The Trinidad and Tobago government has reiterated its policy of not offering firearm amnesties, despite the ongoing state of emergency (SoE) in the country. This statement came as the government officially published the emergency powers under the current SoE. The government emphasized that its position on firearms remains firm, with no plans to introduce an amnesty for illegal weapons.
The SoE came into effect on December 30 last year and has since been extended by a further three months.
In a statement, the Trinidad and Tobago Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs said it is advising the public of the coming into effect of the Emergency Powers (Amendment) Regulations, 2025.
It also said that Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday “agreed to amend the 2024 Emergency Regulations by the deletion of Regulation 11, given that the policy of the Government has been and remains not to offer firearms amnesties”.
Regulation 11 had been lifted from the previous state of emergency precedents in 2011 and 1990.
“It was neither operationalized by a period being prescribed, nor an order made in accordance with the 2024 emergency regulations and accordingly regulation 11 never took effect. Further, all firearms recovered to date under the 2024 state of emergency have been as a result of seizures by law enforcement and not through the surrender of firearms,” the statement said.
The ministry indicated that the cabinet has assented to the extension of regulations authorizing the SoE.
“The safety and well-being of the population remains of paramount importance to the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and so the 2024 Emergency Regulations (as amended) remain in force,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said that an anti-crime operation conducted in the Point Fortin district, in south-western Trinidad, earlier this week, targeted a 33-year-old priority offender.
It said during the operation the police seized one AR-15 rifle, seven rounds of 5.56mm ammunition with a magazine, and found cannabis plants in a hydroponic grow lab.
The police said that the operation was conducted under the Emergency Powers Regulation 2024.
Additionally this week, they intercepted a drug transport operation during a routine traffic exercise in Chaguanas in central Trinidad.
Officers had reportedly stopped a vehicle to check the vehicle’s compliance with tint regulations and “the behavior of the driver and passengers raised officers’ suspicion, prompting a search of the vehicle.”
“This search led to the discovery of 20 packets of compressed cannabis, with a total weight of 11.76 kilograms. The estimated street value of the illegal narcotics is approximately TT$1.76 million (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents),” the police said, adding that the suspects were immediately arrested and are currently assisting police with ongoing inquiries.
