Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

T&T records lowest January murder rate in 15 years

T&T records lowest January murder rate in 15 years

In the first month of 2021, 25 people were murdered in T&T according to official statistics provided by the Police Service.
This number represents a grim reality for the families and friends of the victims of the murder victims but it also represents the lowest number of murders recorded in the first month of the year for over 15 years.

To put this in context, the last time the murder toll dropped below 30 for the month of January was 2007, when 28 murders were recorded. The only other time there were less people killed than days had passed in the year when January ended, was 2015 when 30 people became murder victims by January 31 of that year.

January has typically, over the last 15 years, been among the bloodiest if not the bloodiest month of the year (as seen in 2011 and 2018) in terms of murders committed. On average from 2006 to 2020, 43 people would become murder victims in the opening month of the year. Since 2009, with the exceptions of 2013 and 2015, January accounts approximately 10% of the annual murder count. January 2013 however accounted for 9.4 per cent of that year’s murder toll.

If that barometer holds, Trinidad and Tobago could see a murder count which falls below 300 for the first time since 2004 when we recorded 260 murders. In 2005, Trinidad and Tobago saw a then record 386 murders but since that year only 2011 and 2012 have recorded lower murder counts at the end of year.

The opening month of the year usually sees a series of domestic killings related to soured romantic relationships and or family land disputes followed by the more common reports of gang related killings.

This year, while the year followed that traditional pattern with domestic incidents leading to murder, the spate of gang related killings usually seen has not followed.

Notably on January 19, Port- of- Spain gang members issued a statement via an attorney, that a truce they had agreed to July 2020 was still in effect despite the circulation of WhatsApp message to the contrary. That truce came to be in the wake of protests against the Police involved killings of Joel Jacob, Noel Diamond and Israel Clinton in Morvant on June 27.

The low January count has also been consistent with the reduction in monthly murders seen in this country since the initial lockdown and various restrictions have been imposed on the public as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Both November and December, also saw counts of less than 30 with 24 and 27 respectively.

Trinidad and Tobago had been placed on restrictions due to Covid-19 starting with a stay at home order to non-essential workers issued on March 16 of last year.

Since that initial lockdown, there has not been a month where the country’s murder toll has crossed 40. June, the month in which the most restrictions were initially lifted, recorded the highest toll of 39. It was followed by March with 35. Five months in 2020 saw less than 30 murders being recorded.

However, the Commissioner of Police had repeated stated in his 2020 review that murders had dropped by 25 per cent, and when asked about the restrictions’ impact on crime, Commissioner Griffith has repeatedly said the reductions were not solely down to the restrictions, but the efforts of his officers as well.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×