Trinidad and Tobago has extended its state of emergency for an additional three months due to ongoing threats allegedly orchestrated from within the national prison system.
Attorney General John Jeremie revealed that certain prison officers and attorneys have been aiding inmates, including gang leaders, in plotting murders, robberies, and kidnappings using smuggled cellphones. High-risk prisoners were transferred to military bases, although these facilities were also reportedly targeted by drones.
The emergency, initially declared on July 18 for 15 days, was extended unanimously by Parliament following warnings of continued threats to high-ranking officials and public institutions. Over 340 people have been arrested and more than 800 operations conducted since the emergency began. The Prison Officers’ Association has rejected the accusations against its members.
This is the second state of emergency in less than a year, the previous one ending in April after being prompted by gang violence. Jeremie compared the current situation to the 1990 failed coup by Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat.
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