Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency (SoE) in response to rising national security threats, including reprisal killings and the use of high-powered weapons.
Acting Attorney General Stuart Young made the announcement on December 30, following Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s declaration of the emergency measure earlier that day.
Young emphasized that the SoE would not include a curfew or restrictions on public gatherings, ensuring that business operations and daily life can continue uninterrupted. This approach aims to avoid economic disruption while targeting criminal activities with heightened law enforcement measures.
The decision to implement the SoE was based on intelligence provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). Young stated that while certain details remain classified, the information revealed coordinated planning by criminal elements, particularly involving illegal firearms such as AR-15s and AK-47s.
Under the SoE, police will have expanded powers, including warrantless searches and the authority to detain individuals for up to 48 hours, with possible extensions of seven days approved by senior officials. The Defence Force has also been granted police powers to support the crackdown on violent crime.
Former National Security Minister and Police Commissioner Gary Griffith criticized the SoE, describing it as a short-term measure that fails to address the root causes of crime. Griffith argued that sustainable crime reduction requires effective policies, modern technology, and competent leadership, not temporary measures that infringe on constitutional rights.
“This is like putting a plaster on a sore,” Griffith said, noting that during his tenure, strategic measures achieved the lowest violent crime rates in 17 years. He also accused the current administration of hypocrisy, recalling its past criticism of similar emergency measures introduced by a previous government.
As the murder toll for 2024 reaches a staggering 623, with 61 homicides in December alone, the SoE is seen as a critical, though contentious, step to stem the violence. Parliament will convene within 15 days to deliberate on extending the emergency powers.
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