The state of emergency, which was imposed on Trinidad and Tobago on August 21, came to an end last night with the citizens of this country in a state of confusion as to why it was called, what it achieved and, most particularly, whether there was any validity to the alleged assassination plot which was revealed to the nation and the world on November 23.The Government's explanation for the declaration of the state of emergency was that the decision was based on available intelligence that a clear threat to national security existed.If there was such a threat, the Government has been hard-pressed to produce the evidence of it. But what is clear is that the state of emergency, and the curfew that accompanied it for a significant period, did have a significant impact on levels of crime, which were threatening to get totally out of hand.
In a statement delivered on November 7, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar outlined the fact that there were 46 homicides committed in T&T one month prior to the declaration of the state of emergency, while there were 18 for the one-month period following the emergency declaration and curfew. This was a reduction of just over 60 per cent.According to the Prime Minister's statistics, in the same periods there was a reduction of just over 51 per cent in serious crimes such as robbery with aggravation, housebreaking and rape, while motor vehicle larceny showed a decrease of just over 73 per cent.What is worrying is that with the state of emergency over, the country's national security apparatus is yet to inform the nation about the measures that have been implemented or will be implemented to maintain the pressure on the criminal element.
Clearly, there is need for the Government to commission an independent, high-level assessment of the extent to which the outcomes that were achieved by the state of emergency matched the expectations of both the policymakers and the public.If the primary purpose of the state of emergency was to quell a dangerous crime situation more than to address a specific national security threat, the Government should be brave enough to make this plain to the public.The Government clearly has some explaining to do, as well, with regard to the alleged assassination plot that Government officials claimed targeted the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and two other Cabinet ministers.In our newspaper yesterday, there was a report which quoted the particulars of the detention order that was filed against the man identified as being the mastermind behind the plot to destabilise the country and cause major panic.
Given the seizure of arms, ammunition and items of clothing resembling that worn by members of T&T's protective services, there appears to be some credibility to the existence of this plot. And if the Government has enough evidence to bring credible charges against the alleged mastermind and his associates, they should do so.What has left the public confused is whether there exists any evidence linking this plot to destabilise with the plot to kill.If there is no evidence, the Prime Minister has a responsibility to root out of her government those who misled and traumatised a nation, besmirched its international reputation for political stability and damaged its prospects of attracting international investment in the future.It may be that those who are guilty of "an evil, devious act of treason against the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago" may not be those who were detained for 12 days, ending last night.