PM: State Of Emergency Is Temporary But Necessary
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC is maintaining that the State of Emergency is both temporary and necessary to combat violent crime and protect citizens.
Contributing to the debate on extending the State of Emergency late on Wednesday night, the Prime Minister defended the measure, pointing to decades of escalating violence and what she described as strong public backing for tougher action.
She dismissed concerns that the country could remain under emergency powers for years, describing the extension as a limited response to a long-standing crime crisis.
« In the scheme of things, the six months that we’re going for, for this extension, for this SOE, in the scheme of things, is temporary. It is temporary. And you are now trying to tell people, what was the word the Member of Arouca/Lopinot used? ‘Rolling over, rolling over,’ and telling me we will have this SOE for five years? Well, you’re wrong, nothing further from the truth. »
The Prime Minister argued that decisive action is required after decades of escalating violence, highlighting the scale of serious crime over the past 25 years.
« For about 25 years, our country has been tormented by violence. Over 10,000 murders have happened, over 20,000 reported rapes and sexual assaults, tens of thousands of robberies, beatings, and other violent acts. Little children, women beaten, raped, and brutally murdered. Men gunned down for not joining a gang or because they resisted extortion. »
She acknowledged that while citizens want improvements in national security, meaningful change may require some level of sacrifice and adjustment.
Responding to concerns from parts of the business community, the Prime Minister said public support for the State of Emergency remains strong, citing a poll which she said shows majority approval.
« Some business leaders, their groups, some business leaders are making comments. I don’t know if they did a poll of their membership and their groups to find out if they’re in agreement. As I said, we did our poll, and the polling shows us that there is full support by the majority of the people of our country. »
The debate on the extension concluded on Thursday morning, with Parliament approving a further three-month extension of the State of Emergency.
