Trinidad and Tobago: State of emergency update

The Law Association and Transparency Institute of Trinidad and Tobago, has stated that police officers need to be held to a higher level of accountability. They have urged Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs to act swiftly to discipline officers who use excessive force during the state of emergency.

It has been 36 days of the state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago; the law association has observed that there have been disturbing reports of police abuse, excess and indeed, in some cases, the issuing of unlawful orders by senior police officers to their subordinates.

The law association urged the police to move expeditiously to address claims against members of the force who are accused of using excessive force.

The minister in charge of national security, Colin Partap has revealed that the state of emergency which is slated to end in December, has been quite successfull in reducing crime.