SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — After a remarkable victory in the elections, the United National Congress (UNC), headed by former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has regained control of Trinidad and Tobago’s government.
According to preliminary results from Monday’s sudden electoral call, the UNC, in alliance with the Coalition of Interests, secured 26 out of the 41 seats in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the opposition party, the People’s National Movement (PNM), led by Stuart Young, managed to win only 13 seats. This election loss led Young, who rose to the prime minister position just last month following Keith Rowley’s resignation, to acknowledge his party’s defeat.
Young called for the unexpected election after instructing the island nation’s president to dissolve its Parliament, a decision that sparked controversy and discontent among citizens who opposed the notion of having Young as prime minister without holding an election.
With her restored leadership at age 73, Persad-Bissessar, who made history as the country’s first female prime minister from 2010 to 2015, prepares to tackle the formidable challenges facing Trinidad and Tobago. The nation, blessed with abundant oil and gas resources, is currently grappling with rising crime rates and economic uncertainty.
Persad-Bissessar affirmed her commitment to several key promises, including raising public workers’ wages, safeguarding the elderly’s pensions, and reviving Petrotrin, the state-owned oil company that ceased operations in 2018. Experts had criticized the collapse on corruption and inadequate governance, marking the end of over a century of business. “We have a lot of work to do,” she encouraged her supporters, as the nation looks towards a rejuvenated leadership and renewed hope for stability.