Trinidad And Tobago Declares State Of Emergency Over Gang Violence

Lying off the coast of Venezuela, the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago has been categorized by the US Department of State as a Level 3 risk. Moreover, travelers have been encouraged to avoid the twin-island nation since July 2024. At that time, it cited violent crimes, kidnappings, shootings and sexual assaults experienced in the Caribbean nation.

State of Emergency declared by Trinidad and Tobago over Gang Violence

Just days before the New Year 2025, Trinidad and Tobago announced a state of emergency relating to a string of gang-related violence. Meanwhile, the islands are already categorized by the US Department of State as a Level 3 risk (reconsider travel).

Moreover, the State Department has encouraged travelers to reconsider a visit to the island nation since 2024 over a series of violent crimes, shootings, kidnappings and sexual assaults. Furthermore, the situation is so bad that government officials are forbidden to travel to certain areas of the two islands over the crime.

The BBC reports that Trinidad and Tobago’s president Christine Carla Kangaloo issued the declaration on December 30. This came after a shooting in a shop in Laventille left five men dead. Moreover, the shooting is considered to be backlash for the murder of a gang member the previous day.

About the State of Emergency

The state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago gives police the right to arrest anyone on suspicion of involvement in criminal activity. Moreover, it gives them the right to search public and private buildings.

One major cause of the problem is the Caribbean nation’s close proximity to Venezuela and its open border rules. Due to this gangs often participate in the global narcotics trade. Furthermore, the Caribbean nation has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America and the Caribbean.

#TRINIDAD: The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) says it hopes the key objectives of the current State of Emergency are met and “realised in the shortest possible time”, as law-abiding citizens’ civil rights and liberties can be affected during such a period. pic.twitter.com/W9CfpJJ748

— CaribbeanNewsNetwork (@caribbeannewsuk) January 2, 2025

During 2024, more than 620 people were murdered out of a population of 1.5 million people. Moreover, 61 homicides were reported in December. This puts the Caribbean nation ahead of 577 in 2023 and 599 in 2022.

According to DW, this puts Trinidad and Tobago well ahead of Mexico, and in line with the homicide rates in gang-plagued Haiti.

What about cruise ships docking in Trinidad and Tobago?

According to The Cruise News, nine cruise ships are heading to the country’s ports in the coming days. The state of emergency could affect itineraries in the near future. Meanwhile, cruise lines often monitor the status of the locations where they dock to ensure the safety of their guests.

It is recommended that anyone who has booked a cruise heading to a port in Trinidad and Tobago over the three months should take care to monitor emails from the cruise line.