UNITED STATES-Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago goes before Senate.

WASHINGTON, CMC – President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the country’s ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago has told legislators that the ongoing states of emergency on the Caribbean island “doesn’t bode well” for the ongoing battle with crime there.

Trinidad and Tobago has been under a state of emergency (SoE) since December 2024 when the previous administration implemented the measure in response to intelligence of planned mass violence from criminal gangs.

Two months after coming into office in April last year, the Kamla Persad-Bissessar government has placed the country under another SoE that is due to expire in September after it had been recommended by Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, as a result of intelligence on “coordinated and highly dangerous criminal network operating from within Trinidad and Tobago’s correctional facilities.”

Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, Jennifer Johnson-Carroll, who was elected as Florida’s first female lieutenant governor and the first Black person elected to statewide office in Florida in 2010, said, “The government, as far as the stability, I cannot speak to that.

“If confirmed, getting down to the region and having more dialogue with post as well as the government to find out more about that,” she told the legislators, acknowledging concern over the country’s security situation.

“I do know that they have had several emergency orders, which doesn’t bode well with regards to the criminal activities that have been occurring for several years,” said the Trinidad-born Johnson-Carroll, who, if confirmed, will be the first Trinidad and Tobago-born woman to hold this position

The US Navy veteran said she is aware of her priorities, with the most important one being “to ensure the safety and security of American citizens residing in Trinidad and Tobago, including the thousands who travel there each year for business and tourism”.

She said information gathered on the ground would help shape strategic recommendations for the President, the State Department and Congress to address those challenges, as she spoke of the growing relationship between the US and Trinidad and Tobago, saying “right now the United States is experiencing a good relationship with the country of Trinidad and Tobago.

“They’ve been very supportive of the Caribbean Basin Initiative security initiatives such that they recognize that they do have a porous border and we do need some resources or they need some resources to curtail illicit human trafficking as well as narco-terrorists,” she said, pointing also to energy as another major area of cooperation.

“Additionally, we have an issue with regards to energy, of their production reducing, and the United States is committed to moving forward with a license that has been accepted for a sector in the Caribbean area between Venezuela and Trinidad to help the country explore for additional resources,” she said, adding that such cooperation would also expand business opportunities for American companies.

“We can see that Trinidad and Tobago is committed to working with the United States to increase economic opportunities, increase oil and gas exploration, as well as utilize our assistance to help combat some of that illicit trafficking.”

Johnson-Carroll, who is expected to replace Candace A. Bond, whose tenure ended on January 20, 2025, was nominated by President Trump on June 1 and told the Senate, “This nomination holds special personal meaning for me.

“I was born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. I immigrated to the United States at the age of eight, and I’ve carried a deep connection to Trinidad and Tobago throughout my life and career.”

Trinidad-born retired US Marine John L. Estrada served as the US ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago after being nominated by President Barack Obama. He was sworn in on March 17, 2016.