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On November 10, Trinidad and Tobago Member of Parliament Camille Robinson‑Regis activated an emergency hotline (689‑9791) for residents of Maloney Gardens and surrounding communities. The line operates nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and is intended for genuine emergencies only.That evening the government declared Maloney Buildings Housing Development a closed area under the Special Operations Act 2026, restricting curfew powers to that site. However, police have reportedly extended operations into neighbouring streets, raising concerns about the legal limits of the declaration.Robinson‑Regis questioned why the closed‑area status followed non‑fatal shootings while Couva, where murders occurred, remains unrestricted. Residents voiced the same confusion at a TTPS community meeting, and Superintendent Steve McKenzie explained the legal framework without revealing the intelligence behind the decision.Section 11 of the Act requires “reasonable grounds” for a closed‑area declaration, and the government must submit those grounds to Parliament within seven days. The MP urged that all police operations respect the Act’s geographical limits and citizens’ constitutional rights.In parallel, the People’s National Movement introduced The People’s Counsel, a free legal aid hotline (436‑3446) for residents facing searches, detentions or permit issues. The service aims to protect residents’ rights amid heightened police activity.Robinson‑Regis reiterated that her hotline is a constituency support service for general emergency line only as it relates to the impact of the Constituecy being a closed zone. She calls on residents to cooperate with authorities and remain peaceful and demand the relevant authorities operate with transparency and adherence to the law.
On November 10, Trinidad and Tobago Member of Parliament Camille Robinson‑Regis activated an emergency hotline (689‑9791) for residents of Maloney Gardens and surrounding communities. The line operates nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and is intended for genuine emergencies only.
That evening the government declared Maloney Buildings Housing Development a closed area under the Special Operations Act 2026, restricting curfew powers to that site. However, police have reportedly extended operations into neighbouring streets, raising concerns about the legal limits of the declaration.
Robinson‑Regis questioned why the closed‑area status followed non‑fatal shootings while Couva, where murders occurred, remains unrestricted. Residents voiced the same confusion at a TTPS community meeting, and Superintendent Steve McKenzie explained the legal framework without revealing the intelligence behind the decision.
Section 11 of the Act requires “reasonable grounds” for a closed‑area declaration, and the government must submit those grounds to Parliament within seven days. The MP urged that all police operations respect the Act’s geographical limits and citizens’ constitutional rights.
In parallel, the People’s National Movement introduced The People’s Counsel, a free legal aid hotline (436‑3446) for residents facing searches, detentions or permit issues. The service aims to protect residents’ rights amid heightened police activity.
Robinson‑Regis reiterated that her hotline is a constituency support service for general emergency line only as it relates to the impact of the Constituecy being a closed zone. She calls on residents to cooperate with authorities and remain peaceful and demand the relevant authorities operate with transparency and adherence to the law.
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