PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Sept 18, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Friday piloted the Special Operations Bill one day after a state of emergency (SoE) has ended and defending the constitutionality of the new legislation.
Attorney General John Jeremie, who piloted the legislation told Parliament that the constitutionality of the bill is based on the balance that it strikes between the enhanced security powers granted to the services and the protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law.
“It allows for temporary security measures, cordons and curfews, to be established or declared in closed areas, but there is a large measure of oversight,” Jeremie said, noting that “while the bill gives security forces special powers, warrantless searches under specific circumstances, it is designed to be a limited and temporary measure and it is distinct from a state of emergency”
But opposition legislator, Keith Scotland said this legislation is not good for Trinidad and Tobago.
“People of Tobago must not be presented with fear where we feel that we are living with a knee upon our neck. We are under pressure from this government,” Scotland said, adding that “effective policing and fidelity to fundamental rights are ideas that we aspire to”.
(Details in Politics section)
CMC/2026