Trinidad and Tobago Extends State of Emergency for 3 Months Over Crime

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO – Trinidad and Tobago’s government has approved a three-month extension of the country’s state of emergency, as officials continue to grapple with a wave of violent crime.

The lower house passed the measure in a 26 to 12 vote late Friday, giving authorities broader powers to make arrests and conduct searches without warrants.

The country has spent roughly ten of the last fourteen months under emergency rule, a move the opposition says shows the government is failing to control crime.

Trinidad and Tobago has recorded more than 60 killings so far this year.