Trinidad and Tobago PM Persad-Bissessar defends SOE regulations

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has announced that the country has been placed under a state of emergency (SOE) effective Tuesday, March 3, citing security concerns and the need to safeguard public safety.

In a statement issued March 8, Persad-Bissessar addressed criticism from the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) over the scope of the emergency powers regulations, particularly those related to influencing public opinion during the SOE.

The prime minister pointed to provisions under the current Emergency Powers Regulations, which state that no person shall attempt — “whether orally or otherwise” — to influence public opinion in a way that is likely to be prejudicial to public safety, or take actions intended to facilitate such influence.

Persad-Bissessar contrasted the current regulations with those implemented during the 2024 state of emergency under the previous PNM administration. She noted that those rules included references to “public order,” language that was later challenged in court and deemed overly broad.

Following the legal challenge, amendments were made in 2025 to remove the phrase “public order” from the regulations. The changes were formalized through the Emergency Powers (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, signed by Christine Kangaloo on March 21, 2025.

According to Persad-Bissessar, the earlier wording raised constitutional concerns because it could have been interpreted to restrict freedoms of speech, assembly and political expression. She said the current 2026 regulations instead focus specifically on activities that may threaten public safety.

The prime minister also criticized the opposition after members of the PNM held a political meeting during the current SOE to protest the emergency measures. At the event, opposition speakers accused the government of using the state of emergency to suppress public meetings and limit free speech.

Persad-Bissessar rejected those claims, saying the current regulations do not interfere with the constitutional rights of citizens to express themselves or assemble peacefully.

The government has maintained that the state of emergency is aimed at addressing serious security threats while remaining within the bounds of constitutional protections.