According to the Trinidad Express, many businessmen have been repeatedly calling for the declaration of a limited state of emergency and curfews to deal with the incidence of escalating crime, particularly kidnappings, in the country.

But following yesterday’s one-hour talks Manning said: “There is no state of emergency coming, we don’t think it is needed. We don’t think that it would have the effect that a number of people think.”

Admitting that the level of crime in the country is not acceptable, Manning said the government has “no evidence” of business being worried about investing in this country.

“As of now we have no evidence of that,” he added.

While Manning spoke with reporters a group of female protestors held placards high demanding an end to the crime spree in the country. One placard said “enough is enough,” another called on mothers to wipe their eyes and raise their voices.

Many motorists honked their horns in support of the anti-crime

protest as they passed by, the Trinidad Express said.

Meanwhile, Manning, who said he was not surprised by the protest and that he could never be happy about the current crime wave, added that the situation did not develop overnight.

Saying that different methods are used in other countries to deal

with crime, Manning insisted: “That’s what we must come to in Trinidad.” He did not elaborate.

National Security Minister Senator Howard Chin Lee and the acting

Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs will reveal measures to deal with the crime problem this morning.