Ministry of National Security (Trinidad and Tobago)

The Ministry of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago was the primary governmental ministry entrusted with the safeguarding of the nation's security and the well-being of its citizens. Its mandate encompassed a wide spectrum of responsibilities, including the maintenance of law and order, ensuring public safety, national defense, the management of disaster preparedness and relief, immigration policy and regulation, passport administration, border patrol, youth development and monitoring of private security companies. Its stated mission was "to advance national development by creating a safer and more secure society through enhanced collaboration among all stakeholders, intelligence-based decision-making, and strengthened inter-agency structures and systems." The ministry's mission was accomplished through a variety of law-enforcement and protective service agencies, and internal departments and special units, which fall under its mandate.

The Ministry of National Security also engaged in collaborations with various domestic government bodies, law enforcement agencies, and international partners in addressing national security issues. Some of these were Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Interpol and CARICOM IMPACS. Trinidad and Tobago maintains strong partnerships with other countries, for example Joint Combined Exchange Training exercises conducted with the U.S. Southern Command, collaboration with the European Union's Cocaine Route Programme Seaport Co-operation (SEACOP) project and the Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) Training Programme a joint project between the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), the Canadian Coast Guard and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

The political head was the Minister of National Security, a position last held by Marvin Gonzales MP. The Minister was supported by two Permanent Secretaries, one of whom served as the Accounting Officer for the majority of the Ministry's operations, and three Deputy Permanent Secretaries. The Permanent Secretary was responsible for the overall administration and financial management of the Ministry, excluding the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). The TTPS operates with a degree of autonomy in its financial matters, with its own Commissioner of Police serving as the Accounting Officer for the TTPS. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Junior Benjamin holding the office in an acting capacity was the last Commissioner of Police under the Ministry of National Security. Furthermore, the Ministry also had a Minister in the Ministry of National Security, a position that was held by the Honourable Keith Scotland S.C. M.P.

Four former Chief of Defence Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) have served as Minister of National Security in the past, Major General (Ret’d) Edmund Dillon September 2015 to August 2018; Brigadier General (Ret’d) Carl Alfonso, February 2015 to September 2015; Brigadier General (Ret’d) John Sandy, May 2010 to June 2012; and Brigadier General (Ret’d) Joseph Theodore, December 1995 to December 2000.

In 2025 the government under UNC Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, split the Minister of National Security into three ministries, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Justice.