By Sue-Ann Wayow

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her government is taking urgent and necessary steps to cut off immediate threats with the implementation of a State of Emergency (SoE).

Persad-Bissessar issued a statement at 1.41 pm on Friday after two press conferences were held, one by  Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro and the other by Attorney General John Jeremie.

She stated, “Last evening I received an intelligence report from the Commissioner of Police and I immediately directed my Attorney General to take the requisite steps to advise Her Excellency, the President, to declare that a State of Emergency existed in Trinidad and Tobago.”

The declaration was made at 12.02 am on Friday.

Persad-Bissessar said, “I will not stand idly by for years, months, weeks or even days while a minority of illegally armed individuals act in concert to intimidate the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

“I will not tolerate a resurgence of kidnappings for ransom and other heinous crimes initiated by gangs. I will not allow these elements of society to continue to terrorise and traumatise law-abiding citizens and to wreak havoc in our l

and.”

Persad-Bissessar reminded citizens that for years, while in opposition, she repeatedly called for an SoE, “not as cheap political gimmickry to appease the population leading up to an election” but as a critical measure to attack the crime situation within the parameters of the law.

“This Government walks the walk. We are taking urgent action to cut off this immediate threat at the root, and to safeguard our people. Our government is working closely with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to ensure that this State of Emergency brings tangible results in our fight against crime,” she said.

The prime minister said her government has promised to do everything necessary to ensure that citizens felt safe in their homes, workplaces, schools and places of worship.

The TTPS and the government will continue to keep the population informed, as appropriate, within the coming days, she said.

At the AG’s press conference, he was asked about the absence of Persad-Bissessar and he responded she was busy at work with similar related matters and a press statement from her was expected soon.

He also said he would not have advised her to have a third press conference on the SoE having had two already for the day.

Persad-Bissessar in her first tenure as prime minister from 2010 to 2015 called a SoE in 2011.

That SoE was in response to a wave of violent crime in which 11 people were killed in a single weekend in August and lasted for an initial 15 days with a curfew from 9 pm to 5 am. It was further extended for three months ended on December 5, 2011.