Crisis, Caution, and Course Correction: Can Trinidad and Tobago Stay on Track for Vision 2030?

As Trinidad and Tobago enters the final stretch before its national development strategy—Vision 2030—is due to mature, the newly elected Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration finds itself at a pivotal governance crossroads. This week’s unfolding events have reignited long-standing concerns around diplomacy, youth violence, human trafficking, and institutional preparedness. Each issue—while distinct—demands to be examined through the lens of sustainable development, rights-based governance, and public accountability.

Staging2030 offers a platform to assess how well the nation’s current trajectory aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the commitments outlined in Trinidad and Tobago’s own Vision 2030 framework. The task ahead is not merely about managing crises—but navigating them with clarity, courage, and consequence.

Diplomatic Tensions and Regional Standing

This week, diplomatic tensions between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela surged following Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s firm statement that “TT is off-limits to Venezuela.” The remark was a direct response to Venezuelan allegations that Trinidadian nationals had entered their territory for destabilisation activities.

In a strongly worded communiqué, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela described the Prime Minister’s response as “irate and unjustified,” asserting that captured individuals of Trinidadian origin had confessed to the activities in question. The communiqué went further, suggesting her language raised “serious suspicions of complicity” and constituted a setback for bilateral relations.

This incident threatens to undermine SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and Vision 2030’s international engagement pillar. As migration, energy diplomacy, and cross-border crime increasingly shape regional dynamics, Trinidad and Tobago must adopt a clear, calm, and strategic foreign policy—one that reinforces its credibility, sovereignty, and cooperative posture within CARICOM and beyond.

🔎 Next Steps: Immediate efforts are needed to restore diplomatic dialogue, potentially via CARICOM mediation. The country must also develop a modern foreign policy doctrine capable of balancing national interest with regional stability.

School Violence and the Fragility of the Social Contract

In Port of Spain, the brutal beating of a student on school grounds led the Prime Minister to announce a zero-tolerance policy, declaring that students involved could face expulsion, criminal charges, and possible enrollment in the Military-Led Academic Training (MiLAT) Programme.

However, there are significant problems with this approach—both in principle and in practice.

MiLAT: An Uncertain Solution

MiLAT is currently facing deep operational challenges. This year, activities were suspended due to shortages of food and supplies, forcing hundreds of trainees to be sent home. Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Phillip Watts, who oversees the programme, has publicly admitted that he is uncertain about MiLAT’s future, pending a full review and Cabinet decision. Despite this, it was invoked by the Prime Minister as a rehabilitative pathway for violent students.

A Critique of the Response

The government’s choice of words—“arrestable offence,” “expulsion,” “send them to MiLAT”—reflects a punitive orientation. While public frustration with school violence is valid, such rhetoric criminalises children, undermines SDG 4 (Quality Education), and conflicts with international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Expulsion, particularly when applied without structured reintegration or support, risks pushing students further into marginalisation. MiLAT, under its current conditions, does not constitute a credible or safe alternative.

🔎 Next Steps: The government must invest in restorative justice, school counsellors, trauma-informed teacher training, and community-based prevention programmes. Strong leadership is not measured by punishment—but by protection, reform, and foresight.

Human Trafficking and Border Security

In a separate operation, authorities dismantled a human trafficking ring in Tunapuna, rescuing women and minors, most of whom were Venezuelan nationals. While commendable, the incident exposes ongoing vulnerabilities in border security and migration governance.

Trafficking violates multiple SDGs, including:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

• SDG 8: Decent Work

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequality

Trinidad and Tobago’s development ambitions cannot be realised if vulnerable populations are left to the shadows of illegality and exploitation. Trafficking must be seen not only as a criminal offence but as a development failure—demanding inter-agency coordination, survivor care frameworks, and consistent regional diplomacy.

🔎 Next Steps: Strengthen anti-trafficking legislation, empower survivor support organisations, and develop humane migration strategies through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Strategic Shifts Required: 2025–2030

The events of this week, while alarming, offer an opportunity to recalibrate national governance. The country has five years left to deliver on its promises. To stay the course, strategic shifts are needed:

For the Government:

• Create a Vision 2030 Delivery Unit to track progress publicly and quarterly.

• Modernise the public service and adopt a systems-thinking approach to education, justice, and foreign affairs.

• Commit to data-driven policies with measurable outcomes.

For the Opposition:

• Evolve from critique to constructive alternatives.

• Support institutional reforms that bolster accountability and cross-party consensus on national development.

For the Public:

• Demand regular updates, data transparency, and meaningful consultation.

• Stay engaged through platforms like Staging2030.org—not just as voters, but as co-authors of national development.

Conclusion: Vision or Mirage?

The promises of Vision 2030 remain relevant—but they are at risk. This week’s developments underscore the reality that developmental progress is not linear—and certainly not automatic.

The choice before us is clear:

• Will we default to reactionary governance, exclusionary policies, and fractured diplomacy?

• Or will we move boldly towards inclusion, transparency, and intelligent reform?

The stage is set. The future is unwritten.

Let us make sure we are building a Trinidad and Tobago worthy of 2030—not just in name, but in reality.