Exercise increased caution in Trinidad and Tobago due to crime and terrorism. 

Do not travel to some areas of Port of Spain due to crime.

Violent crime, such as murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion, and kidnapping, is common.

Gang activity, such as narcotics trafficking, is common. A significant portion of violent crime is gang-related.

Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Read the entire Travel Advisory

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/TrinidadandTobago.html

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Subscribers are reminded that on February 8, the U.S. State Dept. and UK Foreign Office both issued security messages for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival celebrations taking place February 12-13. At that time, the U.S. security message generically referred to a disrupted plot to attack Carnival celebrations and warned U.S. government personnel of the need for additional caution and increased situational awareness.

Since that alert was issued, it has been revealed that the intended target of the disrupted plot was the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain, the Trinidadian capital. 

US military personnel from US Southern Command advised and assisted local Trinidadian security forces in a series of raids and the apprehension of several extremists involved in the plot.

Only 4 hours travel from the U.S., more than 150,000 Americans visit Trinidad and Tobago every year. 

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Background Information (Updated)

It is estimated that approximately 10% of the 1.3 million person population of Trinidad and Tobago is Muslim.

It is estimated that more than 400 T&T nationals - men, women and children - have gone to Syria and undergone military training and indoctrination with the Islamic State. This number represents one of the highest recruitment rates in the world, and by far, the highest in the Western hemisphere..

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-04-15/serious-threat-tt

In 1990 an Islamist group known as Jamaat al Muslimeen launched a failed coup attempt in the country.

In 1991 five individuals linked to Jamaat al Muslimeen were arrested as they crossed over the Canadian border into the U.S. shortly before they planned to bomb the Indian Center Cinema and Vishnu Hindu temple in Richmond Hill, Toronto during the Hindu Festival of Lights event.

In 2007, key arrests took place in Trinidad related to a thwarted Islamist plot to blow up fuel tanks, terminal buildings and fuel lines running beneath Kennedy International Airport.