The National Security Council (NSC) will meet today to determine the future of the State of Emergency (SoE), which is due to expire on September 17, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has confirmed.
Speaking with reporters outside the Hall of Justice in Pot-of-Spain following the opening of the 2026/2027 Law Term yesterday, Persad-Bissessar declined to say whether the Government would seek a further extension of the emergency measures or allow them to lapse.
“We will have a meeting of the council on Thursday, and we’ll let you know thereafter,” the Prime Minister said.
When asked directly if the Government intended to seek another extension, she replied: “We will let you know after Thursday.”
Any move to extend the current SoE beyond September 17 would take the emergency measures past the Constitution’s cumulative six-month extension limit and require a special majority in both Houses of Parliament.
The current SoE came into effect on March 3 and was first extended by three months after approval in the House of Representatives on March 13. A second three-month extension was approved by Parliament on June 10, with the motion passing 28-12.
Under the Constitution, a SoE may be extended by periods of up to three months with a simple majority in the House of Representatives, provided the combined extensions do not exceed six months. Any extension beyond that threshold requires the support of three-fifths of all members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
While the Government has the necessary numbers in the Lower House, it does not command a three-fifths majority in the Senate and would need the support of at least three Opposition or Independent senators to secure a further extension.
Persad-Bissessar acknowledged that national security remains a concern but maintained that the SoE had produced positive results, citing a decline in crime figures.
“We continue to be concerned. It is very clear that the crime stats are down. Anybody with eyes will see. The numbers are down, down, down in every regard, in every division,” she said.
Asked whether she considered the SoE a success, the Prime Minister replied: “I think it has been very successful. Maybe it’s not the best thing to do, but it was very successful.
“And when you watch your numbers, the numbers are very clear. Numbers don’t lie.”
The current SoE is the second imposed since the UNC returned to office in 2025.
The first was declared on July 18, 2025, and remained in effect until January 31, 2026, following two extensions. A second SoE was declared just over a month later, on March 3.
Police posts to open within weeks
Meanwhile, Persad-Bissessar said the new police posts promised by the Government should be operational within weeks.
Asked when the facilities would open, she said: “Soon. I have to go and open the airport to Tobago. I have to open those things. Soon, soon, soon.”
Pressed for a more precise timeline, she added: “A matter of weeks.”
SoE TIMELINE
July 18, 2025: The UNC Government’s first State of Emergency is declared.
July 28, 2025: Parliament approves the first three-month extension of the SoE, with 39 MPs voting in favour and none against.
October 31, 2025: Parliament approves a second three-month extension, by a vote of 27-12.
January 31, 2026: The first SoE comes to an end.
March 3, 2026: The UNC Government’s second SoE takes effect.
March 13, 2026: Parliament approves the first three-month extension of the second SoE.
June 10, 2026: Parliament approves a second three-month extension, by a vote of 28-12.
September 17, 2026: The current extension expires.
