Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has a dedicated counterterrorism law from 2005. There is a carve-out for the exercise of certain fundamental human rights and for acts in armed conflict that comply with international humanitarian law. The maximum sentence for terrorist offences is the death penalty.
The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law
The 2005 Counterterrorism Act defines a terrorist act as follows:
(a) an act whether committed in or outside of Trinidad and Tobago which causes or is likely to cause—
(i) loss of human life or serious bodily harm;
(ii) damage to property; or
(iii) prejudice to national security or disruption of public safety including disruption in the provision of emergency services or to any computer or electronic system or to the provision of services directly related to banking, communications, infrastructure, financial services, public utilities, transportation or other essential infrastructure,
and is intended to—
(iv) compel a government or an international organisation to do or refrain from doing any act; or
(v) intimidate the public or a section of the public, for the purpose of advancing a political, ideological or a religious cause;
(b) an offence under any of the Conventions; or
(c) an offence [of attempting to commit or complicity in a terrorist act].S. 2, 2005 Counterterrorism Act.
There is a carve-out from the definition of a "terrorist act" for an act which
(a) causes death or serious bodily harm to a person taking active part in armed conflict in accordance with the applicable rules of international law; or
(b) disrupts any service and is committed in pursuance of a demonstration, protest or stoppage of work and is not intended to result in any harm referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of “terrorist act”.S. 2, 2005 Counterterrorism Act.
Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties
Trinidad and Tobago is a State Party to most of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1973 Convention on Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons | State Party |
| 1979 Hostage-Taking Convention | State Party |
| 1997 Terrorist Bombings Convention | State Party |
| 1999 Terrorist Financing Convention | State Party |
| 2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention | Signatory |
Trinidad and Tobago is also a State Party to the main regional treaty on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 2002 Inter-American Convention against Terrorism | State Party |
Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences
The maximum sentence for terrorist offences is the death penalty.
Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service do not have dedicated counterterrorism expertise.
Glossary
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