Motion To Extend State Of Emergency Approved In House Of Representatives

The House of Representatives has approved the Motion to extend the State of Emergency for a period of three months. In wrapping up the debate on the Motion in his name, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley listed several countries around the globe where a State of Emergency has been implemented as a means to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister dismissed the notion that Trinidad and Tobago was in a perpetual state of lockdown. He said the lockdown measure was not a guarantee but the option shown to work the best. The Motion to extend the State of Emergency for a period of three months only required a Simple Majority. The State of Emergency began on May 15th and would have originally lasted for a period of 15 days, taking it to May 30th. With the Motion approved, however, the SoE could now last until August 30th. The President's declaration that a State of Emergency exists may be revoked at any time by a resolution supported by a Simple Majority vote of the House of Representatives.