Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has initiated a significant policy shift regarding the issuance of diplomatic passports in Trinidad and Tobago.
This corrective action follows an investigation revealing that nearly one thousand individuals held these credentials without meeting the necessary eligibility requirements.
Consequently, former leaders Dr. Keith Rowley and Stuart Young have been requested to surrender their diplomatic documents in exchange for official passports.
While Young has characterized the move as political victimization, the Prime Minister maintains the changes are necessary to prevent privilege abuse and satisfy concerns raised by international partners.
The new framework clarifies that diplomatic immunity is reserved for active representatives of the state, while other officials will receive alternative forms of identification.