due to a combination of the greed of drug barons and gangsters and actually alot of returnees which the US and British governments have sent back after serving their sentences, some of them can't even remember what Trinidad or Tobago looked like because they migrated so early on in life and find their way back to criminal life, as no one wants to hire them.
I find it very funny that you think that Trinidad or Tobago is so bad when the US, Italy, Mexico, Colombia, Nigeria and many countries in Eastern Europe have large "underground economies" and better organized crime than anywhere else.
Come on now, which country has a monopoly on instigating and profitng from murders, drug offenses, human traffiking, money laundering, war profiteering, exploiting natural resources....if you do some digging you may find that it's your own.
A problem may be your perspective on what you think tourism is supposed to be like. When I visit the US, I expect people to act like people...some will be friendly and other not so much..... There are also areas/neighbourhoods I would never go to for fear of endangering my life and others I would gladly visit. Basically, I don't expect Shangri-la....
I have found that many people and particularly white people have this strange concept that Caribbean people are supposed to be playing steelband, and serving them with a constant smile while they go to white sandy beaches and tan their lives away.....That, my friend, is Hollywood - not real life. But if I do find that place, I promise I will send you an email.
Regards
there are too many trini people who will not stand up and be counted....there are excuses for everything and more effort is put into constant liming and preparing for carnival than actually caring about the very real problems. It is short sighted to ignore the financial clout of tourists - but really who would want to be a tourist in this troubled land. Get a grip and make a difference
I am English, tall white guy (so I stand out), married to Trinidadian and visit the country once a year and even though the high murder rate I have never felt fear for own safety. My wife takes me around all parts of Trinidad visiting friends and family. The only sense I get from the high crime is what the locals tell you, and what is reported from the newspapers and tv news. Also everyone has window bars which underlines this fear people there have. So as long as act sensibly you should be safe and if you want to visit then visit. Dont use the fear of murders be the reason to visit such a beautiful country
Yes there is crime in Trinidad,more in some areas than others. I myself have been burgarlised at home and had some jewellery snatched off my hand in the capital city. I have now become more aware of my surroundings and do not stay out too late at nights. being white does not significantly increase the risk of getting mugged. That would depend on which areas you visit. I suggest that you make the trip. Between January and June the weather is hot, with the next 6 months having rain.
Dude ya white , all arawaks r dead from long time, u not even from d hood in tnt so stay in france if ya was a real trini ya wud not fraid 2 go home in da real tnt
I am a half chinese trinidadian with some east indian, spanish and greek blood and No trinis are not racist people. In fact I fine them to be some of the warmest most open people in the world. However I migrated to Canada so my family and I wouldnt alwys have to be afraid of being mugged or kidnapped. Trinidad is such a wonderful place with a rich culture but it is all meaningless to people if the government allows crime to get away like that. The ruling party has this thing about 2020 vision. Well that was the biggest joke of this century.Trinidad will always remain third world because of that very same crime that they ignore. Sometimes you really must question the competence of some of the people who vote in the same government over and over and yet they complain so frequently. I still love Trinidad though I was born and raised there so I still have passion for there. Carnival calypso and all is still great.
JESUS IS THE ANSWER TO THE WORLDS PROBLEMS!
Let the British to manage these islands again and after a year everything should come back to normal. Across Caribbean it is basically the same, corruption, crime etc. It simply means those nations are not fit to govern themselves. Maybe neocolonializm would change that????
To Gomes. I would suggest visiting St. Barths which to me remains the safest place in the world and still a small island with many charms.
I myeslf Trinidadian (Arawak/Caucasian in race), left the island definitely in 2000 as I felt and lived the progressing change there. I am from the upper class officially, but never allowed such a tag on myself till a 4 year old boy at a parlor shop one day, told me "go back where you come from" with his parents casually looking on and laughing. My friends in Trinidad of ALL the races have been touched in many direct cases of murder, assaults, kidnappings and knowing the growing mentality there... it will never change. Such a pity as the sister island had such a strong potential to being a top destination. I still have family there and drop-in a visit (my last in 2009 out of 3 since 2000), but I now reside in Italy, France and Switzerland (where I also have my other half origins) and no matter how beautiful the island is and all the statistics that come out on crime, the talks about change... some are lucky to get away safely and see the island for what it was. I will return only with private protection and knowing my short trip will be a risk and spent locked behind 4 steady walls. My great grandmother... a true Trinidadian by historical origin, without an ounce of racism in her blood, always said: "Trinidad, be it white, black or red as the flag, is full of monkeys". Now at 30 years of age, I understand her so well. The Trinidadian is a follower and there is not one leader that is wiser than all the hypocracies on that narrow-minded island. Be safe.
I'm born an raised in Denmark (Europe), but my Father was a Trini. I have always wanted to visit Trinidad to get to know more about my roots, and after my Father passed away a few years back my desire to go to T&T has increased. My wife and I actually started planning the trip, but when reading stories/comments about crime as those given here, I'm really starting to change my mind. I really wouldn't want to stay there if I will feel as James Hughes explained in his comment. Both my wife and I are white, which I assume increases the risk of getting mugged significantly. If it wasn't because I'm half-Trini I would definitely find somewhere else to travel to and not take any chances. The question for me is if it's worth it to go there. One thing is to risk my own safety, but I do not want put my wife in any danerous situations. So I have to make up my mind: should I take the chance together with my wife, go there alone, or wait for better times in T&T.
Rotiboy, this crap is true. I am a Trini, living overseas and scared to come home. I used to come back 4 times a year. My children don't want to come back, my wife is white and thet call her honkey. The whites you talk about live well off have body guards in gated communities, pay bribes to secure police help and protection. Rotiboy dont give ME that crap you spewing, the author of that letter is saying things we all want to say. So go back to leepaying your house with gobar and stick yr head in the sand,
So keep yuh damn white ass where you is...Trinidad has and never been and never will cater to tourists, so deal with it...It is still one of the most beautiful places on earth and some not all people there are corrupt....you people expect us so called "third world" countries to kiss your ass when you come visit...well Trinidad is far from a Third World country and hosting and showing to the world 2 world Summits there this year is proof alone! Trinidad is not a racist country as there are several white trinidadians born and raised there hundreds of years...Please get your facts correct before you post such crap! Yes we have our crime and political problems like most countries but we are dealing with it...next time you want to visit an island for natives to kiss your ass visit some place like Anguilla and pay thousands of dollars more for nothing!
Dana, you have made the most sensible comment that I have ever read on a blog about the crime in Trinidad. I agree with you 125%....the comment about Jamaicans being vocal about their 'spiralling' crime rate will never happen in Trinidad becase Trinis are serious about nothing except limin' and partying....I doh care who get vex at dat comment! Trinis will just talk about it in blogs and in online responses to The Express newspaper etc. Most Trinis abroad, when you speak to them about crime, the first thing they do is compare it to other countries (ie Jamaica)....as if that's justification. I'm a Trini who has lived in London, California, NY, Washington DC (I can go on) and has travelled across the globe...I'm not saying this to boast but when I come across Trinis in London, they're so flippin homesick that they build this 'utopia' picture in their mind that Trinidad is paradise and can do no wrong, that for some reason they always point the finger at Jamaica for crime in the Caribbean. The points you made Dana about the health system in Trinidad failing and Trinidad's GDP are so true..I'm sure most of the people blogging on this page don't even know the details about either issue.
Actually while this is true, New york seems to have less but in trinidad's statistics it includes man slughter and murder into one toll, while in America (new york) IT DOESNT it only counts murder thus meaning that new york has a significantly more killings than trinidad i suggest you multiply 530 by 2.5-3. It's something many dont reconize. so trinidad has 550 murders and man slughters while NY has 530 murders and probally 600 manslughters. Trinidad doesnt have a murdertoll in their papers they callit a death toll, and when someoneis a vitim of man slughter they are counted into this toll,so i think trinidad's murder toll is about 200-250 less.
Well well well, if you all believe everything this person has to say a about Trinidad well good for you. Since when is POS a cess pool. Look unfortunately I read this article and found that it is a bunch of crap. I guess he didn't get what he truly went the for. People will say anything to be heard without having real facts. I live abroad and visit Trinidad regular, I never felt unconfortable nor threatened. Why don't you report on the great USA, where people have to fend for there lives from guns slingers to child molesters to fraud, corruptionn etc. So if you have something to say despite what you truly went there for keep quiet. The country can do without people like you. Also, I guess you never noticed that Trinidad have white people too, they may be a bit more tanned than you but they live and work in Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad has 1.5 Million people, NYC just under 9 Million yet in 2008 NY had 518 murders...Trinidad over 550.
http://projects.nytimes.com/crime/homicides/map?ref=nyregion
Regardless of insiginificant comparisons between, Trinidad, Jamaica, Haiti... We have a very serious national and regional problem.
The only sad statistic that is the same is it's young black males that are killing young black males in most of the cases (all 3 countries and NYC)
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