Senior Reporter
elizabeth.gonzales@guardian.co.tt
They marched, knelt in the streets and raised their voices against the State. Now, with the State of Emergency (SoE) over, some of the country’s most visible protesters say they are ready to return to the streets.
However, the police service is saying it is ready for any flurry of protests and will ensure demonstrations are held within the confines of the law.
The State of Emergency expired on Thursday, ending the emergency order that barred public protests and demonstrations within 500 metres of designated locations.
The Emergency Powers (Prohibition of Public Protests and Demonstrations) Order, 2026—Legal Notice No 367 of 2026—was signed by Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro on May 27, 2026.
It prohibited people participating in public protests or demonstrations from being at or within 500 metres of 15 designated locations, including Parliament, the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister, the DPP’s office, police and defence force headquarters, the Ministry of Finance and both international airports.
The police explained that the measure was introduced in the wake of the protest outside the DPP’s office involving the Joshua Samaroo/Kaia Sealy matter.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, however, specifically praised police for securing the DPP’s office from “intimidation, harassment and possible harm” following the protest.
For months, that restriction affected where unions and activists could demonstrate. A Communication Workers’ Union protest outside TSTT House was cancelled. The Contractors and General Workers’ Trade Union said it could not protest outside San Fernando City Hall. A planned demonstration by the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union was affected. Alyssa Phillip’s “19 Bullets, 19 Protests” campaign repeatedly ran into police restrictions and twice ended with her arrest.
Confrontations and detentions
Based on calculations from Guardian Media, police made arrests for violations of the no-protest zones in six instances. A total of four people were held during these incidents. Checks of the Gazette showed that eight people were placed on preventive detention orders (PDOs) for their protest-type utterances on social media and engaging in protests on the streets.
On June 5, Police Commissioner Guevarro said TTPS had facilitated about 15 or 16 demonstrations connected with the Joshua Samaroo-Kaia Sealy case because they were held within the law. He said police stepped in when activity became adversarial and contrary to the emergency regulations.
Police also said the 500-metre zones were imposed for public safety.
Alyssa: No basis
for my arrest
For Alyssa Phillip, the restrictions were not theoretical.
Her “19 Bullets, 19 Protests” campaign became one of the most visible protest movements during the SoE after the January 20 police-involved shooting in St Augustine that left Joshua Samaroo dead and his partner, Kaia Sealy, paralysed.
Phillip, a former schoolmate of Sealy, organised demonstrations demanding accountability over the shooting.
She said almost every protest brought some form of confrontation, delay or dispute with police.
“Well, out of the 19, I would say like 17 of them were tried to be stopped or, you know, not to begin in any way at all,” Phillip told Guardian Media last week. “But 17 out of the 19, only two out of the 19 went completely smooth.”
On May 27, Phillip and supporters planned to demonstrate near the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, after Sealy was charged with manslaughter and firearm offences arising out of the January shooting.
Police said the demonstration would not be allowed near the DPP’s office. Phillip and her mother, Camille Caresquero, were later arrested as the demonstration continued nearby.
Legal Notice No 367, which created the 500-metre no-protest zones, is dated that same day.
Less than a month later, Phillip and Caresquero were arrested again during Labour Day activities in Fyzabad.
Police later said Phillip and a small group attempted to join the authorised Labour Day procession but were not covered by the permit issued to the trade union movement. TTPS said officers acted after the group failed to comply with directions to leave the procession. Phillip and Caresquero were charged and the matter is still before the court.
Annisette, who was in Fyzabad, rejected the police position.
“There was no basis and there was no rationale for what transpired on Labour Day,” he said. “I saw it as sacrilege, because Labour Day belongs to us. It is a public march. It is open to anyone.”
Phillip said the arrests did not end her willingness to speak.
“I will always be willing to have my voice heard, not just with this matter, but for all other issues,” she said.
She said she completed all 19 demonstrations she had promised and has no immediate plan to return to one of the formerly restricted locations. She is considering an activity for the first anniversary of the shooting next January.
But she said taking to the streets came at a personal cost.
“In order for me to really continue putting myself on the line, because I have become a target, I have been followed,” Phillip said. “I have to see that same kind of effort from at least more of the citizens.”
Her reflection after the campaign was even harder.
“I realised that people don’t really want change. They just want to complain,” she said.
De Silva: Still
willing to protest
Jason De Silva’s confrontation with police came before Phillip and the first group of demonstrators gathered near the DPP’s office on May 27.
De Silva said he went to observe the planned protest and was told by a senior officer that he was not wanted in the area. He said he moved when instructed but was later arrested after speaking with other officers and news reporters.
Guardian Media’s report from the scene showed that he was arrested before the first batch of demonstrators gathered.
During the arrest, De Silva knelt with his hands raised and shouted, “Hands up, don’t shoot.”
“At no point in time was I advised on why I was arrested. At no point in time my rights was read out to me. At no point in time I was indicated why I was arrested until I was already charged,” De Silva said.
De Silva said he was later charged with disorderly behaviour.
Three months later, he said the experience has not made him less willing to protest.
“The first protest will happen, I will be there,” De Silva said. “I won’t be leading and I will be advising all leaders of any protest.”
With the no-protest zones restriction out of the way, unions are ready to hit the streets.
The CWU has already declared that it has “unfinished business” at TSTT House.
“CWU has unfinished business as it pertains to our members at TSTT. Our members are prepared to stand peacefully outside their workplace on any given day after September 17, 2026, once the SoE comes to an end,” the union said in a written response to Guardian Media.
The union planned a lunchtime protest outside TSTT House on August 21 as tensions continued over negotiations and workers’ grievances. Police initially approved the demonstration, but withdrew that approval on the morning of the protest after advising the union that TSTT House fell within 500 metres of the Ministry of Finance at the Eric Williams Financial Complex.
The union cancelled.
“The protest that workers were prevented from holding did not become unnecessary simply because time passed; as a matter of fact, the issues arising concerning workers did not disappear,” the CWU said.
The union said its membership would decide when it returns, but reserved the right to protest peacefully and lawfully outside TSTT House and elsewhere.
National Trade Union Centre general secretary Michael Annisette said the restriction also affected a planned Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union demonstration over local seafarers who lost work when the Cabo Star left service.
Annisette said local seafarers remained at home while foreign workers were being used on replacement vessels. He called for government intervention.
He described the 500-metre restriction as unnecessary and unreasonable.
“It was unreasonable, and it ties the trade union’s hands, right, from expressing the democratic wishes,” Annisette said.
“To protest is our culture, to protest is our history,” he added.
Annisette would not commit to a date for the union’s next demonstration. He said the movement would first review its outstanding issues and decide its priorities.
“If in our analysis, we believe that there are issues that require us to protest, we will protest,” he said.
The restriction also stopped the Contractors and General Workers’ Trade Union from taking a dispute directly to San Fernando City Hall.
President general Ermine De Bique-Meade said earlier last week that the union would ordinarily have demonstrated outside City Hall over workers’ grievances and an incident in which it alleged a shop steward was excluded from a meeting involving workers.
But City Hall sits near a police station, putting the building inside one of the prohibited zones. De Bique-Meade said moving the demonstration elsewhere would have defeated the purpose.
Backpay battle could
hit the streets
One dispute already carrying the threat of fresh street action is the Public Services Association’s fight with the Government over outstanding arrears.
The CPO has maintained a final offer under which 40 per cent of the arrears would be paid in cash and 60 per cent through non-cash benefits. PSA president Felisha Thomas said Thursday the union had already rejected it.
“There’s no deadline for the PSA. The PSA responds when the PSA responds,” she said.
“We have rejected the offer. And just to say that that offer of 40% cash to be paid over a period of three years is a disrespect to workers.”
Thomas said the union’s position is now that workers should receive their arrears in cash.
“We will not be accepting any non-cash options,” she said.
Negotiations continue, and Thomas said the PSA would welcome intervention from the Minister of Finance.
But after months in which emergency rules restricted where workers could gather, she made clear that the streets remain an option.
“Of course, when the time comes, we will do that. If necessary, we will do that. The PSA will not shy away from hitting the streets if necessary.
“That is what is available to workers, and that is what we will exercise.”
TTPS ready for
flurry of protests
Police say they are ready too.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin said people remain free to protest now that the SoE has ended, but warned that demonstrations must remain peaceful and comply with the country’s laws.
“We must be involved in what we call peaceful protests. All right. Meaning that we should not be engaged in any form of violence, threat or intimidation or destruction of property is very important,” Benjamin said.
He said protesters must also respect the rights of other citizens and warned that demonstrations should not unnecessarily obstruct roadways or emergency services. Where protesters intend to use the roadway, he said permission must be obtained from the Commissioner of Police.
Benjamin also asked organisers to avoid bringing children and vulnerable people to protests.
“As much as possible, let’s try not to. Let’s keep children out of that kind of thing and also vulnerable persons. Let’s make sure that we remain safe in the midst of all your protests.”
Asked whether the TTPS was prepared for fresh protests now being signalled by unions and activists, Benjamin said:
“We do not have problems with persons when they do their protests, but what we are saying, whatever you are doing, even as people plan on protesting, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, we stand ready to deal with that and to deal with it within the rule of law.”
Benjamin said police enforcement should not be interpreted as opposition to protesters exercising their rights.
“It’s important to exercise your rights, but understand with that right to be heard, there’s also a right, you know, to come within the responsibility and the respect of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Police have also rejected claims that they were trying to silence lawful demonstrations.
Protests stopped, moved or cancelled
Date Protest What Happened Arrests Reported
May 24 Justice for Joshua Samaroo at Police Admin Building Dispersed None
May 27 Protest near DPP’s Office Protest moved then stopped Three
June 3 East Port-of-Spain Peace Walk Walk blocked One woman
June 19 Labour Day, Fyzabad Alyssa Phillips group stopped Alyssa Phillip and her mother
August 21 CWU protest at TSTT House Cancelled after police withdrew approval None
