The opposition United National Congress (UNC) has secured a decisive victory in Trinidad and Tobago’s snap parliamentary elections, paving the way for Kamla Persad-Bissessar to return as the nation’s prime minister. The 73-year-old leader previously held the post from 2010 to 2015, and her comeback marks a significant moment in the country’s political landscape.
Preliminary results from Monday’s election indicate that the UNC managed to capture several parliamentary seats previously held by the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM), led by outgoing Prime Minister Keith Rowley. The centre-left PNM had been in power for nearly a decade, with Rowley at the helm from 2015 until March this year. He announced his retirement earlier in the year, handing leadership to Stuart Young, the 50-year-old energy minister, who then called a snap election just hours after assuming office.
Young’s decision to call early elections was met with sharp criticism from the opposition, who labeled the move as an unconstitutional power grab. However, voters responded strongly at the polls, ushering in change during a time of national concern over economic stagnation and rising crime rates. The country had recently emerged from a 105-day state of emergency declared to address worsening security conditions.
Throughout her campaign, Persad-Bissessar promised reforms aimed at improving livelihoods, including increasing wages for public servants, reopening a long-closed children’s hospital, restoring the laptop program for students, and creating over 50,000 jobs. Celebrating the UNC’s victory, she declared, “This victory is for the senior citizens to keep their pensions… for public servants to get their rightful salary increases.”
The veteran politician assured supporters that her government would focus on inclusivity and national development. “No one will be left behind,” she said, adding, “When UNC wins, everybody wins.”
Persad-Bissessar’s return to leadership represents both a political comeback and a new chapter for the Caribbean twin-island nation, which now looks toward rebuilding public trust and reviving economic growth under her stewardship.
