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As the state of emergency (SoE) winds to a close on April 13, just two weeks ahead of the general election, deputy political leader of the UNC Dr Roodal Moonilal has labelled the government's handling of the measure "a knee-jerk reaction" with no tangible impact on crime or public safety.

The SoE began on December 30, 2024, in response to what officials described at the time as an escalation in violent gang-related crime, particularly with the use of guns. The declaration was made after a daring gun attack outside the Besson Street Police Station, where one man was killed and another injured.

Moonilal claimed the government's reasoning for declaring a SoE was vague from the outset and lacked strategy and transparency.