S.O.E.

Trinidad and Tobago's constitution states that ' a State of Emergency' may be declared by the President of the Republic or upon the advice of the Prime Minister when:
     1) The security of the country is threatened by war.
     2) There is a public emergency as a result of an earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire and outbreak of pestilence, infectious disease or other calamity. and
     3) If public safety is endangered or is about to be endangered or a large part of the community is deprived of supplies or services essential to life.

    The imposition of the State of Emergency by the government has come with the implementing of a curfew which states that ALL civilians MUST be off the streets initially from 9pm to 5am however it now stands from 11pm to 4am. This was said to be imposed due to the increase of crimes in our country.
     The intention of the S.O.E. was said to tackle criminal elements and to remove all the attachments that comes with all such activities as drugs and ammunition. This will allow all citizens and visitors to feel safer.
     I had experience a State of Emergency back in July 1990 where an attempted coup was in progress. At that time whilst some citizens was looting and burning buildings I was totally engrossed in reading a few novels. At the end of that state of affairs I had read 13 novels, it helped me transport myself away from the ugly realities of that period to more pleasant things I had found in my readings. 
     This time is definitely different besides being older I cannot find time to transport myself from my responsibilities. However, I have indeed felt a little safer and though the streets are empty there is a stillness that is not usually experienced. This experience has not affected too much because I am usually indoors relatively early.
     I know that it may be an inconvenient to some people who feel that their constitutional rights of free movements were infringed. I also know that there are some individuals who have had a bad experience in this situation.I do hope that at the end of it all the government would have accomplished what they expected to have achieve by the implementation of the S.O.E. in the first instance.  
      I would like to share with you the this prayer: 'God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, the COURAGE to change the things I CAN and KNOWLEDGE to know the difference!'