Trinidad and Tobago has extended its state of emergency by three months as fears mount over plots hatched inside its compromised prison system.
Attorney General John Jeremie told Parliament the country’s jails have become command centers for organized crime, aided by corrupt guards and complicit attorneys. He claimed prison officers have tipped off inmates during raids, while some lawyers allegedly smuggled information to gang leaders behind bars.
Authorities transferred high-risk prisoners to military bases after uncovering plots involving smuggled phones, targeted assassinations, robberies, and kidnappings.
Yet, even those secured locations have come under threat, with drones attempting to breach military perimeters, according to Jeremie. “The system has been compromised,” he warned, painting a grim picture of collusion and infiltration within state institutions.
The emergency, initially declared on July 18 for 15 days, now runs through late October after an extraordinary parliamentary session. “We are here because the threat exists,” Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein said, justifying the extension before a unanimous vote.
The Prison Officers’ Association rejected the accusations, defending its members and demanding evidence before judgment. Opposition lawmakers questioned the impact of the emergency, citing the lack of major arrests during the first 10 days.
Government officials countered with figures: over 340 arrests and more than 800 operations launched under the emergency’s mandate. This marks the second state of emergency in less than a year; the last ended in April following a crackdown on gang violence.
The latest decision came just a day after the nation observed the 35th anniversary of the 1990 coup attempt by Jamaat-al-Muslimeen. Jeremie drew parallels with that insurrection, saying today’s crisis echoes the lawlessness and danger that once shook the republic.