PORT OF SPAIN: The Trinidad and Tobago's People's Partnership coalition government tabled a motion in parliament Saturday to extend the ongoing nationwide state of emergency for an additional three months.
The opposition People's National Movement, refuses to support the bill and argues that the emergency, which was initially declared on August 21, is unnecessary and poorly executed.
However, the government, which controls 29 of the 42 seats in the House of Representatives, needs only a simple majority to extend the emergency and is expected to win comfortably when it comes to a vote.
National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy officially requested a three-month extension Friday, arguing it was needed to maintain pressure on the criminal elements within the society.
"We must be given the opportunity to provide greater pressure (on the criminals)," said Sandy. "We need some more time to win this first battle in the war against crime."
However, Sandy said the government was "prepared to consider adjusting the curfew hours", which now run from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am.
The current penalty for breaching the curfew order is a $3,000 fine plus six months in jail.
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