THE PRESIDENT OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

 PLEASE WITHHOLD ASSENT TO THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS BILL 2026

 

Protect our security. Protect our freedom. Protect our Republic.

 

To Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

 

We, citizens and residents of Trinidad and Tobago, respectfully call upon the President to withhold assent to the Special Operations Bill, 2026, to the extent permitted by the Constitution, and to ensure that the Bill’s constitutional implications and potential impact on fundamental rights receive the fullest possible scrutiny before it becomes law.

 

We recognise that the President’s constitutional role is limited. We are not suggesting that the President can unilaterally rewrite, amend or permanently block legislation. We are asking the President to exercise any constitutional options available at this stage, including withholding assent where legally permitted and, where appropriate, referring constitutional questions to the relevant constitutional authorities or courts in accordance with the Constitution and applicable law.

 

We also call upon the Government and Parliament to undertake further legislative scrutiny of the Bill, including careful consideration of its safeguards, definitions, operational limits, oversight arrangements and compatibility with fundamental rights.

 

We are not asking the State to stand back while criminals threaten our communities.

 

We want crime tackled.

We want our families protected.

We want our communities safe.

 

But we also want to remain a free people governed by law.

 

The Special Operations Bill proposes a framework for policing districts and special operations involving the Police Service, with possible military assistance. The Bill also provides for reporting, human-rights training, protocols and oversight mechanisms. ("TT Parliament" (https://www.ttparliament.org/publication/the-special-operations-bill-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

Because the powers involved are significant, we believe the people deserve confidence that every power granted is necessary, proportionate, clearly defined, properly limited and subject to meaningful accountability.

 

Our concern is not about protecting criminals.

 

Our concern is protecting innocent citizens while the State fights crime.

 

We therefore ask the President, within the limits of the constitutional office, to consider the following principles:

 

1. SECURITY MUST NOT MEAN SURRENDERING FREEDOM

 

Citizens should not have to choose between being safe and being free.

 

2. EXCEPTIONAL POWERS MUST HAVE EXCEPTIONAL SAFEGUARDS

 

Any extraordinary power given to the State should have clear limits, oversight, accountability and effective mechanisms for preventing abuse.

 

3. THE CONSTITUTION MUST REMAIN OUR PROTECTION

 

Our fundamental rights matter most when society is frightened and under pressure.

 

4. THE PUBLIC DESERVES TRANSPARENCY

 

Citizens should understand what powers the legislation creates, who can exercise them, under what circumstances, and what protections exist when those powers are misused.

 

5. FIGHTING CRIME AND PROTECTING RIGHTS MUST GO TOGETHER

 

We reject the idea that Trinidad and Tobago must sacrifice constitutional freedoms in order to pursue public safety.

 

Our Republic is strong enough to demand both.

 

MADAM PRESIDENT — WE ASK YOU TO PAUSE AND PROTECT

 

Your Republic Day message reminded the nation that:

 

“security, liberty and the sanctity of life” must be protected together.

 

You also reminded us that measures adopted in the public interest must remain necessary, proportionate, accountable and subject to the law, and that exceptional powers must remain truly exceptional. ("President of Trinidad and Tobago" (https://otp.tt/message-on-the-occasion-of-republic-day-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

We respectfully ask you to apply those principles to the Special Operations Bill.

 

Do not let fear become the reason that freedom is treated as an obstacle to safety.

 

We ask you to:

 

1. Withhold assent if, and to the extent that, the Constitution permits this;

2. Consider whether any constitutional question arising from the Bill should be referred through the proper constitutional or judicial process;

3. Encourage or support further legislative scrutiny of the Bill’s safeguards, definitions, powers, oversight mechanisms and human-rights implications; and

4. Ensure that any decision concerning assent is made consistently with the Constitution and the President’s legal powers.

 

This petition does not claim that the President can substitute her judgment for that of Parliament, amend the Bill personally or prevent the legislation from becoming law indefinitely. It asks that every lawful constitutional safeguard and review mechanism be considered before the Bill takes effect.

 

This petition is not about political parties.

 

It is not about personalities.

 

It is not about protecting criminals.

 

It is about protecting Trinidad and Tobago.

 

We want a country where our children can walk safely through their communities and where innocent citizens can trust that the power of the State has meaningful limits.

 

We want security without unnecessary loss of liberty.

 

We want law enforcement with accountability.

 

We want a strong State without an unchecked State.

 

We want a Republic that protects its people without asking its people to surrender the very freedoms that make the Republic worth protecting.

 

We therefore respectfully call upon the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to exercise any lawful power available to withhold assent to the Special Operations Bill, 2026; to consider whether constitutional questions should be referred through the proper constitutional or judicial process; and to support further legislative scrutiny of the Bill’s safeguards and implications before it becomes law.

 

🇹🇹 SECURITY AND FREEDOM.

 

ORDER AND LIBERTY.

A STRONG STATE AND A FREE PEOPLE.

 

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE.