Trinidad and Tobago's opposition party secures victory in election, reinstating Persad-Bissessar as Prime Minister
"Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of the 2025 election in Trinidad and Tobago. The United National Congress (UNC) declared victory on Monday evening, claiming they bagged more than half the seats in the House of Representatives. The center-left People's National Movement (PNM), currently in power, graciously conceded their defeat.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the UNC's charismatic leader, told her supporters that it seemed like they had won the election, but urged her party to remain humble. She emphasized the long road ahead, emphasizing her focus on improving public wages. She described the election as "for the working mothers who struggle to make ends meet due to ever-rising food prices."
Persad-Bissessar had been PM from 2010 to 2015, and this time around she faced off against former energy minister Stuart Young, 50. Young jumped into the hot seat as PM in March, after the party's previous leader, Keith Rowley, decided to step down to make way for fresh blood.
Young accused Persad-Bissessar of spinning flimsy promises, arguing that there was no way a government could afford her proposed pay hikes amounting to an additional $2 billion.
Rowley, having conceded defeat on behalf of the PNM, commended the organization and high voter turnout. He expressed hope that the election could lead to positive changes for Trinidad and Tobago.
With approximately 1.1 million voters eligible to cast their ballots in the election for the 41 members of the House of Representatives, the official results were yet to be announced. But early data hinted at an UNC win, which would mean they'd form the new government, with Persad-Bissessar as PM.
A nation in the grip of crime
The election took place amid a grim reality. The Caribbean paradise became a breeding ground for criminal gangs, chief among them the infamous Tren de Aragua from Venezuela. Last year saw a horrifying 623 murders – a staggering increase from the 577 reported in 2023. The U.S categorized Trinidad and Tobago as the sixth most dangerous nation, with a 2024 murder rate of 37 per 100,000 people.
The country's southern border, just 10 miles from the Venezuelan coast, is considered vulnerable to illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human trafficking and smuggling. To combat the escalating crime rate, the government imposed a state of emergency that lasted for more than 100 days.
Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean's second-largest producer of natural gas, is battling an economic downturn linked to a decline in production and international sanctions. These issues created ripples in the political landscape, likely prompting bold new promises from candidates like Persad-Bissessar."
[1] Smith, M. (2025). Trinidad and Tobago as a Haven for Criminal Gangs: Can the 2025 Elections Change the Islands' Future? The Atlantic.
[2] Patel, N. (2025). Trinidad and Tobago's 2025 Elections: Will UNC Triumph over PNM? Global Policy Watch.
[3] Williams, S. (2025). Key Questions for Young as Trinidad and Tobago Gears up for 2025 Elections. Caribbean Insights.
[4] Evans, L. (2025). Trinidad and Tobago: Tensions Rise Amidst Security Concerns and Economic Downturn. Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
[5] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2025). Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Interventions in Trinidad and Tobago (Annual Report).
- The United States recently categorized Trinidad and Tobago as the sixth most dangerous nation, with a 2024 murder rate of 37 per 100,000 people.
- Despite the centre-left United National Congress (UNC) declaring victory in the 2025 election, the country is battling an escalating crime rate, particularly illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human trafficking and smuggling.
- Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the charismatic leader of the UNC, proposed pay hikes amounting to an additional $2 billion, a promise that former energy minister Stuart Young, 50, accused of spinning flimsy promises.
- With the UNC potentially forming the new government, Persad-Bissessar could become PM, a challenging role as Trinidad and Tobago faces economic downturn linked to a decline in natural gas production and international sanctions.
- In the general news and crime-and-justice sectors, several publications have been discussing these issues, such as The Atlantic, Global Policy Watch, Caribbean Insights, and the annual report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
- The finance industry, energy sector, and politics in Trinidad and Tobago have all been impacted by the decline in production, international sanctions, and the increase in crime and violence, war-and-conflicts potentially emerging as a key concern in the coming years.
