PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended the declaration of a state of emergency (SoE), saying she will not stand idly by and allow a minority of criminals to terrorise and traumatise the law-abiding people of Trinidad and Tobago.

In a release yesterday, the Prime Minister recalled that her Government came into office on the promise that it would address crime as a matter of priority and do everything necessary to ensure that citizens felt safe in their homes, workplaces, schools, and places of worship.

The declaration of the SoE comes 79 days after the Persad-Bissessar-led Government secured victory at the April 28 general election.