PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — Trinidad and Tobago’s government has received House of Representatives approval to extend a state of emergency for three months, as the twin-island country struggles with a high level of crime.
The two motions to extend the measure, which grants the government additional powers including to make arrests and conduct searches without warrants, were approved in a 26-12 vote late Friday. There were no abstentions.
Trinidad and Tobago has spent roughly 10 of the last 14 months under an emergency, according to the report. The state of emergency has an initial duration of up to 15 days, but the government can extend it if needed.
The persistence of such renewals has affected the country’s tourism industry, the report said. The extension comes amid criticism from the main opposition, which has slammed renewed state-of-emergency periods and accused the government of failing to address the crime situation.
The nation has recorded more than 60 killings so far this year, the report said.