Trinidad’s state of emergency triggered by use of high-powered illegal weapons, gang violence

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, in declaring a State of Emergency (SOE) in the wee hours of Monday morning, has said that the circumstances that mandated this “extreme action” is the virtual outbreak of gang violence and the increased use of high-powered illegal firearms, including automatic weapons.

Furthermore, the government said it believes that certain criminal gangs throughout the country are likely to immediately increase their brazen acts of violent criminal activity.

Government representatives on Monday said at a press conference that they are traumatised at the alarming rate of deaths involving innocent bystanders.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Stuart Young stated that the 61 homicides for December 2024 (622 homicides for the year), is not the main reason for the declaration.

The firearm situation, and the type of guns being used, is what is of particular concern, Young said. He referenced two incidents over the past 48 hours where someone was shot just outside of a police station with a high-powered weapon, and 24 hours later, six people were targeted and shot, with five dying.

“This was a reprisal shooting and there can be expected heightened reprisal activity that immediately took us out of the norm,” Young said.

No curfew has been set, though, and the police service will be given additional powers to search premises and persons without warrants and to detain persons for 48 hours, after which, a magistrate can order additional time.

Young stressed that a “continued level of planning and execution by criminal elements” is expected.

President Christine Kangaloo declared the SOE on the advice of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

The government said the circumstances warranting the declaration of the public emergency are based on the advice of the police service to the National Security Council of heightened criminal activity which endangers the public safety.

The last time a state of emergency was declared in Trinidad and Tobago was in 2021 to allow for restrictions to fight the Covid-19 virus.

In 2014, during the tenure of the People’s Partnership government, a SoE was also triggered in response to a crime wave.