There’s a crisis going on in Trinidad. The murder rate has skyrocketed and the government and police can’t stop it. Mainly because they’re part of the problem on why it started in the first place. Bribery, drug trafficking, and police brutality are all factors of why the streets are filled with violence and the people of Trinidad are caught in the cross-fire. To the point where it’s become one of the highest murder rates in the world.
VICE traveled to the Port of Spain to talk to some of the locals and get their take on why the situation in their country has gotten so bad and even went on a ride along with some of the most notorious cops in the area. They entered very dangerous places in the darkness of the night, just to see what life is like from ground zero.
They found that the murder rate is only the tip of the iceberg. Not only are the gangs intertwined with politics because of government contracts, but those same political figures are using the port to transport drugs to other countries. Venezuela is their neighboring country, so you can see why the opportunities to make money are there.
As the gangs tell it, all political figures have been corrupted by the money and it’s trickled down to their community leaders and ultimately, the people of Trinidad.
The problem seems to be getting worse and there has been no solution in sight. All we can do is pray for the people of Trinidad in hopes for better days.