The opposition United National Congress (UNC) party has won a decisive victory in Trinidad and Tobago’s parliamentary election. Preliminary results show the centrist party securing a number of seats previously held by the centre-left People’s National Movement (PNM). Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the 73-year-old leader of the UNC, is set to become the next prime minister.
Persad-Bissessar, who previously served as prime minister from 2010 to 2015, campaigned on a promise to raise wages and create employment. Her party’s victory means that public sector workers will receive increased salaries and the government aims to reduce unemployment. Persad-Bissessar promised to address these issues during her campaign, including opening a children’s hospital and providing laptops for students.
The election comes at a challenging time for the country, with rising homicides and an economic slump. The outgoing government had declared a state of emergency in December, which lasted for 105 days. PNM leader Keith Rowley conceded defeat, stating that it was not a good night for his party.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx284988058o