Trinidad and Tobago to extend state of emergency by three months
Key Points(5)
- The Trinidad and Tobago government says it will extend the country’s state of emergency (SoE) by a further three months as authorities continue efforts to address what officials describe as ongoing security threats.
- The current SoE, which began on March 3, is scheduled to expire on June 17.
- The extension will require parliamentary approval, where the government holds a 28–13 majority.
- A statement from the Office of the Attorney General said the National Security Council (NSC) met on Friday night to review security reports covering emergency measures implemented between December 2024 and May 2026.
- “The report highlighted analyses of datasets related to all significant local and international threats to state security,” the statement said, adding that all three states of emergency reviewed were linked to “meaningful disruptions” in crime-related indicators.
The Trinidad and Tobago government says it will extend the country’s state of emergency (SoE) by a further three months as authorities continue efforts to address what officials describe as ongoing security threats.
The current SoE, which began on March 3, is scheduled to expire on June 17. The extension will require parliamentary approval, where the government holds a 28–13 majority.
A statement from the Office of the Attorney General said the National Security Council (NSC) met on Friday night to review security reports covering emergency measures implemented between December 2024 and May 2026.
“The report highlighted analyses of datasets related to all significant local and international threats to state security,” the statement said, adding that all three states of emergency reviewed were linked to “meaningful disruptions” in crime-related indicators.
Following the review, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar decided to take the matter to Parliament for a three-month extension, with debate set for Wednesday.
The SoE has been a central tool in the government’s security strategy since it took office in May 2025, with two separate declarations introduced in response to rising crime and threats linked to gangs and illegal firearms.
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro said the police service has recorded “positive results” during the emergency period, including reductions in crime across multiple divisions.
However, he stressed that the final decision on extending the SoE rests with the government.
Opposition figures have sharply criticised the move. The People’s National Movement (PNM) has warned it is prepared to file a constitutional challenge if the extension proceeds, arguing that the emergency powers are being used excessively and may infringe on citizens’ rights.
Former national security minister Marvin Gonzales said the party has already assembled legal teams to contest what it calls an “unlawful and unconstitutional” continuation of emergency rule.
Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles also raised concerns that the SoE could be restricting public demonstrations, including protests near Parliament.
Defence Minister Wayne Sturge, however, defended the proposed extension, saying that while progress has been made against crime and illegal trafficking, more time is needed to consolidate gains.
He said he personally supports another three-month extension but emphasised that the decision ultimately rests with the National Security Council and Parliament.
“We are making a significant dent,” Sturge said, noting improvements in law enforcement operations against gangs and the illegal flow of guns and drugs.
The opposition, meanwhile, has vowed to continue its legal and political pushback as the debate over the use of emergency powers intensifies.
