The government of Trinidad and Tobago has instituted a state of emergency: The full statement follows:
Five weeks ago, as the country emerged from a State of Emergency (SOE), the Honourable Prime
Minister expressed her resolve, and that of her Government, to continue to monitor the activities
of the criminal gangs in Trinidad and Tobago. She said then that she would not hesitate if the need
arose to use all powers at her disposal to quell any upsurge in gang activity.
Last night, upon learning of threatened further violent actions and planned reprisal killings by
gang members, the Prime Minister triggered the provisions of the Constitution and asked Her
Excellency, the President, to declare a State of Emergency in Trinidad and Tobago. The
Proclamation was signed by Her Excellency, and a State of Emergency came into effect at 12:01
this morning.
This Government has demonstrated a clear, decisive, zero-tolerance approach to gang related
crime. Upon learning of a threat to state actors and facilities emanating from within the prisons
system, the Government declared a State of Public Emergency in July of 2025. The SOE was
extended by the Parliament in accordance with the provision of the Constitution and ended on
January 31st, 2026.
During that period of time (July, 2025 to January, 2026), the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
(TTPS) and the Defence Force conducted a number of operations and isolated certain gang leaders
from the gangs and enterprises they controlled. The threat was eliminated and significant headway was made in dismantling the organized criminal networks which have terrorized our population
for over a decade; murdering members of the population and innocent citizens in cold blood, and
perpetrating heinous, despicable, violent crimes across the length and breadth of Trinidad and
Tobago.
The murder rate and number of serious crimes dropped precipitously to the lowest recorded
numbers in years, owing, in no small measure, to the diligent, intelligence-led efforts of the TTPS
and the armed forces.
The Government, during that time and afterwards, sought to enact legislation that would allow the
country to continue along this trajectory of drastically curbing crime and criminal activity by, in
part, uprooting and permanently dismantling the gangs that were allowed to grow in power, reach
and wealth, unchecked, for the decade preceding our tenure. We were successful in some of these
legislative efforts, but unfortunately, unsuccessful in others.
As the Prime Minister stated earlier this morning, the National Security Council (NSC) met and
was given a briefing by the Commissioner of Police last night. The Council was advised that over
the last several days, a number of violent, criminal activities have taken place, and in the full gaze
of a horrified population, most of which have been carried out by members of organized criminal
gangs. We were further advised that criminal gangs had increased acts of violence on a scale so
extensive that they have resulted in multiple deaths in mass shootings, and that this pattern of
behaviour was set to continue.
The Prime Minister and the National Security Council had no choice. We immediately determined
to advise Her Excellency the President, as I have said, that a State of Public Emergency existed in
Trinidad and Tobago.
This Government is determined to never allow this country to deteriorate into the state of chaos
and bloodshed which we met in May of 2025 when we took office. We shall never accept the
slow, dangerous surrender to the criminal gangs in our midst. There are examples in the region of
territories that have allowed that. Trinidad and Tobago’s fate will be different.
Under the conditions of the State of Emergency, the TTPS and the armed forces will be able to do
what they are entrusted by law to do; in a manner that would match the escalating danger that is
being posed to all of us, as law-abiding citizens, and to the very rule of law in Trinidad and Tobago.
From the very early hours of this morning, strategic operations have commenced by the protective
services. These will continue in an intelligence-led, targeted and deliberate manner until these
threats to public safety are eliminated.
We take this initial aggressive approach while concurrently putting various other measures in place
that would constitute a longer term, sustainable approach to maintaining order, peace and safety
in our society.
We will continue to inform the public of various initiatives and operations taking place during this
State of Emergency, as appropriate.
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