Persad-Bissessar to seek extension of state of emergency

• Businesses want curfews revised

The Trinidad and Tobago government is to seek an extension of the state of emergency that was imposed on the island over a week ago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said.

Speaking at a function in south Trinidad on Monday, Persad-Bissessar said that her five-member coalition People's Partnership government will be tabling a motion in Parliament on Friday to seek the extension of the state of emergency and the curfew that has so far been used to detain more than 800 people including nearly 300 gang members and leaders.

The prime minister said that the period of extension and whether to reduce the eight-hour daily curfew would be decided by legislators.

Meanwhile, labour leaders on Tuesday ended what was to meant to be two-day fast against certain provisions of the state of emergency that they say were used to curtail the activities of the trade union movement ahead of a planned national strike.

President general of the powerful Oilfield Workers Trade Union, Ancel Roget, who is also the lead spokesman for the joint trade union movement, said the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. fast that began on Monday, protested the "wanton abuse of power and authority" and the effects the state of emergency have been having on their campaign against the five per cent wage offer for public-sector workers.

Roget said the regulations under the state of emergency curtailed mobilisation activities, including mass public meetings and demonstrations.

In addition, Section 14 of the regulations prohibits the dissemination of documents that may lead to the breach of peace or incite violence. Roget said the fast will also highlight the concerns of the trade unions, over what they view as "an absence of good governance in the country."

Business leaders say they are hoping that the Kamla Persad-Bissessar government will adjust the curfew hours to minimise the impact on the economy.

"If the curfew proves to be effective, then we will support it staying, but not staying on 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. - maybe 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. - so that there can be some semblance of activity because you know a lot of the restaurants and entertainment industry can't go too long," said president of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association (TTMA), Dominic Hadeed.

"If what they really have in place for the remainder of the week is effective then fine, but get it over with quickly because I think the sooner we can end up with a 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., the better for the business people."

The TTMA said it it was soon to ascertain the economic fallout.

"Our take of the first week was that it was too soon to tell what the impact will be, and that is what we need to find out from our survey. We are trying to understand, now that we are going into the second week, how many of you all can't take it, and at what juncture will it become a burden," TTMA said regarding its poll of members.