Prior to the elections of 2010, there were a number of comments from various avenues debating whether or not Trinidad and Tobago could be considered or classified as a "failed state." Strangely, with the introduction of a new government that debate is now defunct. However, one wonders the extent to which the problems faced by the outgoing government was or has been successfully resolved by the not so "new" government. A number of definitions of what constitutes a "failed state" have been advanced. One of the better definitions is that "failed states are tense, deeply conflicted, dangerous and contested bitterly by warring factors." In other words, this definition embraces countries such as Iraq, Iran, Egypt and, more recently, Syria. But, it can be argued that a failed state can have a number of dimensions apart from "warring" elements. For instance, at one point, Guyana was categorised as a failed state and now, more recently, Haiti. What is evident, though, is that there is no failed state without disharmony between communities. There are a number of markers or indices that can be advanced in order to determine whether or not it will be safe to categorise as "failed" or perhaps a "collapsed" state. Failed states are unable to control their peripheral regions. The government loses control over large sections of territory.
Citizens depend on states and central government to secure their people and free them from fear. Governments that are unable to establish an atmosphere of security are therefore prone to pressures from rebel groups. Another indicator of state failure is the growth of criminal violence. As state authority weakens and fails and as the state becomes criminal in its oppression of citizens, so lawlessness becomes more apparent. Failed states provide only limited quantities of other essential political goods. They more and more forfeit their role as the preferred suppliers of political goods to upstart warlords and other non-state actors. Failed states exhibit flawed institutions. If legislatures exist at all they ratify decisions of the executives. Democratic debate is noticeably absent and the judiciary is derivative of the executive rather than being independent. These states are also typified by deteriorating or destroyed infrastructures. The more potholes or main roads turn to rutted tracks, the more a state will exemplify failure. As rulers siphon funds from the state coffers, fewer capital resources will remain for road crews, equipment and supplies. When a state has failed or is in the process of failing, the effective educational and medical systems are often privatised informally with questionable healthcare and public facilities which are decrepit and neglected. These states offer unparalleled economic opportunity-but only for a privileged few. Those clustered around the ruler or the ruling oligarchy grow richer while their less fortunate brethren "starve." Corruption flourishes in a failed state. An indicator of failure but not the cause of failure is declining real national and per capita levels of annual Gross Domestic Product.
In summary, then, a nation state fails when it loses legitimacy. (See When States Fail by Robert Rotberg, 2004). But, it is noted, that understanding the root causes of state failure, identifying the point at which is likely to become violent and taking remedial actions could prevent state failure and eventually state collapse. One of the first measures that have been recommended is to provide country performance measures for the factors that directly and indirectly influence a country's stability. For instance, the following may be suggested: Examine the number of shipments of illegal drugs entering the country and put in place a programme of action to deal with this. It should be noted that in the recent UNDP report on Citizen Security a link has been made with respect to trafficking of illegal drugs, the parallel economy and the increase in gang violence and homicides; Develop linkages between early warning information and policy responses. This could be applicable in any sector. For instance, how does one deal with illegal squatting and at the same time the need for houses? How does one diversify the economy particularly when the price of natural gas is at an all time low? Capacity building in the public sector is necessary in order to allow for efficient delivery of state goods and services. Last by no means, the country needs to take aggressive measures to ensure a minimum of corruption as well as to maintain stability among the different groups in the society. No doubt, in translating policy into action, there will be several problems but it is necessary for any government, in Haiti, in Jamaica, and even in Trinidad and Tobago to first brutally assess itself using these and other indices to discover whether of not they are on the verge of falling into the category of a "failed" state in the future.