Trinidad and Tobago ends state of emergency amid pushback over mass arrests
Summary
Trinidad and Tobago has ended its state of emergency, which gave the government special powers to fight crime, including arresting people without charging them. Instead, the government plans to create permanent laws to target violent crime while protecting citizens’ rights and allowing oversight by courts and parliament.Key Facts
- The state of emergency was first declared in 2024 and extended multiple times until mid-2025.
- Over 5,800 people have been arrested under the emergency powers since March 2025.
- About 2,250 of those arrested have not yet been charged with any crime.
- The government will introduce new laws for dealing with violent crime, gangs, and illegal weapons.
- Critics say the mass arrests violated civil rights and some detainees were held without proper legal protections.
- A businessman and his wife were arrested over a plot to kill the prime minister but were released without charges.
- Police reported 624 killings in 2024, dropping to 369 in 2025, with current year numbers slightly lower than last year.
- Lawyers and human rights groups are calling for investigations into possible government abuses during the emergency.
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