The opposition in Trinidad and Tobago secured a major victory in Monday's parliamentary elections, returning former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to office as the nation grapples with economic hardship and escalating gang violence.

The United National Congress (UNC) declared victory Monday evening after unofficial preliminary results indicated the party had won a majority of seats in the 41-member House of Representatives. The incumbent People's National Movement (PNM) conceded defeat.

"Everything indicates that the UNC won the election," Persad-Bissessar told supporters, while urging the party to remain humble. "We have a lot of work ahead of us. When UNC wins, we all win," she said.

Persad-Bissessar pledges economic reforms

Campaigning on a platform of economic relief, Persad-Bissessar pledged to raise public sector wages and support families struggling with rising food costs. She described the election as being "for the mother walking the aisles of the grocery store with her children, always with a pen, a pencil, or a calculator in hand because food prices keep rising."

Persad-Bissessar, who previously served as prime minister from 2010 to 2015, ran against former Energy Minister Stuart Young, who had assumed the role of prime minister earlier this year following Keith Rowley's resignation after a decade in office.

Young criticized Persad-Bissessar's campaign promises as financially unrealistic, claiming her proposed pay increases would cost the government an additional $2 billion.

Outgoing Prime Minister Rowley conceded defeat gracefully, acknowledging the smooth electoral process and high voter turnout. "Tonight is not a good night for the PNM, but it might be a good night for Trinidad and Tobago."

Rising gang violence shadows election results

The election took place against a backdrop of rising security concerns. In 2024, Trinidad and Tobago recorded 623 murders, up from 577 the previous year, many linked to Latin American criminal organizations such as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua.

A US Department of State report from March noted that the country's murder rate of 37 per 100,000 people made it the sixth most dangerous nation globally in 2024. The report highlighted the southern border’s vulnerability to illegal migration, drug trafficking, and human smuggling.

In response to the security crisis, the government had imposed a state of emergency from December until mid-April.

Economic challenges await the new government

Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean’s second-largest producer of natural gas, continues to face significant economic challenges. The downturn has been attributed partly to declining production and the cancellation of the Dragon gas field license in Venezuelan waters due to US sanctions.

The economic strain has fueled dissatisfaction among voters, contributing to the UNC's resurgence and Persad-Bissessar's return to leadership.

Approximately 1.1 million citizens were eligible to vote in the 2025 parliamentary elections. Early turnout data indicated a robust participation rate, reflecting public eagerness for political change amid ongoing economic and security crises.

With preliminary results confirming a UNC majority, Kamla Persad-Bissessar is set to begin her second tenure as prime minister, tasked with addressing both the country's economic woes and security challenges.