STUART STRIPPED OF DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT

Former PM levels claims of political victimization after Govt revokes his VIP travel privileges 

Former prime minister Stuart Young says the Government has moved to have his diplomatic passport returned, marking what he describes as the latest attempt to strip him of benefits afforded to former prime ministers. However, Guardian Media understands Young still has possession of the passport after requesting that the Government make the demand formally in writing.

In a video statement posted to social media yesterday, Young revealed that he received an unexpected call instructing him to surrender the diplomatic passport issued to him after he demitted office. Young argued that the latest development formed part of a wider pattern of political victimization by the Government. “I received a call out of the blue,” Young said. “As a former prime minister, you get a diplomatic passport. It was given to me on the second of May last year. I didn’t ask for it. Get a call out of the blue: return the passport.” Young did not identify who contacted him or whether any legal basis was provided for the request. He indicated, however, that he does not intend to simply comply without due process.

“I will deal with that. I will deal with that in accordance with the law at the appropriate time,” he said. Guardian Media contacted MP Young last evening however, he said he was not prepared to say more at this time. The development comes less than a year after the United National Congress Government successfully amended legislation to prevent Young from receiving the retirement gratuity and pension that would otherwise have been payable to a former prime minister. The amendments followed criticism over Young’s 42-day tenure as prime minister before the April 2025 General Election.

Diplomatic passport crackdown

PM says Govt taking corrective action against abuse of the system; denies targeting Young but admits Rowley will also lose privilege The Government has announced a sweeping review of diplomatic passports and is set to claim one belonging to another former prime minister. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed yesterday that Dr Keith Rowley will also be asked to surrender his diplomatic passport, after the State found hundreds of people were holding the documents despite not meeting the required criteria. The announcement came a day after former prime minister Stuart Young said he was instructed to return his diplomatic passport, making Rowley the next high-profile figure to be affected as Government moves to tighten control over one of the country’s highest-level travel documents.

Responding to questions from Guardian Media yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said the review was prompted after Trinidad and Tobago’s international partners raised concerns about the issuance and possible abuse of diplomatic passports. “The Government was requested by our foreign counterparts to look into the issuance and abuse of Trinidad and Tobago-issued diplomatic passports,” Persad-Bissessar said. “Upon investigation, it was revealed that 985 persons possess diplomatic passports despite most of these persons not meeting the criteria for holding these passports.” While Young on Thursday said he did not ask for a diplomatic passport, Guardian Media was reliably informed that on April 30, 2025, just two days after the People’s National Movement lost the general election and one day before Persad-Bissessar was sworn in as Prime Minister, a state official requested that a letter be prepared to facilitate Young’s application for a diplomatic passport as a former prime minister.

“Bearers of diplomatic passports are required to return them to the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs when their overseas posting concludes, they retire, or they leave the qualifying political office,” the PM said. “He (Rowley) is retired and he is not representing the country in an official capacity. Therefore, he should not be in possession of a diplomatic passport.” She said officials from the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs would contact the former prime minister on the matter. “I am advised that ministry personnel will contact him in due course and that he will be given an official passport instead of the diplomatic passport.”

@sgtdjones

AS long as it is within the law....then ask dem skunts to return it....especially the quack Lalbeharry Sobers....what a effin wannabe😀

@Narper

 "985 persons possess diplomatic passports despite most of these persons not meeting the criteria for holding these passports.”

Why would T&T need such numbers of diplomatic passports to be issued.?