In a decisive response to escalating gang violence, Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency. The announcement, made by President Christine Carla Kangaloo on the advice of Prime Minister Keith Rowley, comes amid rising public outcry over the country’s worsening crime rate.
With 620 murders reported in 2024 alone, the Caribbean nation of 1.5 million people has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. Most of the violence is linked to organized crime, particularly the international drug trade. The US State Department has highlighted Trinidad and Tobago’s strategic location near Venezuela as a key factor in its role as a narcotics trans-shipment hub.
The latest incident, a gang-related shooting in Laventille that left five men dead, underscores the severity of the crisis. Authorities believe the attack was a reprisal for the murder of a gang leader the previous day.
Under the emergency measures, police have been granted expanded powers to search premises and arrest individuals suspected of criminal involvement. However, the government has clarified that there are no immediate plans to impose a curfew.
The timing of the state of emergency is politically sensitive, as general elections are scheduled for August 2025. Prime Minister Rowley’s People’s National Movement faces mounting pressure from the opposition United National Congress, led by former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, to address the security crisis.
The emergency measures aim to restore public safety and combat the illegal use of firearms, but critics are watching closely to see how effectively the government addresses the root causes of violence.
