Trinidad and Tobago authorities have begun releasing people held under Preventive Detention Orders as the country’s State of Emergency approaches its scheduled expiration on Sept. 17. Security officials said 563 detainees were expected to be released in batches over six days, with the first phase running from Sept. 10 to 12 and primarily involving people classified as lower risk. On Sept. 10, 31 detainees were released from three prison facilities in Arouca, including 29 from Golden Grove Prison and one each from the Women’s Prison and the Youth Training Centre. The phased process was designed to manage security resources and coordinate the releases, while relatives waiting outside the Eastern Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre in Santa Rosa expressed frustration over delays and limited information.

The releases follow figures presented in Parliament by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, who said 702 Preventive Detention Orders had been approved and 573 executed during the current emergency. Of those detained, 240 people had been charged with offenses, leaving 333 who were released without charges, according to the minister’s figures. The current emergency, which began March 3, is the third since December 2024 in which authorities have used preventive detention powers. Across the three emergencies, publicly reported figures indicate that at least 776 people have been detained under such orders. The use of the powers has prompted legal challenges and renewed scrutiny of the balance between crime prevention, public safety and individual rights.