THE T&T ELECTION

May 06, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Parliamentary Elections were held on April 28, 2025 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Prior to the election, the general expectation was that the United National Congress (UNC) would unseat the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) by a slight margin, however, when the preliminary results were announced just after midnight, many were surprised by the wide margin with which the (UNC) won the elections.

According to reports, many in the PNM claimed publicly that the Party lost because of voter apathy and disillusionment amongst its supporters in traditional strongholds and marginal (swing) constituencies. Those subjective factors, among others, were responsible for the low voter turnout of PNM supporters and high turnout of UNC supporters. The cross-over voters from the PNM to UNC helped build strong momentum in support of the campaign slogan; ‘WHEN UNC WINS EVERYBODY WINS! ‘

Post-election reports indicate that PNM supporters felt disrespected and disregarded by their Party’s leadership; because they were not afforded the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process to select the replacement to be the party’s prime ministerial candidate.

Because of the widespread dissatisfaction among PNM members and supporters who felt disrespected and were not allowed to voice on the choice of Prime Ministerial candidate, they punished the Party and its leadership by not coming out to vote in their numbers.

In Tobago, a similar situation existed, thus the result was not surprising. Thousands of PNM supporters stayed away from the polls in Tobago, as for the same reason as their countrymen did in Trinidad. The end result was that the PNM lost to the opposition on the island.

The T&T electorate remains polarized if not divided, though there were more cross-over votes of Blacks to the UNC compared to less Indians to PNM. Rank and file UNC members and supporters appeared hungry for power, they wanted change of government and would probably have been happy even if they had won two more seats plus the 19 that they won at the previous election. The election results show that the PNM will go down in the history of T&T politics as very unpopular and uncaring. Chronic unemployment, spiraling cost-of-living and uncontrolled crime helped bring down the PNM. Almost every family from every class and social strata in T&T were affected by the PNM’s unpopular policies

According to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) preliminary tabulation and verification of the results were from a total registered electorate of 1,153,850 across 41 electoral districts in Trinidad and Tobago, with voter turnout recorded at approximately 54 %.

Based on the preliminary count, the United National Congress (UNC) has emerged as the leading party in the parliamentary elections, securing 26 of the 41 constituencies. The People’s National Movement secured 13, and The Tobago’s People’s Party received 2.

Following the announcement of the election results, Kamala Persaud-Bissessar, political leader of the UNC was sworn in as Prime Minister for a second time, becoming the first woman in the nation’s history to hold the country’s highest elected office on two separate occasions.

In her address as Prime Minister, three points stood out. That her government will; “explore the offer being made by Guyana to bring gas to Trinidad and Tobago; that her administration “will grant firearms licenses to law-abiding citizens of T&T.” and that; “If you treat citizens with callousness, contempt and curt ways, guarantee you your retribution will be swift and brutal.”

She continued; “Never, ever mistake my physical appearance or my kindness for weakness. I think you all know there is nothing more dangerous than a mother who believes her children are in danger. Everyone will be wise to remember that for the next five years.”

A 32-member multiethnic cabinet has since been sworn-in reflecting a combination of old guard and new faces. In the new cabinet make-up, there are some significant changes; for example, the Ministry of National Security has been scrapped; there is now a Minister of Homeland Security (Home Affairs) and a Minister of Defense. In the education sector, there is now a Minister of Education and a Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training. Other changes include; a minister of Works and Infrastructure as well as a Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation. The Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services has been brought back from the previous UNC government. A Minister of Trade is yet to be named. That person will have to know how to navigate and negotiate trade tariffs with the United States and to not displease the US having regard to the sanctions imposed by America on Venezuela T&T’s neighbour.

Two ministerial positions went to members of the Oilfield Trade Workers Union (OWTU). No positions were given as yet to members of the Congress of the People (COP) nor the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP), both of whom formed a part of the UNC’s coalition. The two Tobagonians who have since decided to join the UNC government are yet to be assigned positions

While following the outcome of the elections, I came across a very interesting article written by Pearce Robinson, a Trinidadian journalist who wrote an article headlined ‘A LEGACY DEFINED BY SELF-AGGRANDISEMENT

In his article Robinson wrote; ‘The recent electoral defeat of the People’s National Movement (PNM) is a damning indictment of a leadership that has lost its moral compass, alienated its base, and betrayed the trust of the nation.’

I would add that anytime a political party ‘loses its moral compass, alienated its base and betrayed the trust of the nation’ it doesn’t stand the ghost of a chance to win an election. Fortunately for us here in Guyana, the PPP, in my view, has ‘not lost its moral compass nor has it alienated its base nor lost the trust of the nation’ in fact, from all indications, including press reports, it is the opposition PNC that is like a rudderless ship. The government’s call for ‘One Guyana’ to help implement projects to benefit the poor and powerless, and its regular community outreaches put paid to any sign of alienation, but above all, its rejection of Venezuela’s spurious claim to part of Guyana’s national territory, as well as its petitions before the ICJ are good examples that demonstrate how government is hard at work to maintain the trust of the Nation as a whole.

Continuing, Mr. Robinson wrote saying; ‘Rowley’s tenure as Prime Minister will be remembered not for progress or unity, but for hubris, poor decision-making, and a failure to heed the cries of the people. ‘

We in Guyana suffered similar experiences under the one-term APNU+AFC coalition administration who chalked-up a dismal track record as regards economic and social progress while doing nothing to foster national unity. In effect, the coalition administration was characterized by ‘hubris, poor decision-making and a failure to heed the cries of the people.’

Mr. Robinson went to say that; ‘The electoral rout was by an electorate that could no longer tolerate their disconnect. These losses are not isolated; they are the direct consequence of a leadership that failed to listen, failed to inspire and failed to deliver.’

Here again, at this point in time in Guyana, there appears to be a clear disconnect between the PNC and its members and supporters; PNC supporters and members feel disconnected from, and isolated by their leadership, they feel that their Party’s leadership is failing to listen, to inspire and all of that cumulatively result in the PNC’s drift from blunder to blunder that is bound to come at a high price come the 2025 election. Small wonder why so many are migrating to the PPP/C

Mr. Robinson went on: ‘Voters have expressed outrage at what they perceive as self-enrichment through inflated salaries and pensions, while public servants were offered meager scraps in return. Such actions, coupled with a perceived disrespect toward the very citizens he was elected to serve, have cemented Rowley’s legacy as one of betrayal and abandonment.’

We in Guyana had our own experiences with such manifestations of ‘self-enrichment, through inflated salaries and perceived disrespect towards citizens’ that came at a time when the APNU+AFC coalition government created three Vice Presidents, 25 ministers, handing to themselves humongous increases in salaries, while imposing heavy taxes on Guyanese, discontinuing cash grants for children and tangible, all-round assistance for Amerindians as well as the annual end-of-year bonus for members of the disciplined services.

Concluding his article, the Trinidadian journalist wrote; ‘The people have spoken, and their verdict is clear: a leader who places personal gain above public welfare has no place at the helm’

Placed in our context, I recall our experience in the 2O20 election when the APNU+AFC refused to leave office even though the electorate’s verdict was clear telling them there is no place for them at the helm. They nevertheless held on to power from March to August 2020 and it was only when the CCJ and the then US government threatened to take action that they eventually packed up and left. The rest is history.

Yours faithfully,

Clement J. Rohee

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