By: Paul Sarran
March 6, 2026
The declaration of another State of Emergency in Trinidad and Tobago is not just a legal maneuver. It is a loud and unmistakable alarm bell. It tells us, without disguise or diplomacy, that our country is confronting a serious and deeply detrimental cultural problem where crime and criminality continue to erode the foundation of national life.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, following consultations with the National Security Council and senior security officials, has acted in response to what has been described as a surge in violent gang-related activity and credible intelligence of planned attacks against members of the protective services. That intelligence cannot be dismissed. When threats extend to police officers, prison officers, and other public servants, the situation has crossed into dangerous territory.
This is not politics. This is public safety.
I will not echo the infamous phrase once uttered by a former prime minister “Wake me up when it’s over.” As one of many law-abiding citizens in this Republic, I cannot afford such indifference. None of us can. Every time we leave our homes, commute to work, attend school, or visit a community event, we do so with an unspoken concern: will we become collateral damage in someone else’s violent agenda?
That fear is corrosive. It chips away at national confidence. It damages business investment. It weakens community life. Most importantly, it steals peace from decent citizens who simply want to live without the constant shadow of gunfire and gang reprisals.
Let us confront an uncomfortable truth. This is not solely a policing crisis. It is a cultural crisis. When organized criminal gangs operate openly, when reprisals escalate without regard for innocent bystanders, and when violence becomes normalized in certain communities, we must admit that something is fundamentally broken. Emergency powers are symptoms of that brokenness. They are not the cure.
Yet, decisive leadership in moments of escalation is necessary. The Honourable Prime Minister and her security officials have taken a firm turn. Intelligence briefings were assessed. The President was advised. A constitutional mechanism was activated. That process reflects seriousness. It reflects urgency. It reflects a Government signaling zero tolerance for escalating violence.
I support the decision. However, support must come with expectation. This cannot become a repetitive cycle where emergency powers are invoked, temporary calm follows, and once those powers are lifted, criminal networks regroup and resume their operations. The public deserves more than temporary suppression. The public deserves permanent progress.
The legislative dimension of this crisis cannot be ignored. The Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) Bill was presented as a structured framework to address entrenched criminal elements within designated areas. It required a special majority. Independent and Opposition Senators had an opportunity to support or shape it. They chose not to support its passage.
Democracy allows disagreement. Senators are constitutionally empowered to vote according to conscience and interpretation of the law. However, the consequences of legislative defeat must also be examined. Since the failure of that bill, murders and violent crimes have continued to trouble communities across the nation. Citizens are justified in questioning whether broader consensus could have strengthened the fight against organized criminality.
Do Independent and Opposition Senators care about the well-being of the citizenry? I believe every parliamentarian enters public life claiming to do so. The issue is not stated intention; it is measurable outcome. When crime surges and legislative tools are rejected, citizens will inevitably ask whether political rivalry has overshadowed collective responsibility.
Public discourse must remain respectful. It must avoid defamation, insults, or personal attacks. But it must also be honest. The population is tired. The population is anxious. The population wants unity in the face of a common enemy – organized violence.
At the same time, Government must also reflect. Consultation, collaboration, and communication are essential in building special majorities. National security legislation benefits from broad support. While the Executive leads, Parliament collectively carries the burden of safeguarding citizens.
The current emergency declaration is framed as part of a zero-tolerance strategy, supported by joint operations between the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the Defence Force. Those operations must now produce tangible results. Intelligence-led raids must dismantle gang hierarchies. Illegal firearms must be seized. Financial networks that sustain organized crime must be disrupted. Prosecutions must follow arrests.
When this State of Emergency is lifted, the country should see clear evidence of progress. Not promises. Not press conferences. Evidence.
We must invest in prevention with the same intensity we apply to suppression. Youth diversion programs, educational reform, employment pathways, and family support systems are not luxuries. They are pillars of long-term security. If gang recruitment continues unchecked, emergency powers will remain a recurring feature of our national landscape.
The Prime Minister has acted. Security forces are mobilized. Parliament has debated. Now the nation watches.
This emergency must mark a turning point. It must disrupt criminal networks decisively and restore confidence in the rule of law. Anything less would signal that we have accepted violence as routine.
And that is something no responsible society should ever do.
The author holds a BSc in Political Science from The University of the West Indies.
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