By Sue-Ann Wayow

CITIZENS are left confused by the sudden announcement of a State of Emergency (SoE) on Friday morning, claims Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles.

In a second statement issued by the Opposition on Friday at 6.50 pm, Beckles said  government had no real plan to deal with the issue of crime and has gone to an extreme measure of an SoE – a first and final plan to deal with it.

Beckles stated, “The nation stands bewildered. What lies at the heart of the State of Emergency? The prime minister, the commander of police and the attorney general  each presented conflicting narratives leaving the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago in a state of confusion as to the true underlying motives behind this unprecedented situation.”

Referring to the press conferences held by both Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro and Attorney General John Jeremie, the Opposition said there was conflicting information coming out of them.

Guevarro had agreed with Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander that there was no increase in crime and the SoE was called mainly to deal with an issue stemming from prisons and branching out into the wider population in an organised crime syndicate.

Beckles stated, “Just after midday, upon close listening of the Attorney General’s remarks at his press conference, by contrast, shows that he anchored the decision on a surge on homicides, a wider resurgence of gang activity and an alleged assassination plot originating inside the prison system.

“Shortly after the Attorney General’s live press conference, the  prime minister issued a written public statement, further adding to the confusion.”

According to the Opposition, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar took credit for initiating the SoE launching a “full grand charge egotistical charade” in a desperate attempt to make up for notable absences.

The release stated, “What the nation is seeing is a government that has panicked and one that is hiding behind the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). What we are seeing is not leadership, it is a galloping slide into authoritarianism.”

Beckles said it was ironic that the government which was the pervious opposition for almost 10 years promised to fix crime with actionable plans, all of which have now been defaulted.

She said Persad-Bissessar had called the last SoE a “political gimmickry” and now she has invoked the same SoE powers for different and confusing reasons and to add insult to injury was the AG redirecting reporters’ questions to the TTPS.

Beckles said, “The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve better. They deserve safety without sacrificing freedom…Leadership is needed not force.”