State of emergency declared as US warns travelers to reconsider visiting popular getaway

Americans are being warned to rethink travel to a sunny Caribbean destination as crime and concerns about terrorism rise. 

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is authorized to search and enter private and public properties while the State of Emergency (SOE), which was declared March 2, remains in effect.

Bail is suspended during this time, meaning that anyone arrested for crimes in the country will be unable to leave local custody.

Authorities say the order is due to "a spike in violent criminal activity that could threaten public safety."

The embassy said that "although violent crime in Trinidad and Tobago has dropped greatly since 2024 due to security efforts started during the previous state of emergencies, crime remains a challenge throughout the country" - adding that crime rates are lower in Tobago than in Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago are distinct islands that were merged into a single colony in 1889, during British rule. They stayed unified when they declared independence in 1962.

Officials are also advising tourists to exercise increased caution in rural areas due to health risks and limited healthcare access.

The advisory was discussed in a recent Reddit forum about Trinidad and Tobago, with some locals voicing alarm about the crime situation.

"My heart actually feels broken, and I feel a bit hopeless about crime in T&T," one Reddit user wrote.