Trinidad and Tobago Trade unions rge caution on State of Emergency

Trinidad and Tobago’s trade union movement is raising concerns over the government’s latest declaration of a State of Emergency (SoE), warning that while violent crime must be addressed, emergency powers cannot replace a comprehensive national crime strategy or infringe on workers’ constitutional rights.

In separate statements to the Trinidad Guardian, the Contractors and General Workers Trade Union (CGWTU) and the National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC) acknowledged the seriousness of rising gang violence but called for a move beyond “recurring emergency measures.” The SoE was declared by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in response to the recent spike in violent crime.

President General of the CGWTU, Ermine De Bique Meade, questioned whether repeated SoEs signal deeper policy shortcomings. “We do not underestimate the gravity of the situation,” Meade said. “Yet the repeated reliance on such measures raises a deeper concern – is the SoE truly about gangs, or does it expose the absence of a coherent crime plan?”

The union argued that curfews, expanded detention powers, and heightened police authority may temporarily suppress violence, but they do not dismantle criminal networks fueled by illegal firearms, gang recruitment, judicial delays, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. “A State of Emergency is meant to be extraordinary, not a recurring instrument of governance,” the CGWTU warned, noting that workers and communities often bear the brunt of movement restrictions and economic disruption.

Echoing those concerns, NATUC General Secretary Michael Annisette stressed that emergency powers must be temporary, proportionate, and subject to strict democratic oversight. “The constitutional, industrial and human rights of workers must not be eroded under any circumstances,” he said, adding that collective agreements, grievance procedures, and due process protections must remain fully intact.

Both unions also called for adequate resources, logistical support, and fair compensation for security personnel, essential service workers, and frontline public officers who will shoulder increased risks during the SoE.

Highlighting long-term solutions, NATUC emphasized sustained investment in youth development, job creation, education, community intervention programmes, and social services. The CGWTU similarly urged the government to implement a transparent, long-term crime prevention and justice reform plan.

Annisette concluded that the labour movement is prepared to engage with government, employers, and civil society to ensure that national security measures are carried out responsibly and without undermining workers’ rights.