New legislation has created a fast-track criminal courts process, more judges have been appointed and other measures have been taken but part of the problem is the involvement of officers in the police, the military and even protective services.

With 16 cases at various stages of proceedings and a further 54 under investigation, it's clear that efforts are being made. But it's the involvement of those in public office that has made success more difficult and badly affected the country's reputation in this field.

But local media reports that there are other problems. Trinidad and Tobago Newsday has reported that the Director of Public Prosecutions has publicly complained that there are not enough prosecutors. The Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, said that the Government arranged offices for the DDP's department but they have remained unoccupied for three years. The lease is about to run out. The report (here: https://newsday.co.tt/2023/03/10/executive-office-for-dpp-unoccupied-fo…" says that the Cabinet recommended 137 prosecutors but there are 58 " including some with little to no actual court experience".

The building concerned is the former Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) building in Port of Spain.

The effects of the problems were described by the DPP in a radio interview this week, as reported here: https://newsday.co.tt/2023/03/09/dpp-sounds-alarm-over-failure-to-prose…

He said there are "deep problems" in prosecuting white collar crimes after the decision to abandon the prosecution for corruption of former prime minister Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma, former United National Congress government minister Carlos John and former party financier Ishwar Galbaransingh. The DPP said, in essence, that there was no realistic chance of success.

But he has discontinued a number of high-profile cases, including a number that were gang related dating back to 2011 (when a state of emergency was in force) and some as old as 1999. Then there was the case against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, and ex-UNC senator Gerald Ramdeen, which largely depended on the testimony of convicted King’s Counsel Vincent Nelson. Questions are being asked as to his integrity.