Tuesday’s declaration of ano­th­er state of emergency (SoE) signals the country’s conventional crime-­fighting systems have been overwhelmed, regional security con­­sul­tant and former head of the National Operations Cen­tre Garvin Heerah has said.

Speaking with the Express yesterday, Heerah referenced a statement by Attorney Ge­neral John Jeremie, who said the Prime Minister and the National Security Council had “no choice” but to advise the President to declare an SoE in response to escalating gang violence, mass shootings and credible threats to public safety.

“The declaration of an SoE repre­sents an admission that conventional crime-fighting mechanisms have been overwhelmed,” Heerah said.