By Sue-Ann Wayow

WHILE the streets erupted with celebrations on Monday night after a landslide victory in the 2025 general elections by the United National Congress (UNC), pensive moods filled one of the party’s office.

UNC’s candidate for San Fernando East John Michael Alibocus’s main campaign office in Cocoyea, San Fernando, was filled with mixed emotions down to the last hour on Monday.

Nails were bitten, tears were shed and prayers were said as Alibocus and his team hoped and prayed to be able to make history by becoming the first non-People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate to win the San Fernando East seat.

As it neared midnight and numbers were still coming in, it became clear that the PNM’s Brian Manning would be the winner, but by a narrow margin.

Alibocus did not win the seat, but he was able to make San Fernando East, a PNM stronghold since 1956, a marginal seat, he said.

His team, some could not bear the news. “We worked too hard not to win this seat,” they shared with AZP News.

In 2020, Manning won the San Fernando East with 9,864 votes while the UNC received 4,689.

On Monday night, the gap was just over 800 votes for Manning to secure his win.

To Alibocus’ supporters and family, he was a winner in his own right and was presented with a large thank you banner.

Alibocus, though tired, frustrated and disappointed, went out to greet the many who were waiting for him in the streets, celebrating the national UNC win.

He  thanked them for holding on, sent love to UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar who was celebrating at the UNC headquarters in Chaguanas  and then burst out in song much to the delight of everyone.

Although the PNM won in that area, the PNM sub office opposite Alibocus’ office was closed  and the few PNM people there pulled a chain in the carpark after a row with a UNC supporter who parked his vehicle there.

Manning offered a somewhat sombre victory speech over social media.

He said, “I am grateful that you have decided to return me as MP of San Fernando East. It is clearly a sign for introspection. The People’s National Movement will have to take a look at the way we do things, take a look at the way we approach the people of this country but there is nothing to fear.”

He vowed to be a better MP going forward to serve as his father former prime minister Patrick Manning did.