NEW YORK, United States — Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called for a global effort to tackle transnational criminal networks, which she said have wreaked havoc on Trinidad and Tobago and other small island states.

“For Trinidad and Tobago, this is not an abstract threat. These networks directly endanger our citizens, endanger our institutions and endanger our development,” Persad-Bissessar said as she addressed the United Nations General Assembly on September 22.

Persad-Bissessar, who was the third Caribbean leader to address the assembly during the evening session, said her government has, since taking office in April 2025, made tackling these threats a central part of its governance.

She thanked US President Donald Trump for inviting Trinidad and Tobago to join the newly formed Shield of the Americas and the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, saying the partnership will promote freedom, security and prosperity in the region.

“We remain confident that this partnership will continue to promote freedom, security and prosperity in our region,” the prime minister said.

On Trinidad and Tobago serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2027-2028, Persad-Bissessar said the country will advocate for greater international cooperation to address the sources, movement and diversion of illicit weapons.

“Trinidad and Tobago will advocate for greater international cooperation to address the sources, movement and diversion of illicit weapons, stronger tracing mechanisms, information sharing, border and maritime cooperation and deeper cooperation among source, transit and destination countries to disrupt weapons, narcotics and illicit financial flows,” she said.

“Trinidad and Tobago will bring the experience of the Caribbean to the Council, where the impact of illicit firearms demonstrates how transnational organised crime can threaten the security and stability of states, even in the absence of traditional armed conflict.”

Turning to Haiti, she said Trinidad and Tobago fully supports international efforts to help the country restore security and stability.

But she cautioned that Haiti’s political future must ultimately be Haitian-led and Haitian-owned.