Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear from the Government’s continued crackdown on gangs, illegal firearms, drugs and other criminal networks following the end of the country’s State of Emergency.
Persad-Bissessar said the expiration of the State of Emergency on September 17 would not mean an end to intensified crime-fighting operations. Instead, her administration plans to establish a permanent legal framework for targeted operations against violent crime while including safeguards for citizens, judicial oversight and parliamentary accountability.
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The Prime Minister said her Government would continue pursuing criminal networks and those who finance or support them, regardless of their wealth or social standing. She has previously warned that people allegedly involved in organised crime in affluent communities would face prosecution in the same manner as other citizens.
The Government’s position comes after more than 5,800 people were arrested during the latest period of emergency powers, according to Persad-Bissessar. About 3,552 were charged, while approximately 2,250 remained uncharged when the State of Emergency ended.
The emergency measures have also drawn criticism from lawyers and opposition figures, who have raised concerns about arrests without charge and the treatment of detainees. Attorney Criston J. Williams has called for an investigation into alleged infringements of detainees’ rights, while some detainees have been released without criminal charges.
Persad-Bissessar has defended the Government’s approach, saying the State of Emergency helped reduce security threats and that the new framework would allow targeted action without maintaining nationwide emergency powers. The proposed legislation is intended to focus on areas affected by violent crime, gangs, illegal weapons, and the networks that finance criminal activity.
The administration is also pursuing legislation to revive Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) as part of its broader crime-fighting strategy. Previous efforts to pass the measure were unsuccessful after the proposed legislation failed to secure the required majority in the Senate.
As the Government moves beyond the State of Emergency, Persad-Bissessar has maintained that its security measures are directed at criminal activity rather than ordinary residents. She says law-abiding citizens who cooperate with lawful operations should not be concerned as authorities continue efforts to tackle organised crime across Trinidad and Tobago.
