In a tense parliamentary session on October 31, Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland raised a chilling question: Is Trinidad and Tobago on the verge of war? The query came during a heated debate over the extension of the state of emergency (SoE), initially declared on July 18 and extended on July 28 for three months. Scotland’s concerns were amplified by the backdrop of escalating US-Venezuela tensions and increased US military presence in the Caribbean, including the recent visit of the guided missile destroyer USS Gravely to Port of Spain and joint exercises with US Marines. The USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group is also en route to the region, further heightening tensions. Scotland criticized the government’s handling of the SoE, accusing it of using the measure as a political shield to mask inefficiencies and silence scrutiny. He drew parallels to India’s 1970s SoE under Indira Gandhi, warning of the risks of authoritarianism. Opposition MPs supported Scotland’s stance, while Defence Minister Wayne Sturge declined to address concerns about TT Defence Force personnel being recalled to base. Scotland’s remarks underscored a nation on edge, grappling with both domestic and international uncertainties.