Broad Emergency Powers in Trinidad

By: - August 23rd, 2011

Above: Minister of National Security Brigadier John Sandy with TTDF forces earlier this year (Photo: TIS)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Trinidad’s limited State of Emergency, declared Sunday night after 11 murders in one day in the country, includes several wide-ranging powers, including granting members of the Defence Force the power to arrest and to search and seize without a warrant.

The limited State of Emergency declared Sunday night by Trinidad Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar includes a curfew, which has a series of permit guidelines for those authorized to move around.

Under the emergency powers, persons arrested during the State of Emergency could be held for up to 24 hours, and a senior officer has the authority to detain that person for a further seven days.

According to a release by the government, persons with scheduled flights that fall within the curfew period were required to visit their local police station with their passport and ticket, and even visitors to the country needed Same Day Curfew permits for permission to travel from the airport during the curfew.

The curfew, which was set to end at 5AM Tuesday, fell under the proclamation of the limited State of Emergency, according to Minister of National Security Brigadier John Sandy and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.

There is also no bail for those arrested during the period.

The government stressed that the main objectives of the measures were to eliminate crime and get illegal guns off of the streets. The proclamation was made after 11 murders were committed in one day in Trinidad this weekend.

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