President to declare state of emergency

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar Sunday night said that President George Maxwell Richards will issue a proclamation declaring a limited state of emergency in 'hot spots' across the country from midnight, as her administration battles to deal with an upsurge in criminal activities that included the murder of 11 people over a 48-hour period.

Speaking at a news conference held at her private home at Phillipine, south of Port-of-Spain, Persad Bissessar, flanked by members of her Cabinet, said that other details relating to the limited state of emergency, such as the emergency powers and the times of the curfew, would be announced, effective yesterday.

"The situation cannot continue like this without a response commensurate with the wanton acts of violence and lawlessness. It must be a response as well that will halt the current spike in gang activity and crime in general in the shortest possible time," said Bissessar.