Senior Reporter
rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt
Attorney General Reginald Armour says T&T’s institutions are failing to protect victims of domestic violence and he has made a powerful and urgent call for reform.
Speaking at a public consultation on domestic violence at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Armour stressed that the state’s role has shifted from passive bystander to active protector.
“This is not just about avoiding infringement on citizens’ rights anymore. We now have a positive obligation to protect those rights, especially when it comes to the most vulnerable in our society,” he said
The AG was referring to the landmark Tot Lampkin ruling, which redefined the state’s duty to protect individuals from harm, particularly in domestic violence situations.
“This case was a turning point. It marked a shift from expecting the state not to infringe on rights, to requiring it to actively protect them,” he said
The case involved Lampkin’s daughter, Samantha Isaacs, a domestic violence victim whose pleas for protection went unanswered.
“Despite her cries for help, the police did not act. Justice Robin Mohammed made it clear that the state had a duty to investigate reports of domestic violence, even if the Domestic Violence Act didn’t explicitly say so at the time,” he explained. “This ruling laid down a critical principle—the state must protect its citizens, even when the laws lag behind the reality of their suffering.”
Armour also referenced the case Laurette Charles in which a woman who killed her abusive partner was convicted of murder.
He said: “Laurette Charles’ case is a stark example of how our legal system is evolving to address the complexities of domestic violence. The courts are beginning to recognize the psychological and emotional toll intimate partner violence takes, and are pushing for laws that respond more sensitively and effectively.”
However, he said the legal victories meant little if the rest of the system remained broken. He did not mince words in his criticism of the T&T Police Service (TTPS).
“The TTPS has failed both victims in these cases—neither serving nor protecting them. I understand the frustration officers feel when victims return to their abusers, but the system must do better. These cases are a clear demonstration of systemic failure.”
Armour said Charles’ case was an example of what should never have happened.
“There were clear signs of abuse that were ignored. Had those signs been acted upon, this violence could have been prevented. Laurette Charles’ life, and the lives of her family, were shattered by a failure of the very institutions designed to protect them.
“This case has shattered two families: Laurette’s, and the family of the deceased. Their child’s education has been severely compromised by the trauma, and the cost of inaction continues to be paid by taxpayers.”
He was particularly critical of how the entire system—from police to social services—failed to coordinate a response.
“The social services in Arima may not have been the appropriate agency to help Laurette Charles, but a whole-of-government approach would have ensured she got the support she needed,” Armor said.
“We cannot afford to leave vulnerable individuals like Laurette to fend for themselves in a broken system.”
The AG also chastised the community for their inaction.
“Neighbours failed these victims, too. Instead of merely watching from a distance, someone should have intervened—or at the very least, called the police. Their silence enabled the violence to continue unchecked.”
He called for immediate reforms to address these failures
“Our entire system needs to be overhauled to ensure no victim of domestic violence falls through the cracks again.” He added, “We must act now. The judiciary has set the tone, but it’s up to us—lawmakers, police, and the community—to make sure no victim is left unprotected. We cannot afford more lives lost to inaction.”
In calling for these reforms, Armour noted that T&T’s response to domestic violence is at a critical juncture.
“The time for excuses has passed. Now is the time for action.”