The Popular Caribbean Cruise Port That Has Declared A State Of Emergency

If you're planning a trip to the Caribbean, you may want to steer clear of Trinidad and Tobago for the time being. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago declared a state of emergency on Monday, December 30, 2024, in the interests of public safety. The declaration came after a weekend of gang-related violence.

Trinidad and Tobago, along with several smaller islands, make up the southernmost island nation in the Caribbean. They're located just off the coast of South America and are popular stops on many Caribbean cruises. Trinidad, the larger of the two islands, is just 7 miles across the Gulf of Paria from the country of Venezuela. The islands are breathtakingly beautiful with warm, sunny weather year-round, exciting Caribbean culture, and gorgeous tropical beaches. They have a reputation for being excellent destinations for crowd-free beach vacations. 

Unfortunately, the islands of Trinidad and Tobago are also plagued with violent crime, which has increased significantly in recent years. The number of murders that occurred within the island nation in 2024 broke records, and many are believed to be associated with gang violence. While the borders remain open to tourists, and several cruise lines are still scheduled to visit over the next few months, tourists should probably reconsider visiting until the situation is well under control. 

Gang-related violence in Trinidad and Tobago has been steadily on the rise for years. Trinidad and Tobago Newsday reported that recent escalations have "ignited the gang war to unprecedented levels," according to police officials. Members of two rival gangs — the Sixx gang and the Seven gang — are believed to be responsible for shootings in recent times. According to the local news outlet, gunmen opened fire on a known gang leader as he was leaving the Besson Street Police Station and killed one person. The following evening, five more people were killed in what is believed to have been a retaliation shooting.

Acting Attorney General Stuart Young spoke of the threat against public safety. "The criminal gangs via the use of the high-powered assault weapons and other illegal firearms in areas of Trinidad and possibly Tobago are likely to immediately increase their brazen acts of violence in reprisal shootings on a scale so extensive that it threatens persons and will endanger public safety," he said. In a press conference, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds told reporters that they were, "dealing with an epidemic."

Community members are devastated by the recent deaths and claim that many of those who were killed were innocent bystanders. There have been several anti-gang initiatives implemented by the government over the last few years, and the recent surge in gun violence has locals urging gangs to lay down their weapons and not to seek retaliation. However, the recent events that unfolded brought the year's total number of homicides to 623. Nearly half of them were gang-related murders.

The state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago is country-wide and a direct response to the events that occurred over the weekend. Officials warn that there will be increased military and police presence around the islands and that law enforcement will be able to search people and their property, detain any suspects, and make arrests without warrants. Currently, the United States Department of State has a Level 3 travel advisory issued for Trinidad and Tobago, which urges travelers to "reconsider travel to Trinidad and Tobago due to crime." According to the Trave.State.Gov website, "violent crime, such as murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion, and kidnapping is common."

Despite the violence and warnings from government officials, several major cruise lines are still visiting Trinidad and Tobago. There are nine cruises scheduled to arrive in Trinidad and Tobago in January 2025. These include Seabourn Ovation, Marella Voyager, Oceania Sirena, Costa Fortuna, Star Pride, HAL MS Volendam, Ritz-Carlton Evrima, MS Amera, and Majestic Princess. The cruises have not yet canceled or updated their itineraries, although they may still do so in the coming days. Travelers with upcoming trips planned to Trinidad and Tobago should take additional safety precautions when visiting or consider postponing travel until the situation improves. Consider choosing a budget-friendly Caribbean destination like Curaçao instead.