election, toppling the People’s National Movement (PNM) from government after a decade in power.

The UNC’s triumph was built on a groundswell of public discontent and a meticulously executed social media and promotional campaign that broke through long-standing political barriers of race, class and geography. Persad-Bisessar will be prime minister for a second time, and lead into Parliament a group of incumbents, new faces, and several coalition partners.

The result was known before 10.00p.m last Monday night.

Persad-Bissessar said to her supporters “From all indications the UNC has won the elections. Do not become boastful and arrogant, we have a lot of work to do. God bless all of you. The marginals are trending ahead, Tunapuna, St Joseph…”

And it was retiring Dr Keith Rowley, and not Prime Minister Stuart Young, who took the podium at Baliser House, Port of Spain to deliver the news to a devastation group of supporters. He said the population had chosen a “package of promises”. Political analysts saw this result coming weeks ago. Across the country’s fiercely contested marginal constituencies, including San Fernando West, St. Joseph, Tunapuna, and even the once-safe Toco/Sangre Grande, voters sent a clear and unmistakable message, they wanted change, instead of the new chapter that was promised by Stuart Young, whose stint will be just four months as prime minister.

The 2020 general election had left the PNM, under Dr. Keith Rowley, clinging to power by narrow margins, even as signs of voter fatigue began to show. In this general election cycle, the political landscape was almost unrecognisable. Rowley, who had announced he would not seek re-election as Prime Minister but still led the PNM into the campaign, faced an electorate upset by the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, and worn down by economic hardship, spiraling crime, and accusations of governmental complacency and arrogance. (Trinidad Express)