Trinidad And Tobago Extends Emergency State Amid Gang Violence And Rising Homicides

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has extended its state of emergency (SoE) for another three months following a spate of gang violence that killed six people in a week. The T&T parliament unanimously approved the extension late Monday, continuing the emergency measures initially declared on December 30 after police warned of an impending gang war.

The SoE temporarily suspends certain constitutional rights, giving police and defense forces enhanced powers to search and seize assets. Prime Minister Keith Rowley emphasized that the measures were crucial in preventing further bloodshed, likely averting multiple killings involving high-powered rifles in public areas.

Despite the severity of the violence, the government decided against declaring a curfew. Rowley said that the SoE should continue to remain “tailored and unobtrusive” to not disturb law-abiding people. The twin-island nation has been experiencing the gradual increase of homicides and gang violence for more than a decade now, and last year’s count was at 624, making T&T one of the most violent countries in the region.

Rowley attributed much of the violence to the influx of illegal firearms, condemning the U.S. Department of Commerce for facilitating arms exports that has fed the chaos. While he pointed out the continuous efforts on the part of Caribbean nations to curb gun trafficking, he hailed initiatives such as those from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who are addressing the problem.

Criminologist Darius Figuera criticized the government’s focus on low-level criminals, arguing that transnational organized crime poses a more significant threat. He stressed the importance of prosecuting key perpetrators before the SoE ends to prevent renewed violence.

SoE and Tourism: Garvin Heerah, of the research organization Focal Point, acknowledged that the SoE was necessary but feared it would dampen tourism and investment. Meanwhile, event promoters expressed optimism, considering no such impact on the tourist numbers ahead of the forthcoming carnival-a major cultural and economic spectacle.