Trinidad and Tobago ends state of emergency

Trinidad and Tobago has ended its state of emergency, which granted the government extraordinary powers to combat crime, including the authority to imprison individuals without charge. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar informed parliament that the government will not extend the current measures but will instead pursue a “permanent legal framework” to target violent crime, gangs, and illegal weapons networks.

The decision follows significant criticism regarding a campaign of mass arrests that suspended key civil liberties. Since a March extension, more than 5,800 people have been arrested, with approximately 2,250 individuals remaining without charges. Legal experts have suggested that those detained without charge may pursue lawsuits against the government, and there have been calls for oversight from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.