British tourists Arin and Hannah, who are in Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate Carnival 2025, admitted that when they first learned about the current State of Emergency (SoE), they were a bit worried.
The tourists said that since their arrival, they have felt safe.
“A little bit, but we were like, ‘I’m sure we’ll be fine,’ and we have felt really safe here,” Hannah said.
“We were a bit nervous about coming, but we knew this country, we knew the people, and we knew there would be no worries after all,” Arin added.
Arin and Hannah were among several tourists seen enjoying the Carnival celebrations yesterday at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
Thomas and his wife, who came from Denmark, said they had been warned by family and friends about the crime situation in this country and the SoE, but so far, they have had a good time.
“I knew we had to be cautious, but I didn’t know it was that bad,” he said.
He added that every citizen they met while in T&T had warned them about crime and given them tips on what not to do.
“Don’t bring any jewellery or anything, but I just told my wife today—we’ve been here since this morning, and not once have we felt insecure,” he said.
On December 30, 2024, the Government declared a nationwide SoE due to ongoing criminal activity that could endanger public safety.
On January 13, 2025, Parliament extended the SoE by three months.
Guardian Media also spotted another group of Danes along the “Drags” at the QPS. A spokesperson for the group, who did not give his name, said that while they did not cancel their trip because of the crime situation, they were being cautious.
“We’re going in groups—no one is going alone... we have thought about it,” the spokesperson said.
Rickey, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago but migrated to the United States, said the SoE or crime did not affect his decision to visit for Carnival 2025.
“There is crime everywhere,” he said.
Much like local masqueraders crossing the stage, the tourists said they were too were torn between Machel Montano’s Pardy and Bunji Garlin’s Carry It for the Road March title.
Arin, however, is a Yung Bredda fan.
At the Queen’s Park Savannah, several mas bands like Exousia, Moko Somokow, Tribe, Paparazzi, and Lost Tribe all crossed the stage beginning their jump-up with Pardy and ending with Carry It.