TTPS Confirms High Court ‘Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order’ Against PNM

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is confirming that the High Court has granted a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order under section 58(1) of the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act, No. 8 of 2019, against the People’s National Movement (PNM) and its trustees.

In a Media Release this evening (Saturday 11th July, 2026), the TTPS said this Order was “obtained following an application by the TTPS as part of an ongoing investigation.”

According to the TTPS, “A Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order is an interim measure granted by the Court and does not represent a final determination of liability or wrongdoing. The matter is before the Court, and due process will be observed at every stage.”

The TTPS said it “reaffirms its commitment to investigating allegations of corruption, white collar and financial crime without fear or favour. All persons and entities are equal before the law and accountability will be pursued through the judicial process.”

The Media Release concluded by saying, “The TTPS recognizes the significant public interest in this matter and urges citizens to rely on verified information from official sources. The integrity of the justice system depends on fairness, due process, and respect for the rule of law.”

Meanwhile, the PNM said it will not be intimidated by political persecution. In a Media Release earlier today (Saturday 11th July, 2026), PNM Chairman Marvin Gonzales, MP, stated the following:

“The People’s National Movement has noted the media reports concerning applications reportedly made by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to the High Court in relation to the financing of the redevelopment of Balisier House and the Party’s fundraising activities.

At the outset, the People’s National Movement wishes to make it abundantly clear that, to date, the Party has received no official correspondence or been served with any order of the High Court from any State authority regarding the matters referred to in those reports.

The reports which include grossly exaggerated figures seek to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the financing of Balisier House and the People’s National Movement rejects any suggestion that there was anything improper, unlawful or secretive about the funding of its headquarters or the fundraising activities undertaken by the Party over many years.

It must be emphasized that Balisier House and the land on which stands were acquired by the PNM over 65 years ago.

The redevelopment of Balisier House was never undertaken in secret and was never financed in secret.

For well over 15 years, the People’s National Movement has engaged in lawful fundraising through Party activities, public appeals, initiatives and voluntary donations from thousands of members, supporters and well-wishers who believed in preserving one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most enduring democratic institutions.

Many citizens proudly contributed to that effort because they understood that strong political institutions strengthen our democracy.

That headquarters today stands as a visible symbol of the Party’s history, organization, resilience and continued investment in the future of Trinidad and Tobago.

What is now unfolding did not begin with these reported Court proceedings.

It began with a deliberate public smear campaign by the United National Congress against the People’s National Movement. It then escalated through the abuse of Parliamentary Privilege, where serious, unsubstantiated allegations were made against the PNM under the protection of Parliament. It has now progressed to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service allegedly seeking and receiving judicial authority to pursue what is a politically-motivated witch hunt.

The national community should also recognize the extraordinary hypocrisy surrounding these developments.

The People’s National Movement was the political party that brought forward legislation to regulate campaign financing in Trinidad and Tobago. We sought greater transparency and accountability in political financing. The UNC wanted absolutely nothing to do with those reforms and refused to support the process established to consider them.

Today, the very same political party that rejected campaign finance reform and has been at the centre of well-documented corruption, political kickback and bid-rigging scandals now seeks to cast suspicion on the lawful fundraising activities of the People’s National Movement.

Balisier House represents seven decades of political organization, democratic participation, national service and institutional strength. It stands as a permanent reminder that the People’s National Movement remains one of the most enduring and organized political institutions in the history of our Republic.

Rather than focus its attention on the economy, crime, unemployment, healthcare, education and the many challenges confronting citizens every day, this UNC Government appears determined to weaponize the machinery and financial resources of the State against its principal political opponent.

This continuing misuse of scarce public resources in pursuit of political persecution is yet another example of the abuse of authority that has come to define this Government’s short but devastating period in office.

It is also yet another example of this Government’s broader campaign of fear, intimidation and State-sponsored political victimization. With increasing frequency over the last 14 months, the people of Trinidad and Tobago have witnessed attempts to silence those who oppose the actions of the UNC Government and to create an environment where citizens are made to feel that exercising their constitutional rights, democratic freedoms and political expression comes at a personal cost.

Equally troubling is the growing weaponization of arms of the State against those whom the UNC brands as its political opponents. The People’s National Movement has observed an increasingly disturbing pattern in which State institutions are utilized not only to pursue political adversaries but also to obtain personal information on those individuals, creating a real and legitimate concern that such information may ultimately be misused for partisan political purposes. Every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, should be deeply concerned whenever the powers of the State are perceived to be used in this manner.

The members and supporters of the People’s National Movement can rest assured that the Party is ready, willing and able not only to defend itself and its proud legacy, but also to defend the democratic rights, freedoms and political expression that are guaranteed to every citizen under our Constitution.

No Government should ever believe that electoral victory grants it the authority to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent or manipulate State institutions for partisan political purposes.

The People’s National Movement has assembled a legal team to examine every aspect of these developments and will pursue every legal remedy available to protect the rights of the Party and those affected.

We remain confident that truth will prevail over propaganda, justice will prevail over political persecution and democracy will prevail over tyranny.

The People’s National Movement will continue to keep the people of Trinidad and Tobago, CARICOM and the wider Commonwealth Family informed as these matters unfold and will vigorously defend both the Party and the constitutional principles upon which our democracy is built.”

More on this as it becomes available.

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