ON December 30, President Christine Kangaloo declared a state of emergency (SoE) in Trinidad and Tobago under Section 8 of the Constitution.
A statement bearing the President’s seal explained the implementation of the SoE is based on the advice of the TT Police Service to the National Security Council - which is headed by the Prime Minister – in response to spiralling crime levels which have been deemed a public health emergency.
At a press conference after the President’s declaration, Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and acting Attorney General Stuart Young spoke to the media about the SoE.
Hinds remarked, “It will give the police service, supported by the Defence Force, the leverage to fight back against these trends (growing gang violence) on your behalf, the law-abiding citizens of TT."
See below for Newsday’s coverage of the SoE.
