By Faith Edwards
MORE than 1.1 million citizens are eligible to vote today (Monday April 28,2025) as Trinidad and Tobago holds its 2025 general election.
Polling stations across the country are scheduled to be open at 6 am and voting will be locked off at 6 pm.
Citizens will be casting their ballots to elect 41 Members of Parliament who will form the next government of Trinidad and Tobago.
According to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), a total of 1,154,708 registered voters are on the final list.
By Sunday evening, several thousand would have already voted as part of the special registration list. The EBC stated that 16,748 were registered to vote as a special voter. Special voting closed off on Sunday at 3 pm.
Contesting this general election are 17 political parties, with a total of 161 candidates seeking seats.
The People’s National Movement (PNM) is only party contesting all 41 seats while the United National Congress (UNC) are contesting 39 seats as part of a coalition with political parties -the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP), the Congress of the People (COP) and the Laventille Outreach for Vertical Enrichment (LOVE).
The UNC is also heavily supported by the labour movement namely the Oilfield Works Trade Union (OWTU) and the Public Services Association (PSA).
Also contesting the general election on its own are the Patriotic Front (PF), the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) and the All Peoples’ Party (APP).
In Tobago, apart from the PNM and the PF, the Tobago People’s Party (TPP), the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) are amongst the parties fielding candidates for the two Tobago constituencies.
This general election comes amid rising public concern over crime, the cost of living, unemployment, the state of healthcare and education and the closure of Petrotrin.
Many citizens have also expressed frustration with public utilities, roads, and government accountability.
The general election also follows the resignation of former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Dr Rowley appointed Stuart Young as prime minister to the outrage of many as he was appointed before the general election date was announced.
Young, announced the date on March 18, less than 24 hours after he was sworn in as Prime Minister.
The last general election was held in August 2020, when the PNM won 22 seats and the UNC 19.
The last general election to be won by a UNC government – the People’s Partnership alliance was in 2010 which was won with 29 seats and the PNM – 12.
In 2015, the UNC got 18 while the PNM returned to government with 23.
This general election saw many surprises with die-hard PNM supporters switching allegiances and former UNC members of parliament donning red.
Notable PNM supporters publicly endorsing the UNC are former MP Kenny Swaratsingh, former attorney general John Jeremie SC and Professor Selwyn Cudjoe.
Notable UNC members on the PNM platforms were attorney Larry Lalla and as of Saturday Dinesh Rambally and Anita Haynes.
Haynes and Rambally were two of the former UNC MPs who contested the UNC internal election in 2024 against UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and lost. They were labelled “dissidents” by the party.
All eyes will be on the 11 marginals seats in Trinidad.
This election was not without allegations, claims and complaints from political parties and the demand of international election observers by the UNC.
That demand was met and election observers are in the country to monitor the general election processes.
Voters are advised to follow all rules at polling stations, including carrying valid ID, observing queue protocols, and avoid brandishing any political items while voting.
Counting of ballots will begin after the close of polls and the preliminary results expected later.
