Trinidad and Tobago Lifts State of Emergency Following Heavy Criticism Over Mass Arrests

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stands at the State Department in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2025.

The Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago has officially ended a state of emergency that had granted the government extraordinary powers to combat crime, which included the controversial ability to imprison individuals without formal charges. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced to parliament on Wednesday that the administration would forgo extending the state of emergency, following previous implementations in 2024 and 2025.

Instead of renewals, the government intends to pursue a permanent legal framework. In a social media statement, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar explained that the proposed legislation would establish permanent guidelines for targeted operations against violent crime, gangs, illegal weapons, and criminal financial networks, while incorporating safeguards for law-abiding citizens, judicial oversight, and parliamentary accountability.

The administration previously faced intense criticism over a campaign of mass arrests that suspended essential civil liberties under the justification of cracking down on crime and security threats. High-profile figures, including a prominent businessman and his wife, were detained over alleged involvement in an assassination plot against the prime minister, though they were ultimately released without charges.

The security measures were most recently extended in June, with the prime minister reporting that over 5,800 people had been arrested following a March extension. Approximately 2,250 of those detainees remained without formal charges, leaving uncertainty regarding their release now that the state of emergency has concluded.

Legal representation has already begun responding to the policy change. Lawyer Criston Williams informed The Associated Press news agency that he anticipates lawsuits against the government from individuals detained without charge, while also urging the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to investigate potential government abuses.

Describing the conditions of detainees, Criston Williams stated that individuals were transported blindfolded and shackled with gray knapsacks over their heads, and noted that legal consultations occurred under the observation of armed law enforcement personnel and security cameras, undermining attorney-client privilege.

Official statistics show that Trinidad and Tobago recorded a record 624 killings among its population of approximately 1.4 million in 2024, a figure that decreased to 369 in 2025. Police data further indicates that 255 killings have been registered so far this year, compared to 268 during the same timeframe in 2025.