Trinidad and Tobago's government has declared a state of emergency for the first time in over a decade due to a worrying spike in gang violence and homicide rates, allowing military intervention.
Trinidad and Tobago Introduces State of Emergency Amid Gang Violence Surge
Trinidad and Tobago Introduces State of Emergency Amid Gang Violence Surge
The Caribbean nation’s government takes drastic measures to combat escalating crime and gang-related homicides.
The government of Trinidad and Tobago announced a state of emergency on Monday in response to a significant rise in violent crime, particularly gang-related killings. This emergency status grants the military powers to arrest individuals and enables law enforcement to conduct warrantless searches of suspects’ homes. The measure arrives as a result of public outcry over the country’s failure to curtail escalating violence, with homicides reaching an alarming total of 623 in a nation of just 1.4 million people in 2024.
At a press conference in Port of Spain, Acting Attorney General Stuart Young and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds highlighted the severity of the situation. Hinds described the wave of killings as an epidemic constituting a public health crisis. Figures from law enforcement reveal that this year alone saw numerous multiple homicides, including 33 incidents where two or more individuals were killed.
Notably, unlike previous states of emergency linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, this measure will not impose curfews or restrict public movements to safeguard economic activities. Nonetheless, police and military personnel will retain the authority to stop and search individuals who are suspected of engaging in criminal behavior.
The ongoing battle against gang violence in Trinidad and Tobago has historical roots, with criminal groups entrenched in the community for over 25 years. The last decade has witnessed a marked increase in violent crimes attributed to these gangs, according to insights from experts like Alex Papadovassilakis of Insight Crime. Current estimates suggest there are about 186 gangs operating in the country, composed of over 1,750 members. Papadovassilakis stated that many of these gangs are not highly organized; they are primarily small, territorial street gangs involved in drug trafficking and other forms of violence.
This drastic step reflects a growing sense of urgency among the government and law enforcement agencies to restore order and address the pressing security challenges faced by the country.
At a press conference in Port of Spain, Acting Attorney General Stuart Young and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds highlighted the severity of the situation. Hinds described the wave of killings as an epidemic constituting a public health crisis. Figures from law enforcement reveal that this year alone saw numerous multiple homicides, including 33 incidents where two or more individuals were killed.
Notably, unlike previous states of emergency linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, this measure will not impose curfews or restrict public movements to safeguard economic activities. Nonetheless, police and military personnel will retain the authority to stop and search individuals who are suspected of engaging in criminal behavior.
The ongoing battle against gang violence in Trinidad and Tobago has historical roots, with criminal groups entrenched in the community for over 25 years. The last decade has witnessed a marked increase in violent crimes attributed to these gangs, according to insights from experts like Alex Papadovassilakis of Insight Crime. Current estimates suggest there are about 186 gangs operating in the country, composed of over 1,750 members. Papadovassilakis stated that many of these gangs are not highly organized; they are primarily small, territorial street gangs involved in drug trafficking and other forms of violence.
This drastic step reflects a growing sense of urgency among the government and law enforcement agencies to restore order and address the pressing security challenges faced by the country.
