Trinidad has descended into a land of iniquity. It seems that the higher ups in the government service is also involved in the spate of kidnappings for ransom and the killings that has taken precedence recently.

No expat should consider himself or herself safe. Not too long ago, a woman from the Westmoorings area west of the city was adducted for ransom while she was taking a walk in her neighbourhood. She was later released unharmed - a case of mistaken identity. Many others have not been so lucky. Look to the daily newspapers for the continuing count of the murders and kidnappings taking place.

There is a group of fanatics called the muslimeen who have been involved on a large scale in these kidnappings and killings. The incumbent government has used the group in the past to garner votes in the last election and it seems that the prime minister and his party has turned a blind eye to the current events. There is a lot of verbiage spilled almost weekly but no action by the authorities to rid the country of the scourge that has settled in.

I would suggest that all expats pay heed to their country's warnings that they should exercise due caution in their travels to this country.

I have been robbed at gunpoint and knifepoint and even had my car stolen at 2.30am from my apartment in a guarded community. I have had enough and will not live in this country anymore.

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Although John Sebastian seems to have had a run of bad luck, most of the violent crime in Trinidad is isolated and foreignors are actually at less risk than nationals. The kidnappings have been isolated to Trinidadians and there is speculation that there is further specificity related to their professions. Some neighborhoods east of the Savannah are not safe and should hold little interest for most foreignors anyway. In general, it is best not to walk alone very late after dark as many of the streets are not well lit and it is unwise to carry large amounts of cash. Trinidad has issues that all developing countries struggle with; disparity and corruption have allowed crime to get out of hand in some areas, random muggings do occur in all areas just as in most large cities, and kidnapping is an issue for a small amount of the population. An alarm system on houses is advisable and children should not be left unattended, but basic common sense as would apply to any large and somewhat troubled city should allow foreignors to feel welcome and safe.

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I agree with the last post. I am married to a Trini, have lived in Trinidad and go there frequently. I have never experienced any crime although I have heard of relatives being caught up in a number of incidents, normally thefts and armed robberies. These happen everywhere. Most crime apperas concentrated in certain bad areas not visisted by expats or around the drug scene. There has been a spate of kidnappings, mostly of Trinidadian Businessmen of East Indian extraction. The Government has set up an anti kidnapping taskforce that has had some success in reducing this nasty crime. Most kidnappings are business transactions and are planned on targeted individuals. As a expat you have no reason to be targetted unless you are conspicuously wealthy and retain considerable assets in Trinidad. Like anywhere else, follow sensible precautions, do not travel late at night, and find out from the locals the bad areas and you should be fine.

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