On 25 June 2026, the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT), a civil-society professional association, publicly challenged the scope and justification of Emergency Powers restrictions that prohibit public protests and demonstrations within 500 metres of 15 designated locations. The State of Emergency was originally declared on 3 March 2026 and, on 11 June 2026, had been extended until September 2026. The restricted areas include major state institutions, such as Parliament/Red House, Woodford Square, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, President’s House and the Police Administration Building. LATT questioned whether such wide exclusion zones are rationally connected and proportionate to the stated security objectives of the State of Emergency. It called on the authorities to review the order, publish clear geographic guidance on its application, and explain the legal basis and necessity for each designated zone. LATT also raised concern that arrests linked to protest activity outside the apparent geographic scope of the order could undermine public confidence and create uncertainty about what conduct is prohibited.
The intervention followed the arrest of activist Alyssa Phillip and her mother, Camille Caresquero, during Labour Day activities in Fyzabad. CAFRA Trinidad and Tobago, a feminist civil-society organisation, separately condemned the arrests as a troubling development for freedom of expression and assembly, warning that action against Phillip could intimidate others advocating for police transparency, accountability and access to justice. Together, these developments indicate that the restrictions imposed under the State of Emergency and their enforcement are affecting a widening range of civil-society actors and may deter public advocacy.