Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has issued a stern warning to motorists, insisting there will be no reduction in traffic fines despite public backlash over increased enforcement, while announcing proposed reforms to allow time to repair certain vehicle defects before penalties are enforced.

In a statement posted to her X (formerly Twitter) account, Persad-Bissessar said recent events had confirmed her view that widespread lawlessness existed on the nation’s roads.

She wrote "Over the last few days my statement that the country is a lawless dump has been absolutely confirmed by the high number of traffic infractions and deliberately lawless drivers being fined. The lawlessness was compounded by the blatant dishonesty on show from many of those ticketed who pretended to have been caught by surprise by the defects in their vehicles or expired documentation.