Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley defended his administration’s decision to impose a state of emergency (SoE) in Trinidad and Tobago, saying the State had to act "decisively to restore a balance between the fundamental rights of all citizens and the protection from the dangerous excesses carried out by a lawless few."
The government announced the SoE on Monday due to the threat to national security posed by reprisal killings and the use of high-powered weapons by criminals. Acting Attorney General Stuart Young explained that the SoE was declared based on information provided to them by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), adding that there were elements that could not be divulged.
Prime Minister Rowley said he hopes citizens will enter 2025 "energized, with clearer insights and that we are more open to new perspectives on the challenges that face our nation." He asked the country to consider the existence of the SoE, which is aimed at criminal elements in society who have engaged in open warfare against each other and who were executing plans to make this unacceptable state of affairs the norm in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Prime Minister understands that some citizens may hold fears about the direction of the country rather than hope. However, he urges them to imagine how intolerable and shattering their lives would be without that virtue of hope. "Understandably, both fear and hope reside within the human spirit and can be misplaced, equally, with false expectations, but fear must always be conquered, while hope, as a moral virtue, must be sustained. We need that virtue of hope to undertake our nation’s business successfully."
Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher said that the SoE has guaranteed positive results, with at least 46 people detained since the measure came into force. She added that the additional powers available to the police service will empower it to use its intelligence to launch very invasive policing operations targeting known and prolific offenders, especially those involved with illegal drugs, firearms, and ammunitions, and the commission of violent crimes, including kidnapping, home invasions, and homicides.
The Police Commissioner said it is inevitable that the public would be inconvenienced at times, assuring law-abiding members of the public that the TTP would be fair and responsible over the period while calling on the public to be responsible and cooperate with law enforcement.
Chief of Defence Staff Darryl Daniel said that under the Defence Act, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) would continue to aid the police. He added that the TTDF would act by general rules and special instructions issued by what is required.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar, in her New Year’s message, said, "Without a doubt, 2024 has been one of the most difficult and challenging years for Trinidad and Tobago." She added that it was the year the country experienced "unparalleled trauma and terror from the unprecedented crime and violence wave that has plunged our nation into a seemingly permanent state of darkness and despair."
In his message, Prime Minister Rowley said that "the start of 2025 could be an appropriate time to ask ourselves, individually, some basic questions: ‘How should I live my life? ‘What values shall I live by? What sort of person should I be? What shall I aim for?’ He urged parents to raise these age-old questions daily in every household, in family gatherings, in schools, churches, mosques, and mandirs, in every workplace, in social exchanges, and even among members of Parliament.
The Prime Minister said that many of the country’s "immense economic challenges in our economy are being navigated successfully, and the country is on a path considered to be sustained growth." He added that last year, Trinidad and Tobago recorded its third consecutive year of actual gross domestic product (GDP) growth, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook the country a 2.3 percent estimated growth rate for 2025.
The Prime Minister concluded by saying that citizens should see further hope in the vibrancy of the Social Services sector, where citizens in need have access to vital services. He also expressed hope that the country will continue to enjoy the benefits of its successes and resolve to stay the course to do even better.
Conclusion
The state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago is aimed at restoring a balance between the fundamental rights of all citizens and the protection from the dangerous excesses carried out by a lawless few. The government has taken decisive action to address the threat to national security posed by reprisal killings and the use of high-powered weapons by criminals.
FAQs
Q: Why was the state of emergency declared?
A: The state of emergency was declared due to the threat to national security posed by reprisal killings and the use of high-powered weapons by criminals.
Q: What are the goals of the state of emergency?
A: The goals of the state of emergency are to restore a balance between the fundamental rights of all citizens and the protection from the dangerous excesses carried out by a lawless few.
Q: How many people have been detained since the state of emergency came into force?
A: At least 46 people have been detained since the state of emergency came into force.
Q: What is the current economic situation in Trinidad and Tobago?
A: The country is on a path considered to be sustained growth, with a 2.3 percent estimated growth rate for 2025.
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