Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency following a dramatic surge in violent crime, with organised criminal gangs and the international drug trade at the forefront of the escalating violence. The declaration was made by President Christine Carla Kangaloo after Prime Minister Keith Rowley faced mounting pressure to tackle the country’s alarming crime rates, which have placed the twin-island republic among the highest homicide rates in the Caribbean and Latin America.
With a population of 1.5 million, Trinidad and Tobago has already recorded more than 620 murders in 2024, a figure that sets a grim record. The government has attributed much of the violence to organised crime, with many murders tied to narcotics trafficking. According to the U.S. State Department, the country’s strategic location close to Venezuela, with porous borders and direct transport routes to Europe and North America has made it a prime hub for drug transshipment. This has made the Caribbean nation vulnerable to violent turf wars between gangs vying for control of the lucrative drug trade.
One of the latest tragic events occurred in the Laventille area, where five men were gunned down in a store. Police suspect that the killings were part of an ongoing gang feud, possibly linked to the earlier murder of a prominent gang figure. Such incidents are becoming all too familiar as violence spreads across the country, particularly in impoverished areas where criminal organisations maintain a tight grip on power.
In response to the growing crisis, the state of emergency grants law enforcement additional powers, including the authority to arrest individuals on suspicion of involvement in criminal activities and to search both private and public properties. However, the government has stated that there are no plans to impose a curfew, a move that would restrict the daily lives of citizens. The main objective of the state of emergency is to curtail the influence of criminal elements and the illegal use of firearms.
While the emergency measures aim to enhance security, their impact on the country’s famous Carnival, scheduled for March 2024, remains uncertain. Carnival is a major cultural and economic event, drawing tens of thousands of visitors, and any disruption could have significant implications for the tourism industry.
The state of emergency also comes at a politically sensitive time, as the country prepares for general elections, which are due by August 2025. The government’s handling of the crisis could play a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape and public perception ahead of the polls.
