Trinidad and Tobago Extends State of Emergency Due to Rising Violence

The government of Trinidad and Tobago has extended its state of emergency amid increasing gang violence and rising homicide rates.

Trinidad and Tobago Extends State of Emergency Due to Rising Violence
Trinidad and Tobago Extends State of Emergency Due to Rising Violence

Port of Spain: The violence in Trinidad and Tobago has really escalated lately. The government decided to extend the state of emergency that started back in December. This comes after a week of intense gang fighting that left at least six people dead.

On Monday night, the parliament agreed to keep the emergency measures going for another three months. They did this after police warned about a possible gang war brewing.

This state of emergency means some rights are temporarily put on hold. It gives police and the military more power to search and seize things. Prime Minister Keith Rowley mentioned that these measures are saving lives and likely preventing more killings in crowded areas.

Interestingly, they didn’t impose a curfew. Rowley said they want the emergency to be as unobtrusive as possible for law-abiding citizens.

Trinidad and Tobago has been dealing with rising crime and gang issues for over ten years now. Last year, the country recorded 624 homicides, making it one of the most dangerous places in the Caribbean.

Police say that gang-related violence is responsible for over 40% of the murders this year, many involving illegal firearms. Rowley criticized the U.S. for exporting arms, saying it puts pressure on countries like T&T.

Caribbean nations have been asking the U.S. for help to stop the flow of guns into the region. Recently, New York’s attorney general tried to push for new laws to tackle gun trafficking.

Rowley believes that their efforts are making the U.S. take notice and act on this issue.

However, criminologist Darius Figuera thinks the government is missing the bigger picture. He argues that while the police focus on small-time criminals, the real threat comes from international crime groups fighting for control in the Caribbean.

Figuera also pointed out that the state of emergency needs to lead to actual charges against the criminals. If they don’t, the violence will just start up again once the emergency ends.

Security expert Garvin Heerah agrees that the state of emergency is needed right now but worries about how it affects the country’s image and tourism. He mentioned that foreign investments are reconsidering their options unless things improve.

The state of emergency will be in place during carnival, which is a huge event for the country, attracting many visitors and generating significant revenue.

Paige de Leon, from the Trinidad and Tobago Event Promoters Association, said they haven’t seen any drop in tourist numbers yet. She’s optimistic that the entertainment scene will remain unaffected as long as the emergency measures stay as they are.

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