Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles says Government must provide a clear justification if it intends to extend the state of emergency beyond September 17.Speaking with journalists outside the Hall of Justice, Port of Spain, following the launch of the 2026/2027 law term yesterday, Beckles said she was concerned about people being detained during the state of emergency and later released without being charged.“My concern is that you had the end of the first state of emergency, and hundreds of people were just released. We are going to have the end next week and it’s going to be identical,” she said.Beckles said the SoE should not be used to detain people who were not subsequently charged. “If you have evidence, why aren’t you charging these people?” she asked.She said the public wanted justice and fairness, as well as a clear plan from the Government to deal with crime.“You cannot just use a state of emergency to arrest people and have them waiting there. And when it ends, you release them. That is simply not good enough,” Beckles said.She noted any extension would have to come before Parliament and receive the necessary support. However, she said the Opposition would wait for the Government to state its position and explain why another extension was necessary.Beckles said the Opposition had supported the first SoE but did not support the Government’s second request because, in her view, it had not provided sufficient justification.She also questioned the need for another extension if the Government’s own crime data showed a significant reduction in murders.“I mean, if you are telling us based on your data, now you have 45% reduction in murders, and you’re giving the impression that you are doing so good as it relates to crime, then clearly you can’t be coming and ask for a next state of emergency,” she said.