Trinidad and Tobago Declares State of Emergency

Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency following a surge in gang violence that has resulted in a record 623 murders in 2024, marking the highest annual toll since 2013. Prime Minister Keith Rowley's office stated that the emergency powers allow police to conduct warrantless searches and detain suspects for 48 hours, although there will be no curfews to avoid economic disruption. Acting Attorney General Stuart Young highlighted the use of high-caliber firearms by gangs, with December alone recording 61 homicides, including several violent incidents over the weekend. National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds described the situation as an 'epidemic' of violence, with military support to enforce the emergency measures. The increase in violence has prompted the Foreign Office to issue travel warnings for the region, citing concerns over public safety. Authorities attribute the violence to inter-gang warfare fueled by illegal firearms, largely imported from the United States.