PORT of Spain South MP Keith Scotland has asked whether Trinidad and Tobago could soon be in a state of war. Scotland posed this question as the House of Representatives debated an extension to the state of emergency (SoE) that was declared on July 18 and later extended on July 28, for a period of three months.

Before Scotland asked this question, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge declined to respond to a question from Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales about reports of TT Defence Force (TTDF) personnel being recalled immediately to base.

Scotland's question also comes against the backdrop of international media reports of imminent US military strikes against targets inside of Venezuela and a growing US military presence within the Caribbean as US-Venezuela tensions continue.