T&T Election '25.....very close race

Down to the wire

PNM leading in Tobago; UNC ahead in key Trinidad marginals

The April 28 General Election is still too close to call and is going down to the wire.However, based on the just-released results of a Guardian Media-commissioned public opinion poll, the main opposition, the United National Congress (UNC), currently has the statistical edge over the incumbent People’s National Movement (PNM) in key marginal seats in Trinidad, while the PNM is leading in Tobago.In the last election on August 10, 2020, the two Tobago seats were won by the PNM, while the UNC captured six of the swing seats and the PNM five.

When asked who they find to be more believable, the majority of respondents in Trinidad (47 per cent) chose the UNC’s Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is leading a Coalition of Interests into the election, over Young, who polled 31 per cent support.The same respondents also said they found Persad-Bissessar (48 per cent) is better for the economy than Young (32 per cent), with Gary Griffith, of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA), and Mickela Panday, of the Patriotic Front (PF), each garnering two per cent support on handling the economy.This compares to 47 per cent favourability for Young in Tobago, where he is seen as more believable than THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine (36 per cent support) and Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader Watson Duke (1 per cent), based on the survey conducted there among 530 respondents.

In Trinidad, when asked if the General Election were held tomorrow, which party they would vote for, 45 per cent of swing-seat respondents said the UNC coalition and 30 per cent, the PNM.With the election now a mere week away and a total of 17 political parties in the race for control of the 41 seats in the Red House, it is expected that the outcome will be significantly impacted by vote splitting.“As regards which of the two major parties they are hurting more, it is difficult to tell. If it is the UNC coalition, then that would mean that they would have to make further inroads into the UNC coalition to hurt their chances.“If, however, they are hurting the PNM as part of an anti-UNC vote, then the UNC will be the prime beneficiary of such a vote split.“How the actual vote splitting will play out in any of these marginal constituencies cannot be predicted, but any close finishes could be the result of vote splitting one way or another.”

PNM internal polls show lead in key marginals—PM Young

With just over a week before voters head to the polls, Prime Minister Stuart Young announced that the PNM's internal polls show a clear lead in several key constituencies—including Chaguanas East, Toco/Manzanilla, Mayaro, San Fernando West, and possibly Moruga/Tableland.Speaking at a campaign meeting held at the Moruga Government Primary School on Saturday night, Young urged supporters to be vigilant against what he described as UNC propaganda.“I saw the latest polls,” Young said to loud applause.

“The PNM is leading. The UNC is under serious pressure in San Juan/Barataria, Chaguanas East, Toco/Manzanilla, and Mayaro. And if we stay the course—Moruga/Tableland will be ours," he declared, as supporters blew horns and waved flags.Young warned that as election day draws near, supporters should brace for what he called an “onslaught of lies and fake polls” from the Opposition UNC.He urged Moruga/Tableland to reject what he described as the chaos and confusion of the UNC and embrace what he called a bold, new chapter of leadership and integrity.

“PNM timing and strategy are working. The trajectory is moving upwards to victory on April 28. That’s because the leadership is structured and knows what it's doing. Be focused.”He also said that the PNM's internal polls showed the UNC was losing San Fernando West.

No wonder Emir even more cantankerous than usual

He running scared that the corrupt folks with 25 IQ might beat the corrupt incumbents with 24.9 IQ

In reply to Halliwell

you going back with your mate De Liar to vote?

In reply to sudden

Hey fat bwoy Sodden

I have never voted in a Trini election.

Lawyers/ politicians are crooks and liars.
You are comfy in such circles.

In reply to sgtdjones


De real genuine Garry Sobers don't panic like dis
Growley panicking too.....he telling Tobagonians dat UNC will negotiate for the two tobago seats and give dem self government......Rowley dotish or wat .....he sabotaging Garry Sobers???.....dis is what tobago wanted forever and when Sandals resorts get into tobago...dem don't need trinidad

In reply to sgtdjones

'Beyond the tape' fame....Inspector Alexander will bring home tunapuna for UNC

In reply to Narper

Here is Growley...

Once John Jeremie, Kennedy Swarat­singh and yours truly supported UNC publicly, darkness would seek to prevail over light, stupidity would try to dwarf intelligence, and moral degeneracy would erupt with diabolic fierceness.I couldn’t conceive the conversation would descend to the vulgarity to which the former Leader of Our Grief ( Rowley) and Sorrow took it: “I have five dogs and I’m handy with a shovel, so John Jeremie does not faze me or the PNM.” (Guardian, April 15); Jeremie was “a dog in the PNM. I can call him that” (Express, April 1.Jeremie’s support for the UNC roused the Leader’s animal spirit.

Jeremie had the audacity to challenge the Squatter PM’s proposition that only black people use their race affiliation to determine how they vote. All other groups, he implied, are freed from such racial/ethnic constraints. They are race-neutral. But blacks are so inundated in their blackness that they ­carry this identity wherever they go.I was not surprised when Jeremie declared: “Tonight as an educated black man with a certain degree of academic and national accomplishments I stand here in front of you to endorse the United National Congress” (Express, April 15).Jeremie also displayed his understanding of our economic future: “The economy is beyond crisis. We have basically spent all of our reserves in the past ten years, and all the economic and ­social indicators suggest that we are in a place beyond ­crisis.”

When the PNM came into office in 2015, it inherited a reserve account of over US$10 billion, representing 11 months of import cover. By 2025, this was reduced by half. It comprises assets and US foreign borrowings. So while in theory we may have US$5.2 billion in foreign reserves, no one knows what the real value is of our foreign account reserves. The UNC government made the last investment into our future when it invested US$325 million to purchase shares in the Latin American Development Bank. Colm Imbert, former finance minister, indicated he borrowed US$1 billion.The Leader ( Rowley) should use his shovel and his dogs to ­remove the filth he has ­inflicted upon our land. Neither Eric Williams, George Chambers nor Patrick Manning have ever been so disrespectful to black people. The Leader should spend the rest of his life learning to love his dark-skinned self.

—Prof Cudjoe’s e-mail address is scudjoe@wellesley.edu. He can be reached @ProfessorCudjoe.
T&T Express

In reply to sgtdjones



Sobers in panic

.....Narps...

Lal Beharry Young in trouble

An Express editorial, “The vulgarity of Stuart Young”, wondered “whether Young’s boorishness is part of his character or driven by his status as the Prime Minister’s anointed Minister of Everything. Perhaps it is both.”
Stuart Young, aspiring for a full term, must be careful. We had a taste of his verbal degeneracy last year when the nation heard him making offensive comments in the Parliament, inferring that Opposition members “were engaged in immoral conduct, lesbianism, and prostitution”, said Opposition Chief Whip David Lee, who quoted Young saying “she going and zami” referring to the Opposition ­Leader.Gibbs said the PNM has taken its “base” for granted for too long. “And now they panic when that base begins to think, ask questions, and expect more.”

Stuart Young is again stirring concerns. Last Sunday, the Express editorial criticised him for using “the race bogey”, saying he implied “the presence of African-descent citizens on a UNC platform is some kind of betrayal” and that “the premise behind his argument is that black UNC supporters are either stupid or sell-outs, which in itself is a racial perspective”. Alarming.“He doesn’t believe that Afro-Trinidadians can read, think, and choose for ourselves. He assumes we must be bribed or manipulated into supporting anyone but him. He can’t fathom many of us support the UNC—not because we were tricked, but because we are ­informed.”This alone disqualifies Young as a leader, says Gibbs, who claims “more black citizens than ever before are openly supporting the UNC. Not because of gimmicks—but because we remember Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s leadership. This is what frightens the PNM”.

Also referencing Young’s statement, Jeremie said the PNM claims “the UNC was using black Trinidadians to spread a message of division and hate”, He emphasised, “Tonight, as an educated black man with academic and national accomplishments, I endorse the United National Congress. It is time for us to stop the race talk and the race voting.” Take good note, Stuart Young.

T&T Express

In reply to Narper



Expect to be attacked soon....by PNM minions.
I have been called a paid UNC troll..

Yet we have no one in the horserace.

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I remember when Ghany started out as a political commentator on tV...in 1986 elections which NAR won...he was skinny lil fella den....I saw hi m on tV 6 last year and barely recognize him
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Gary Griffith and Mikhela Panday pulllng votes from the main parties

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In reply to Narper

Dem mek ah century so do we have to clap dem like Sammy.

The thing I find strange is PNM is described as a mainly Afro party with mainly Afro supporters also 10 %of Indians support them,many reports suggests the worst performing ministers are Indians in the party who areDeyalsingh,Sinanan,aLRawi whose mom is Indo and dad Iraqui,2 others Hinds Afro and Imbert an overbaked man, French heritage

I forgot to mention that the other party UNC is supposed to be Indo but 17 of their 37 candidates are of Afro heritage,so raelly you can't call them Indo party and likewise yuh cyah call PNM Afro party,other members are also mixed heritage.

Yellow is the code & I'm voting (vicariously) for her!!!

In reply to sgtdjones

Jearlean: Internal polls show UNC ‘landslide’ win



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In reply to BeatDball

In reply to Narper

Iwer George: Yellow is the code

That was soca star Neil “Iwer” George’s response to Guardian Media’s pointed question on if he is supporting the United National Congress (UNC) and Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the upcoming general election.“Iwer” shocked many last evening at a UNC political meeting at the La Joya Sporting Complex when he appeared on stage at the end of the night’s proceedings to serenade Persad-Bissessar as the party celebrated her birthday.
The soca artiste told Persad-Bissessar he had two gifts for her. One was a bouquet of flowers and the other was when he took off his jacket to reveal a navy-blue UNC t-shirt.

A move that sent the crowd into rapturous applause.He then broke into a rendition of his hit song “Water” however he changed the lyrics to say, “PNM on fire, Stuart Young on fire, the people want Kamla!”Guardian Media sought to confirm with “Iwer” today if in fact that was a genuine endorsement of Persad-Bissessar and the UNC to which he said, “Was I wearing a UNC t-shirt? So then that speaks for itself. I took off my shirt, I was wearing a UNC t-shirt, I told the lady I have two presents. I brought a bouquet then I took off my t-shirt and had on a UNC t-shirt, you think I still have to answer if that is an endorsement?”
He added, “all the evidence is in front of you.”Guardian Media underscored that some entertainers would say that when paid to perform at a political party’s event it may not mean they support the party.

“Iwer” responded, “I wouldn’t say that.”

PSA tells Imbert to ‘shove it’ after he claims union leader stopping backpay

Former Finance and current Public Utilities Minister Colm Imbert is warning public servants that their union leaders want them to suffer by denying them their backpay.

However, the Public Services Association’s (PSA) president has fired back, saying Imbert could take the Government’s four per cent wage offer and “shove it.”
Speaking at the Diego Martin Central Secondary School Wednesday evening, Imbert said Government is ready to disburse back pay to members of the PSA, but he claimed the executive is refusing to accept their wage offer.However, PSA president Felisha Thomas told Guardian Media yesterday, “Colm Imbert must be delusional to think for a second that 4 per cent over 6 years is an acceptable offer on behalf of public officers.”

Thomas said if Government can afford “hefty” increases for themselves, they can afford a much better offer for public officers who she said are the backbone of this country.“They are hypocrites!” Thomas declared.Thomas said when Imbert speaks about “suffering” he was referring to what workers have experienced at the hands of this government.“Not only have we offered the public sector unions four per cent for a particular period, we just offered them a couple of months ago, five per cent, that is nine per cent we have offered them,” Imbert told the hundreds of People’s National Movement supporters in attendance.

Imbert is now reduced to a small fry in the PNM.