Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency in response to a sharp increase in gang violence, exacerbated by the proliferation of illegal, high-powered firearms in the
Caribbean nation.
This declaration, announced on Monday, grants law enforcement enhanced powers to combat gang-related activities, including reprisal killings. Acting Attorney General Stuart Young emphasized the gravity of the decision, stating that it was based on intelligence from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, which necessitated urgent action.
Expanded Police Powers
The state of emergency empowers police to arrest individuals suspected of illegal activities, search public and private properties, and suspend bail. However, the government clarified that no curfews would be imposed, and citizens’ rights to public gatherings and demonstrations would remain intact.
Young linked the emergency to a spate of violence in Port of Spain over the weekend. He highlighted a Saturday incident near the Besson Street police station, where gunmen armed with a high-caliber automatic weapon ambushed suspected gang leader Calvin Lee and his entourage. While Lee escaped, one person was killed, triggering a series of reprisal attacks.
Within 24 hours, five people were killed in Laventille, a suburb of Port of Spain. Young warned of potential further violence, citing the use of high-powered firearms like AK-47s and AR-15s, which elevate the risk to public safety.
Illegal Firearms in the Caribbean
Young attributed the escalating violence to the widespread availability of illegal firearms, a problem plaguing the entire Caribbean region. Trinidad and Tobago, like other Caribbean nations, does not manufacture firearms, making the illegal importation of weapons a significant issue.
A substantial number of these firearms originate from the United States, the world’s largest weapons exporter. Data from the US Government Accountability Office reveals that between 2018 and 2022, 73% of firearms recovered in crimes across the Caribbean were traced back to the US. This includes many high-powered weapons connected to gang violence.
The United States has partnered with 13 Caribbean nations to curb the illegal firearms trade, tracing nearly 7,400 firearms in the region over four years. Despite these efforts, the flow of illegal weapons continues to fuel violence.
A Growing Crisis
Trinidad and Tobago is grappling with record homicide rates, with 623 murders reported in 2024 so far. Gangs were responsible for 263 of these killings, according to Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds. December alone saw 61 homicides, underscoring the urgency of the current crisis.
“The declaration of a public emergency aims to confront criminals and provide law enforcement with the tools needed to address the threats posed by organized crime,” Hinds stated.
The government hopes that the state of emergency will help restore public safety and address the escalating violence, though it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in curbing the crisis. Photo by abdallahh from Montreal, Canada, Wikimedia commons.