PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the government intended to end the state of emergency on January 31 – up to which time the SoE extension runs – after which the use of zones of special operation will come into play. She made a statement to the House of Representatives on January 16, at the reopening of Parliament.

"From day one we have acted forcefully and decisively to frontally attack criminal organisations and entities in our country that have brought bloodshed, death, terror and loss to our citizens’ doorsteps."

Amid two extensions to the SoE since declared last July, the PM hailed the work of the police, defence force and intelligence agencies.