Caption: John Jeremie

Summary

• AG’s position: Attorney General John Jeremie says the PM and NSC had ‘no choice’ but to advise a State of Emergency based on intelligence.
• Trigger: A Monday-night briefing by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro and other intelligence pointed to escalating gang violence and expected continuation.
• Reason cited: NSC was told recent attacks included mass shootings and multiple deaths, largely linked to organised gangs.
• Action now: Jeremie says strategic, intelligence-led operations began early Tuesday and will continue until threats are reduced.
• Looking back: He said the previous SoE (July 2025–Jan 31, 2026) helped reduce violent crime and disrupt gang leadership, but a recent uptick prompted renewed emergency measures.

 

By Alicia Chamely

ACTING on intelligence, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the National Security Council (NSC) had no choice but to advise that a State of Emergency (SoE) be declared, Attorney General John Jeremie said.

In a live statement carried on state broadcaster TTT on Tuesday, Jeremie—joined by Minister of Homeland Security and Minister of Justice Devesh Maharaj—said the decision was triggered by a Monday night NSC meeting with Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro and intelligence indicating an escalating pattern of gang violence. No media were invited to this event.

“As the Prime Minister stated earlier this morning, the National Security Council met and was given a briefing by the Commissioner of Police last night,” Jeremie said.

He said, “The council was advised that over the last several days, a number of violent criminal activities have taken place in the full gaze of a horrified population—most of which have been carried out by members of organised criminal gangs.”

He said the NSC was advised that gangs had increased violence “on a scale so extensive” that it resulted in multiple deaths in mass shootings and that the pattern was expected to continue.

“The Prime Minister and the National Security Council had no choice. We immediately determined to advise Her Excellency that a state of public emergency exists in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

Jeremie reminded the public that Persad-Bissessar had previously said she would not hesitate to use “all powers at her disposal” to quell any upsurge in gang activity.

On the SoE, Jeremie said the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the armed forces would be able to act “in a manner that matches the escalating danger” posed to law-abiding citizens and to the rule of law.

He said strategic operations began in the early hours of Tuesday and would continue in an intelligence-led, targeted and deliberate manner “until these threats to public safety are eliminated.”

He added that while the security agencies carry out immediate operations, the Government is also putting longer-term measures in place to maintain order and public safety, and would update the public on initiatives and operations where appropriate.

Jeremie also referenced the previous SoE, which was declared in July 2025, extended, and expired on January 31, 2026. He said the TTPS and Defence Force conducted operations that isolated certain gang leaders from the groups and enterprises they controlled, contributing to progress in dismantling organised criminal networks.

He said violent crime and several serious offences dropped to the lowest levels in years during that period, which he attributed largely to intelligence-led efforts by the TTPS and armed forces.

However, Jeremie said a recent uptick in murders and gang-related activity left the Government with no choice but to declare another SoE to regain control and protect the public.