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
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)
If Trinidad and Tobago is so bad,why did you spend your money to visit.
Wow! What hate and venom some people can spew in their comments.
The reported crime rate in T & T is a fact, not fiction. And I have heard that many crimes go unreported, because people are either afraid of retaliation or that the police would do nothing.
I have been a regular visitor to both islands - Trinidad and Tobago for the past 20 years. I have good friends and some relatives there and I travel around the both islands extensively.
I Love the country, the people, the food and the music.
But I have noticed that any time a certain political party is in power, there is a marked increase in corruption and crime, not to mention the racial tensions.
One wonders if there is some hidden agenda on the part of those who rule.
Still, I would take my chances and continue to visit, while taking all the necessary precautions.
some of u are arguing whether or not trinidad is the murder capital of the caribbean or not. who cares?!?! the point is that the crime rate is escalating and the government is doing little to help the situation. but i say that certain ppl shud not complain abt the state we are in, becuz who put the present party in charge? trinidad has become dangerous, and altho the area i live in has not yet been tainted quite as much as others, my family and i and others in the area live in fear. things get worse and worse everyday, and the ppl in charge have the gall to say everything under control and that they are doing their best. if they cant take the pressure, request outside help then!
I'm a born Trini now living in the States for 32 years. When I read about the crime and poverty in Trinidad and Tobago I wonder what progress has been made. I think it's partly due to the corrupt Government and Police that neglect to stop or control the situation. What was once a Paradise is now a third world hide out for gangs and drug lords. How sad.
i am a trini...--in the process of applications for permanent residence in ca....i dont't dislike my country..it just became to scary to enjoy a little nature outing /party/or even a beach outing...some times depending on where you live or overnight..."you afraid to fall asleep"..'you not safe...you'r car not safe...u have to make many trips to the grocery..so it won't look like you spending $$$ big time...your neighbout might be a bandit..who will tell his bandit pardner...you look like you have some $$..next thing ...you get hold up...sad..sad..i really hope my immigration officer if they visited tnt...had a reasonable good time...or else ..i'm gonna have a hard fight for my papers...i woul'd like to know ..how many like me are out here.i love canada..and i woul'd like to stay here...i left because i felt unsafe...my feelings have not changed....
I visted Trinidad in May 2009. I didn't feel threatened at all. In fact on the way to Toco I stopped off at a bar and drank with the locals. Strangers. I was with my girlfriend. An American. I'm a Brit. She is white. I'm brown. We took everything in stride knowing the country had a large poor and rich population.
We travelled all over the north. We rented a car because we didn't want to be dependant on public transportation in the evenings.
I would say that Trinidad was one of the best places I've visited and I've been to a few countries.
Greg you are right. I'm often amazed that when it comes to crime, comparisons are strife. This article is about the crime rate in Trinidad yet Trinis feel the need to make comparisons to other C'bean countries. Perhaps it's their way of being able to cognitively deal with the situation. A discussion on exact figures is just semantics as international reports about the crime situation are rampant with travel warnings being given to tourists from the UK, USA, EU and Canada against travelling to Trinbago. That's FACT!!! The shocking thing about Trinbago's crime rate is that unlike Jamaica and Haiti, Trinidad has one of the highest GDPs in the Caribbean. A fact that Trinis are proud of and do not hesitate to disclose. This makes the crime rate even more disgraceful and saddening as there are more accessible resources. I think what's particularly curious about this discussion board is that when the crime rate in Jamaica was spiralling, Jamaicans were vocal about Jamaican issues. Their rights as citizens to liberty, justice and to live safely.But maybe that's because Trinidad does not represent the benchmark by which Jamaicans establish standards for any aspect of their lives. Perhaps that should form the focus of the discussion for Trinis rather than pointing fingers at Jamaica and Haiti. I think it's in incredible poor taste of Trinis on this discussion board to identify the civil unrest in Haiti as a point of justification for their social ills....it's analogous to laughing at the disabled and certainly indicative of ignorance and misinformation. Neither Jamaica nor Haiti has the GDP that Trinidad has....Neither has the power of oil reserves.... thereby rendering comparisons moot. A classic case of focusing on the yampee in others' eyes rather than working on removing your own. I travel across the Caribbean alot and I must say, Trinidad is in a very bad state, socially, politically and let's not even discuss the health system. The governance of Trinbago is now under international microscope with the very public collapse of the integrity commission, appointment of the attorney general and the whole CLICO mess. T &T is definitely one of the most unfriendly and most divided countries in the C'bean despite Trinis professing themselves to be a cohesion of races and classes. There is a massive divide between the rich and the poor and black Trinis are still marginalised while Lebanese, Syrian and White Trinis have the rule of the land. But as long as Trinis keep walking around with their noses in the air believing they are the gems of the C'bean without acknowledging what is really happening, these social problems will continue. Pretending that everything is perfect and T & T is paradise will not help to address the issues affecting the nation.
Looks like the warning to tourists should have been heeded...sad..
http://www.i955fm.com/News.aspx?id=7505
Police Say Machetes May Have Been Used In The Brutal Attack On A British Couple In Tobago....
August 3rd 2009.
8:05am
Machetes may have been used in the attack on British Nationals Peter and Marion Greene.
They were chopped during an attack at their Tobago home last Saturday afternoon.
The Greene’s remain warded at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.
News center five understands Mr. Green remains in a serious condition while his wife is listed as satisfactory.
They both had emergency surgery at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, after they were flown to Trinidad on Saturday.
Investigators say the Green’s were chopped several times.
The woman was seen outside the house by a passer-by at around two o’clock.
She was bleeding and pleaded for help.
Scarborough police were alerted and responded.
Sixty-five year old Mr. Greene was found inside the house with wounds to his face and head.
Police have made no arrests yet.
A statement from the Police Service says Acting Commissioner of Police Gilbert Reyes is being supported by the special anti-crime unit and crime scene investigators who have returned to the scene.
Police say at this time details of the attack have not yet been made available.
Police wants anyone with information pertaining to the incident to call 639-2515 or 639-1200.
Meanwhile, the National Security Ministry has reassured the British High Commission that the police are doing everything possible to find the attackers.
Government is said to be treating the incident seriously.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs, National Security, Tourism and Health are all said to be involved in the situation.
There is an assurance that all agencies within the Ministry of National Security will be used to track down the offenders.
In reply to Jerome's comment. Look bro you have agreed with James experience of Trinidad when you said why T'dad has become "bad" it is because the government don't give a sh.. Well, then why be so defensive when people report about it. Yes it's hard to hear, but it is the truth. I am a Trini living abroad, and I must say I am quite afraid to visit my birth country and this is very sad. I certainly wish locals would try to improve the country, it takes one to start. I picked YOU (..) Good luck.
look trinidad use to be a nice to place to live it still is you just need to know where to go look at the other countries in the caribbean puerto rico the reason there good is because there part of america if something happends obama is on the next plane us countrys like jamaica trinidad and haiti there is a reason why we are bad our gov don't give a shit.
so tell that white shut to stay his ass in america if he gonna say shit like that because usa is loseing lots of people
I've recently returned from a week-long 'vacation' in Trinidad and Tobago. I place the 'vacation' in quotation marks because it was anything but. After 6 days of travelling, I felt lucky to escape with my life and limbs intact.
I am American (white male), and felt completely unsafe travelling anywhere while in Trinidad and Tobago, where normally I am confident that I can avoid dangerous situations, places, and people. I traveled to try and see some of the world's most amazing beaches, diving, and natural rainforest beauty, birds and wildlife, but found that T&T is violent, dangerous, and simply NOT a place ANY tourist should ever consider visiting in the near future, especially white tourists. It was the most unfriendly and subtlety racist country I have ever visited - there were no smiles, I had MULTIPLE well-meaning residents warn me to take special care. You think Trinis and Trinbogians would want more tourists! I saw very few tourists (who dared venturing outside the resort gates) even when I was in Crown Point and other supposedly high-tourist areas of Tobago. Port of Spain should be avoided at all costs. It's a nightmare and cess-pool to visit. I know what I'm talking about as I spent a week travelling in Trinidad and Tobago. I quickly came to realize that travelling by Maxi Taxi was best avoided, as was going anywhere at night. The police, especially on Tobago, seemed to be for show. "Sunday School" was a joke - I left early as it seemed like an invitation to robbery and murder of anyone who looks like a tourist. Flimsy doors, locks, and security, etc. Pigeon Point, the premiere beach, was basically deserted. I could go on and on. It really is very, very bad, and I advise anyone not a native Trinidian or Tobagian, and especially white people not to travel there. It's not fun. Everyone, including locals, seems afraid and wary, looking over their shoulders. It's overpriced (even though relatively affordable) for what you get. It's too bad. Amazing coral reefs and other things, and then nothing seems to be done about protecting a vital industry - tourism. I heard locals, when after having a few beers, really tell you what it's like - the police don't solve crime, the government is probably involved in some way. I view Trinidad and Tobago as an emerging dictatorship that is being quite obviously corrupted by massive drug trafficking. One look at the prime minister's official portrait at Piarco/POS intl airport in his dark-shaded sunglasses and you know you might have stepped into the realm of the tin-pot banana republic. It's unfortunate, as I met many many T&T's who were fairly kind, given the circumstances, but on the whole, when traveling outside, people were quite unfriendly. Tourists getting raped and murdered by being chopped up by machetes in a country as small as this with as many natural and economic resources really does tell you something. Until T&T wakes up and corrects the situation it will get inevitably worse, as word like this spreads, and the few remaining (white) tourists who come from Germany, Canada, Holland, etc. (outside T&T) will stop coming because they are targeted. It's an unfortunate fact, but true. The earlier comment about the rich v. poor divide is also true, as a cause of the crime. Sure, there are nice new buses, good cell phone service, and other things, but you also have very expensive food (a meal at KFC, an American franchise, costs around $38TT (about $6.50US), but wages I saw for, say, an armed security guard pay only $16-18TT/hour. That means one has to work over two hours to buy one meal). Food in regular supermarkets (like Penny Saver) is relatively expensive for locals. Sure, one can buy doubles and roti on the corner for $3TT, but a country where food is expensive will undoubtedly have trouble with crime.)
The tourism industry is crumbling as I speak. After returning to Miami and going to South Beach, friendly, safe, and beautiful, I nearly kissed the ground. If you like adventure , travel with 24hour armed security, and live off-shore on your own secured yacht, sure, go, but otherwise...don't. Sorry, beautiful country, but unsafe at the moment.
Dee watch your ignorant mouth with the "coolies" comment!!! Go back to wherever you're from and stop spouting hate.
Proud Trini, and Proud Dougla!!!
I am from jamaica but i worked in trinidad with ericsson for a while and now i am living in haiti for over a year now and except for the 2004 crisis , Haiti is not that bad of a country.In these countries the majority of the ppl living there are decent people and the crimes are mostly limited to certaiin areas.We tend to listen and beleive the media too much and not find out for ourselves what the real issue is. The biggest problem in these countries to me is that people are building walls instead of bridges,creating a state of isolation and neglect.
Marco - Haiti's murder rate isn't reliable, the country has a travel warning and every security expert will tell you it's the most dangerous place in the Caribbean. Some countres' 'murder rates' just can't be taken seriously.
This is funny and a little bit weeeiiirrrddd at the same time. Why are people so unhappy?? What's the problem? I'm not a Trini as I've stated. I would also expect praise for my comments! It's interesting how most of you are so disappointed their country isn't the Caribbeans murder capital. I can only conclude that you're proud of your murder rate and gutted I've just rumbled the article! I've had similarly strange experiences with Jamaicans and South Africans. The report was wrong, it needed to be corrected hence the comparisons with other countries. Do you 'get it'? Read it and weep my proud Trini's!
Post new comment