TRINIDAD-SECURITY-US defends advisory issued on Trinidad and Tobago

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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad– The United States Sunday sought to defend its decision to issue a travel advisory against Trinidad and Tobago earlier this month, after Port of Spain said it had been taken aback by the advisory that urged Americans to stay away from the capital given that violence and shootings occur regularly.

In a statement, the U.S. Embassy here said that the travel advisory was updated on October 5 “due to a change in health restrictions for COVID-19,” adding that “the security and safety aspects of the advisory did not change.

“Travel Advisories do not target specific countries. Each country is assigned an overall Travel Advisory Level from 1-4.  The Department’s Travel Advisory levels are based on established risk indicators such as health, crime, terrorism, kidnapping or hostage taking, civil unrest, natural disasters, and other potential risks,” the Embassy said.

“Each country’s level is based on an assessment of domestic conditions that might affect the welfare or safety of U.S. citizens,” it added.

While Washington maintained a Level 2 for Trinidad and Tobago, it issued a Level 4 advisory for Port of Spain that advises U.S. citizens not to travel there.

Further, it said U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to several areas, including all beaches, said “violent crime, such as murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion, and kidnapping, is common” and that “gang activity, such as narcotics trafficking, is every day. A significant portion of violent crime is gang-related.

“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.”

But National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said Trinidad and Tobago had not had any significant terrorist activity “for many years, perhaps not since 1990.

“We have had a little bombing about the place. Unfortunately, someone lost a leg…and we haven’t had that experience, and thank God, I was a little bit taken aback,” Hinds said, adding that the government continues to work alongside the United States and other friendly governments in dealing with crime and that terrorism is not unique to Trinidad and Tobago.

“We continue to do our work, we continue to collaborate with our friends, the United States of America and other international partners and other international agencies, and it is a work in progress…

“But yes, I was a little bit taken aback by this major focus on terrorism bearing in mind that terrorism is an opportunist activity and wherever they get an opportunity to do something, they do it anywhere in the world, and in that sense, Trinidad and Tobago is not as vulnerable as every other country anywhere in this world,” Hinds added.

The U.S. Embassy insisted that advisories are updated when a change in any part of the advisory occurs or when the advisory is lowered.

“The Department of State has no greater responsibility than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas.  We are committed to providing U.S. citizens with the most up-to-date, fact-based, accurate, and transparent information to keep U.S. citizens informed when they are abroad,” the Embassy added.

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