Trinidadians Cast Votes Amid Economic Uncertainty and Rising Violence

Trinidad and Tobago held parliamentary elections amid economic struggles and rising gang violence. Stuart Young, the current Prime Minister, faces tough competition from Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who promises increased public wages. The elections fill 41 House seats, with significant concerns over security and the economy influencing voter decisions.

In Trinidad and Tobago, residents went to the polls on Monday for parliamentary elections that will determine the next prime minister. This comes at a time when the Caribbean nation is grappling with an economic downturn and escalating gang violence.

Stuart Young, 50, former energy minister, assumed the role of prime minister in March after Keith Rowley stepped down following a decade in office. Despite his leadership, the Prime Minister’s People’s National Movement (PNM) appears to be trailing behind the centrist United National Congress (UNC), led by the former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, 73.

Persad-Bissessar has campaigned on the platform of increasing public wages, and she emphasized that election day represents the struggles of everyday citizens. She stated it is for “the mother walking the aisles of the grocery store with her children, always with a pen, a pencil, or a calculator in hand because food prices keep rising.”

In response, Young criticized his opponent’s promises, arguing that her proposed pay increases would cost the government an unfeasible additional $2 billion. He stated his vision for a Trinidad and Tobago that prioritizes efficiency in the public sector.

The elections are to fill 41 seats in the House of Representatives, which serves as the legislative body of the nation. The party securing a majority will govern, while a coalition may be necessary if no clear winner emerges.

Amidst these political developments, the election unfolds against a backdrop of significant security challenges. Last year, Trinidad and Tobago recorded 623 murders, an increase from 577 in the previous year, with many crimes attributed to gangs from Latin America, including the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua, labeled as a terrorist group by the United States.

The US Department of State’s report has underscored the gravity of the situation, noting a murder rate of 37 per 100,000, placing the nation as the sixth most dangerous globally. The country’s proximity to Venezuela makes it particularly vulnerable to various illicit activities, prompting a state of emergency last December to restore order.

Besides issues of safety, Trinidad and Tobago faces economic hardships, exacerbated by a decline in natural gas production, a critical sector for the nation’s economy. Plans to leverage the Dragon gas field have come to a halt following US sanctions that have rescinded its operational license, fueling further concerns about the nation’s financial future.

The general elections in Trinidad and Tobago, characterized by a political contest between Stuart Young and Kamla Persad-Bissessar, reflect the urgent socio-economic challenges residents face. With crime rates rising alarmingly and an economy in decline, the election outcome will shape the nation’s immediate future. Voters are keenly aware of the implications of their choices as they navigate issues of public safety and economic stability.

Original Source: www.france24.com