Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended the emergency regulations under the 2026 State of Emergency (SOE), while criticising the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) for what she described as contradictions in its position on freedom of speech and public assembly.
Speaking over the weekend, Persad-Bissessar contrasted the current regulations with those implemented during the 2024 SOE under the previous PNM administration.
At that time, Regulation 12 prohibited any attempt to influence public opinion in a manner “likely to be prejudicial to public safety and order,” language critics argued was overly broad and risked suppressing constitutional freedoms.
The regulation was subsequently amended in 2025, removing the phrase “public order” after court challenges.
Under the 2026 SOE, Regulation 11 prohibits actions likely to threaten public safety, without reference to “public order,” the Prime Minister noted, arguing the focus is on protection rather than restriction of expression.
Her remarks followed a PNM public meeting last Friday, where opposition speakers criticized the government’s use of emergency powers.
Mrs Persad-Bissessar called it “ironic” that the PNM raised concerns while holding public meetings freely, and accused them of defending individuals involved in serious criminal activity while condemning government crime-fighting measures.
