Elecciones en Trinidad y Tobago 2025: Una reñida contienda para elegir nuevo Primer Ministro
Los ciudadanos de Trinidad y Tobago acuden este lunes 28 de abril a las urnas para participar en unas elecciones generales que podrían marcar un punto de inflexión en la historia política del país caribeño. Con 17 partidos políticos en competencia, la verdadera batalla se libra entre los dos gigantes tradicionales: el gobernante Movimiento Nacional del Pueblo (PNM) y el opositor Congreso Nacional Unido (UNC).
El proceso electoral comenzó puntualmente a las 06:00 hora local y se extenderá hasta las 18:00, momento en que iniciará el escrutinio en las 41 circunscripciones que conforman el mapa electoral de la nación insular.
Los primeros reportes indican una participación superior a la registrada en 2020, cuando solo el 58% del padrón ejerció su derecho al voto en plena pandemia de COVID-19, una caída significativa respecto al 66,8% alcanzado en los comicios de 2015.
El ex Primer Ministro Keith Rowley, quien se retiró de la política el pasado 16 de marzo tras una década al frente del Gobierno, emitió su voto en el Colegio Internacional de Puerto España. En declaraciones a medios locales, Rowley destacó la fluidez del proceso: «Tardé unos 7 u 8 minutos en esperar mi turno y depositar mi voto».
«Al final del día de hoy, habremos llegado al final de un proceso muy reñido, que es necesario, y mañana debería ser un nuevo día para todos en Trinidad y Tobago», añadió el exmandatario.
Cuando se le preguntó sobre su primera ausencia como candidato tras 40 años de carrera política, Rowley confesó: «No me había dado cuenta de ello, ya que he participado en todo el proceso. Estoy deseando que llegue mañana y, aunque me retiré en marzo, he estado involucrado todo el tiempo».
En cuanto a qué extrañará más de la vida pública, el político respondió: «Quizá la responsabilidad que conlleva, porque de eso se trata. Cuando estás en la vida pública, hay una responsabilidad, especialmente si tienes un cargo. Eso no estará ahí, y creo que es lo que echaré de menos».
Los dos escaños de Tobago —Tobago Este y Tobago Oeste— se consideran cruciales en la contienda electoral. El PNM se impuso en ambas circunscripciones durante las elecciones de 2020, pero esta vez el Partido Popular de Tobago (TPP) aspira a arrebatarle ese dominio.
Tobago Oeste cuenta con menos de 28.500 votantes registrados, mientras que Tobago Este tiene aproximadamente 23.600 electores. Los analistas políticos observan con especial atención la participación en estas zonas, donde tradicionalmente ha oscilado entre el 51% y 52% en las últimas convocatorias.
Las primeras horas de votación muestran una afluencia notable en varios centros electorales. En Roxborough, incluso antes del amanecer, numerosos votantes ya esperaban para ejercer su derecho al sufragio, evidenciando el interés que generan estos comicios descritos por los expertos como «los más impredecibles en décadas».
EBC says all systems set for General Election today; assures robust security for voting
The battle of political giants takes place from dawn to dusk (6 am to 6 pm) today with key marginal seats being the target – and heavy security in play.
Today’s exercise to elect Parliamentary representatives – and a Government- for Trinidad and Tobago for the next five years is one which political observers and commentators up to yesterday maintained was “too close to call” after very large numbers were seen at last Saturday’s rallies by the governing People’s National Movement and main opposition United National Congress.
Yesterday, the Elections and Boundaries Commission said all systems were “go” for today’s General Election. It said it had collaborated with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to ensure that robust security arrangements have been instituted to safeguard voters, election personnel, and the integrity of the electoral process.
“Our team has worked diligently to ensure that every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote safely and confidently as they participate in this vital democratic exercise,” stated Chief Election Officer Fern Narcis yesterday.
The EBC via a statement yesterday confirmed its readiness for today’s Parliamentary Elections. The EBC stated that following extensive planning, rigorous training, and collaboration with stakeholders to execute “what is perhaps the single most logistically complex exercise a country can undertake”, the Commission has carried out several steps.
The EBC stated that all 2,316 polling stations in T&T have been established and are equipped with the necessary staffing, materials and supplies.
“Inspections have been conducted to ensure that each location meets high standards of accessibility, functionality, and safety,” the EBC added.
Over 13,000 election officials and polling day staff have received training to equip them with the skills needed to assist voters and administer the voting process efficiently, it said.
The EBC stated that through a series of nationwide outreach initiatives, it had informed citizens about the voting process, polling locations, voters’ rights, electoral regulations, and potential electoral offences. Comprehensive campaigns were also conducted across social media platforms, radio, television, and print media to engage and educate the public.
According to EBC information some 1, 154,708 citizens are eligible to vote in today’s exercise.
Special voting for 16,748 people concluded yesterday.
Among those voting this morning are Prime Minister Stuart Young, at the International School, Westmoorings at 9 am and UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is expected to vote at Hermitage Presbyterian School.
Both leaders are seeking to create further history: Young to become T&T’s ninth Prime Minister after being appointed the country’s eighth on March 17. Persad-Bissessar hopes to become the country’s second female Prime Minister after she was elected its first in 2010.
Three-way races dominate
Today’s election for Members of Parliament to hold seats in T&T’s 41 constituencies involves 161 candidates – including three Independents – and 17 parties. The 2020 election involved 151 candidates and 19 political parties.
Today’s election is taking place amid boundary changes to 16 constituencies.
Names have also been changed for five constituencies: Arouca/Maloney renamed Trincity/Maloney, D’Abadie/O’Meara now Malabar/Mausica, Lopinot/Bon Air West is Arouca/Lopinot, St Joseph renamed Aranguez/St Joseph and Pointe-a-Pierre now known as Claxton Bay.
The area where the largest number of candidates are vying is Tobago West – nine.
Three-way races dominate the contest in 22 locations in Trinidad among the PNM, UNC and other parties.
This is in Mayaro, Moruga/Tableland, Tabaquite, Claxton Bay, Couva North, Couva South, Cumuto/Manzanilla, Diego Martin Central, Diego Martin West, Caroni Central, Caroni East, Chaguanas West, Fyzabad, Laventille West, Malabar/Mausica, Naparima, Oropouche East, Oropouche West, Princes Town, San Fernando East, Siparia, Trincity Maloney.
Four way races are taking place in Toco/Sangre Grande, Tunapuna, Arouca/Lopinot, La Horquetta/Talparo, Laventille East/Morvant, Point Fortin, St Ann’s East and Port-of-Spain North/St Anns’ West.
Five-way contests are on in Aranguez /St Joseph, Barataria/San Juan, Arima, Chaguanas East, La Brea, St Augustine and Tobago East.
Six-way races are on in Diego Martin North/East, San Fernando West and Port-of-Spain South.
Attention is particularly on the race in PNM held marginals: Aranguez/St Joseph (a five-way race), Toco/Sangre Grande, Tunapuna and La Horquetta/Talparo (all four-way races) and San Fernando West (six-way).
Focus is also heavy on the UNC-held Moruga/Tableland and the areas held by the five so-called UNC dissidents who questioned the party’s management regarding the internal elections in 2024: outgoing MPs Rushton Paray, (Mayaro), Rodney Charles(Naparima), Dr Rai Ragbir (Cumuto/Manzanilla), Tabaquite (Anita Haynes-Alleyne) and Chaguanas West (Dinesh Rambally).
Unlike some outgoing UNC MPs who have been assisting their replacement candidates, Paray has not been observed helping Mayaro candidate Nicholas Morris.
Players, issues involved
The PNM, aspiring to obtain a “hat trick” third mandate after election wins in 2015 and 2020 is led by former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley and PM Young.
The PNM participated in the campaign on the basis of a revived party with new leadership crossing traditional ethnic party lines.
Young became PM on March 17 in a new leadership transition model involving Rowley’s resignation as Prime Minister on March 16. Rowley remains the political leader until PNM’s convention in September.
Young’s first act on March 18 was to call the election date—four months before the end of the current term in August.
The UNC led by Persad-Bissessar is seeking a return to government following the People’s Partnership victory of 2010, and subsequently holding Opposition status since the 2015 and 2020 general elections.
The UNC, which is not contesting in Tobago, also targeted the expansion of its base fighting this election with a coalition of interests involving certain trade unions and smaller political parties.
The 2025 poll will be the first general election attempt for some parties including the National Transformation Alliance led by Gary Griffith, as well as for the Patriotic Front led by Mickela Panday, and the All People’s Party led by Kezel Jackson.
Election day machine, turnout key
After a short sharp campaign where accusations, allegations and affronts have been hurled among candidates’ outreach statements, today’s election comes down to the parties’ respective machinery.
Analysts have said the focus will also be on voter turnout following the 2020 general elections which was at 58.08 per cent.
n 2020 the PNM won 22 seats with 49.05 per cent of the votes, losing Moruga/Tableland. The UNC won 19 seats with 47.14 per cent.
The swing vote was estimated at 2.63 per cent.
Higher security at
parties HQs tonight
Today’s General Election is T&T’s 15th since Independence and its 23rd national election.
Yesterday political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath chairman of the Council for Responsible Political Behaviour said the campaign was generally peaceful.
“There were one or two incidents of physical confrontation as well as defacing of posters and similar paraphernalia in certain public space, but generally T&T has maintained its longstanding record for peaceful general election campaigns.”
Security has been high throughout the campaign with TT Defence Force soldiers supporting police officers and joint efforts continue amid polling.
Last week the TTPS stated authorities will be paying extra attention to the headquarters of all political parties at this evening’s close of poll “as emotions are expected to run high as the results are tallied and announced.”
The TTPS has asked parties to ensure that persons who are part of their contingent, stay within given guidelines.
Election offences include the sale of alcohol between 6 am and 6 pm today; no congregating within 100 metres of a polling station; prohibition of loudspeakers or music trucks during polling hours; refraining from exerting any influence on voters to support a particular party; avoiding illegal voting practices; and not impersonating any electoral official.
Last week, acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin said authorities had received certain intelligence suggesting a possible disruption was being planned. Benjamin had warned that the TTPPS is taking a zero-tolerance approach to dealing with anyone who had any intention to disrupt the electoral process.
Today’s election is being monitored by a Caricom Election Observer mission and Commonwealth Observer group.
