by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:50 AM ET, Thu January 2, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago, the twin-island Caribbean nation located just off the coast of Venezuela, has declared a national state of emergency following a string of gang-related violence just days before the New Year.
The two islands have been categorized by the U.S. Department of State as a Level 3 risk, with the department encouraging travelers to reconsider travel to the nation since July 2024, citing violent crimes, kidnappings, sexual assaults and shootings are common. It's bad enough that government officials are forbidden to travel to certain places throughout the two islands due to crime.
According to the BBC, the nation’s President Christine Carla Kangaloo issued the declaration on December 30 following a shooting that left five men dead in a shop in Laventille, an act that is being considered backlash for the murder of a gang member the day before.
The state of emergency allows police to arrest anyone on suspicion of involvement in criminal activity and have the power to search public and private buildings.
With its close proximity to Venezuela and open border rules, Trinidad and Tobago’s gangs often participate in the global narcotics trade. It also has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America and the Caribbean, with over 620 in 2024, with a population of 1.5 million people.
While there isn’t any news yet of cruise lines changing their itineraries to avoid sailing to the two-island nation, the state of emergency could impact some itineraries in the near future, as cruise lines often monitor the status of the destinations they visit to ensure the safety of their guests.
Travelers who have booked a cruise visiting a port in Trinidad and Tobago in the next three months or so should continue to monitor their emails from the cruise line.
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