00:00The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago is raising concerns over the emergency powers order
00:06prohibiting public protests in designated areas warning that emergency measures must not become
00:12a substitute for democratic governance. In a statement issued Thursday, the association
00:17acknowledged the serious security threats facing the country and recognized the government's
00:23authority to take extraordinary action during a state of emergency. However, it said, quote,
00:28emergency powers are granted for exceptional and temporary circumstances and do not confer an
00:35unlimited license to restrict fundamental rights, end quote. The association noted that peaceful
00:41protest remains a fundamental expression of democracy and questioned whether the current
00:47restrictions are proportionate to the objectives of the SOE. It pointed to the order's prohibition of
00:53protests within a 500-meter radius of 15 key government and judicial buildings, saying, quote,
01:01placing protesters 500 meters from the very institutions they seek to address stifles the
01:07effectiveness of the protest itself, end quote. The Law Association also warned, quote, when citizens
01:12cannot confidently determine whether a peaceful protest will expose them to arrest, many will
01:18choose silence over participation, end quote. The association is now calling on the government to
01:24review the order to ensure any restrictions are narrowly tailored, operationally necessary and
01:30constitutionally justifiable. It's also urging the commission of police to clearly define the boundaries
01:36of the exclusion zones and is asking the attorney general to explain the legal necessity for each of
01:42the 15 designated areas. Additionally, the association wants government to provide evidence supporting
01:48continued extensions of the state of emergency. It says, quote, good governance requires that any
01:55extension thereof be justified by evidence and that the balance between public safety and constitutional
02:01rights be actively and continuously reviewed, end quote. The Law Association says it remains committed to
02:08working with the state to uphold the rule of law while ensuring that the balance between national
02:13security and constitutional freedoms is maintained.
02:17Ravishita Wari Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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