T&T – Prime Minister Warns of Tough Response to Crime as State of Emergency Ends

2026-02-02 - 14:57

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has issued a stern warning to criminal elements, cautioning that another State of Emergency (SOE) will be declared if gangs and former detainees fail to comply with the law following the end of the recent emergency measures. Speaking on the evening of January 28, 2026, hours before the SOE expired at midnight, Persad-Bissessar said her administration would use every lawful means available to protect citizens and maintain public order. She made it clear that criminal activity would be met with decisive and uncompromising action. In a message shared on her social media platforms, the Prime Minister said the country must shift its focus toward protecting law-abiding citizens, adding that she was unconcerned by what she described as outdated and divisive narratives used to oppose firm crime-fighting policies. She warned that anyone seeking to destabilize the country should be prepared for a forceful response, stressing that her priority is safeguarding decent citizens. According to Persad-Bissessar, those who engage in brutality against the public should expect an equally firm response from the State, within the bounds of the law. The SOE was declared under the Persad-Bissessar administration on the recommendation of Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, following intelligence pointing to a highly sophisticated crime syndicate operating both inside and outside Trinidad and Tobago’s prison system. Ahead of the SOE’s expiration, the Government attempted to introduce Zones of Special Operations through the ZOSO Bill 2026. However, the legislation failed in the Senate last week. The Prime Minister has since criticized the bill’s defeat, alleging that two Independent Senators sought personal favors in exchange for their support. She has maintained that the United National Congress Government actually held broader powers under the SOE than it would have under the proposed ZOSO framework, noting that the administration had sought to limit emergency powers by transitioning to the new legislation rather than extending the SOE. With the end of the emergency period, the enhanced powers granted to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service have lapsed, and citizens’ constitutional rights that were temporarily suspended have been restored. While the Government has stated that it is prepared for