On Monday 28th April 2025 Trinidad held their general elections and the ruling PNM dominated by Africans lost while the Indian based UNC and their partners emerged the winner in a 27-seat landslide majority. The PNM got 14 seats. There was no rioting as in Guyana.
The PNM – party leader and Prime Minister Stuart Young – coming from a “Black” origin of mixed Chinese father and Indian mother was seen for two months as a rubber stamp by the then Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. He graciously conceded defeat of the PNM even before official results were known.
The UNC – lead by Kamla Persad Bissessar was out of the seat of Government for 10 years (2015 to 2025) but made a sweeping landslide emerging victorious in 2025.
The UNC victory was a total upset of the traditional status quo in which the PNM – historically ruled Trinidad from 1956 to present day minus 15 years of UNC rule. Africans in Trinidad are not accustomed to be ruled by any other race especially the Indians.
In the 28th April,2025 elections many Blacks it was obvious were upset with the Black race party – PNM and voted in droves for the Indian based UNC Party.
This historical shift of Black voters to the UNC -party is debatable. Trinidad was plagued by escalating crime, rampant unemployment and unchecked corruption or it was possible Stuart Young was not seen as “Black” enough to be the head of the Black dominated PNM.
Stuart Young of mixed Chinese and Indian origin was seen as a double
“Coolie” even though he was socialized as a Black youth growing up in Black communities.
The defeat of the PNM party did not witness the heights of rioting uncivility, beating and brutalization and rape of Indians or burning of their properties as in Guyana. There was no intervention by the US and other external powers for the PNM to give up power as was the case in Guyana in 1992 and 2020.
The leaders of the African dominated PNM were full participants in the elections which was conducted by an iron fisted Trinidad Elections and Boundary Commission (TEBC) not tolerant of any nonsense disruptions during the political run up to Monday’s elections.
Unlike Trinidad the Africans in Guyana are getting the wrong signal from the PPP – government. While Black leaders are openly promoting violence as the norm for Africans it is endemic to Black culture to indulge in uncivilised behavior.
Whereas traditionally the PPP always takes Indians for granted,Indians keep voting for the PPP.
In response to the rampant crime situation the UNC – government has made it clear to the citizens of Trinidad that they have the right to stand their ground against criminals and good citizens will be given guns to defend themselves.
Even Trinidad’s police force is well integrated ethnically but more needs to be done.
Since before Guyana’s independence in 1966 Indians have been subjected to a holocaust in Wismar in 1964 and mayhem at Buxton during 2006 to 2008.
Indian leaders have not advocated riots or arson or taught Indians to reciprocate.
Since African rioting against Indians has been historical it is still a recipe for Eusi Kwayana’s advocacy of partition of Guyana.
Respectfully
Vassan Ramracha