Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has confirmed her administration’s swift action in declaring a State of Emergency (SOE), citing a serious threat to public safety posed by organised criminal gangs operating across Trinidad and Tobago.
In a national statement issued Friday, the Prime Minister emphasized that the decision followed an intelligence report received from Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro. Based on the report, she said she immediately instructed Attorney General John Jeremie to initiate the necessary steps to advise President Christine Kangaloo, who issued the SOE proclamation later that evening.
“My government came into office on the promise that we would address the crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago as a matter of priority,” Persad-Bissessar said. “I will not stand idly by… while a minority of illegally armed individuals act in concert to intimidate the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
The Prime Minister condemned the recent resurgence of violent crimes, including kidnappings for ransom, which authorities have linked to an organised crime syndicate operating both inside and outside the prison system. She stressed that this SOE is not politically motivated, but rather a “critical measure to attack the crime situation within the parameters of the law.”
“For years, while in Opposition, I repeatedly called for a State of Emergency… not as cheap political gimmickry, but as a critical measure,” she said. “This Government walks the walk.”
The SOE took effect just after midnight on July 18, following the issuance of the proclamation and regulations by the President. Police immediately launched targeted operations to secure communities and critical institutions.
Persad-Bissessar assured citizens that her government is working in close coordination with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to ensure the SOE delivers “tangible results” in reducing violent crime and restoring public trust.
She also promised that the government and law enforcement agencies will continue to provide regular updates to the population over the coming days.
The Prime Minister’s statement came just hours after Commissioner Guevarro revealed the existence of a highly coordinated gang network and confirmed the relocation of several gang leaders to more secure facilities as part of an intensified crackdown.
