TRINIDAD | Gang Violence Triggers State of Emergency Declaration in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, December 31, 2024 - The streets of Port of Spain ran red this weekend as a wave of gang violence pushed Trinidad and Tobago into declaring a nationwide state of emergency, marking a grim milestone in the Caribbean nation's battle against organized crime.

With more than 600 murders already recorded this year – the highest in over a decade – the twin-island republic faces its most severe security crisis since the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2021.

"There is no doubt in my mind that we are dealing with an epidemic," declared National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds on Monday, as authorities scrambled to contain what officials described as an "outbreak of gang violence" that left at least seven dead in a brutal 48-hour span.

The violence erupted Saturday when gunmen wielding automatic rifles launched a brazen attack mere steps from the Besson Street Police Station, killing a suspected gang leader.

The bloodshed escalated Sunday as retaliatory strikes in the impoverished Laventille neighborhood claimed five more lives, with local residents reporting that most victims were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.

The emergency declaration, announced by President Christine Carla Kangaloo on the advice of Prime Minister Keith Rowley, significantly expands law enforcement authority. Police can now arrest individuals merely suspected of criminal involvement and conduct searches of both public and private premises without warrants.

While stopping short of imposing a curfew, the measures allow authorities to detain suspects for up to 48 hours, with officials promising a heightened military and police presence across both islands.

In a statement, the prime minister's office emphasized that the emergency powers are specifically aimed at "addressing individuals who pose a threat to public safety, particularly those involved in criminal activities and the illegal use of firearms." The December death toll alone stands at 67, contributing to this year's grim total of 623 murders.

"The criminal gangs are likely to immediately increase their brazen acts of violence in reprisal shootings on a scale so extensive that it threatens persons and will endanger public safety," warned acting Attorney General Stuart Young, justifying the extraordinary measures.

The surge in violence comes at a particularly sensitive time as the nation approaches elections, with Prime Minister Rowley's People's National Movement party facing off against the opposition United National Congress. The timing has raised questions about whether political tensions might be exacerbating the security situation.

This is not the first time the twin-island nation has resorted to emergency measures to combat violence. Similar declarations were made in 2014 and 2011, both in response to spikes in drug-related crimes.

Behind the immediate crisis lies a complex web of over 100 gangs vying for control of the islands' lucrative drug trade, pushing Trinidad and Tobago's murder rate to one of the highest in the Caribbean, alongside Jamaica and Haiti.

According to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), violent deaths in the region occur at nearly triple the global average. The weekend's carnage reportedly stemmed from an alliance between the notorious Sixx gang and smaller groups seeking to eliminate their longtime rivals, the Seven group.

A police-brokered ceasefire between the factions in 2023 quickly unraveled, leading to the current escalation.

Trinidad and Tobago's strategic location – with proximity to Venezuela and direct flight routes to North America and Europe – has made it a prime narcotics transshipment point.

In September 2023, U.S. authorities collaborated with local forces to capture and extradite notorious drug kingpin Shurlan Guppy, highlighting the international dimensions of the crisis.

Despite the emergency measures, officials insist that daily life, including schools, businesses, and upcoming New Year's celebrations, will continue as planned.

However, for residents of affected areas like Laventille, where families of the slain are pleading with gang members to lay down their arms, the promise of normalcy rings hollow amid fears of further reprisals.

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