The legal challenge mounted by businessman Danny Guerra against his preventive detention under Trinidad and Tobago’s state of emergency has encountered procedural delays. The Emergency Review Tribunal adjourned proceedings on December 18 to accommodate attorneys representing the Minister of Homeland Security, who requested additional time to prepare written submissions.
Led by Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, the ministerial legal team’s request for extension faced strong opposition from Guerra’s defense counsel. Richard Thomas, KC, heading a legal team comprising Nerisa Bala and Emily Rampersad, contended that the minister’s representatives failed to adhere to established practice directions governing such review proceedings.
The tribunal ultimately granted the extension, setting December 23 as the deadline for the minister’s submissions, with Guerra’s legal team afforded until the following day to formulate their response. No subsequent hearing date has been scheduled.
Guerra’s detention stems from his November 20 arrest by the Special Investigations Unit, which alleges his leadership of an organized criminal network engaged in arms trafficking, money laundering, and illegal quarry operations. Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander’s detention order further references an alleged assassination plot targeting a government minister.
Notably, Thomas received special authorization through Legal Notice 459, gazetted on December 17, enabling his representation in Trinidad and Tobago courts despite not being locally admitted.
This case represents another chapter in Guerra’s legal difficulties, following previous charges filed on October 11 against both him and his son for unlicensed aggregate processing. Those charges resulted in $50,000 bail for each defendant granted by a justice of the peace.
The current state of emergency, initially declared on July 18 and extended for three months in October, remains in effect until January 2026, providing the legal framework for Guerra’s ongoing detention without formal charges.