The Trinidad and Tobago Parliament witnessed a heated debate on October 31 as lawmakers deliberated on extending the state of emergency (SoE) for an additional six months. The motion, proposed by the government, was ultimately passed with 27 votes in favor and 12 against. The SoE, initially implemented on July 18-28, had already been extended once until late October. Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein highlighted significant reductions in crime, citing a 29% drop in serious crimes, a 40% decrease in shootings and woundings, and a 39% reduction in break-ins compared to the previous year. He emphasized that these statistics justified the extension of the SoE. However, Port of Spain North/St Ann’s East MP Stuart Young criticized Hosein for omitting crucial data, such as the number of charges laid against suspects arrested during the SoE. Young argued that the SoE, which suspends constitutional rights, should be a measure of last resort and questioned the urgency of its extension. He also raised concerns about the potential desensitization of citizens to the effects of prolonged emergency measures. The debate underscored the tension between crime reduction and the preservation of civil liberties.