Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the leader of the opposition, has called the prime minister’s decision to step down from politics before the end of his tenure “a clear admission of his failure to lead this nation effectively.”
On January 3, 2025, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced the news at a press conference in Tobago.
The prime minister should now “do the honorable thing and call the (general) elections,” Persad-Bissessar said in a follow-up press statement in reaction to his action.
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While people may “celebrate” Rowley’s political career, the opposition leader clarified that there were still several issues that needed to be resolved.
Persad-Bissessar stated, “He and his PNM MPs, most of whom he has foisted on the population as candidates for the 2025 General Election, have brutalized businesses and impoverished citizens, allowed a violent crime crisis, and destroyed every independent institution in this country.”
Along with questioning the timing of the government’s declaration of a State of Emergency, she accused Rowley of bringing the nation into a “failed state.”
She stated, “The government is in chaos. Why make this announcement after calling an SOE four days ago? It is clear that this SOE was a political gimmick that has already failed spectacularly.”
Persad-Bissessar also charged the prime minister with “leaving the country in darkness.”
“His government’s incompetence has plunged every sector into crisis. Our economy is in shambles, crime is rampant, and the safety and security of our citizens are at an all-time low…His legacy is one of failure, division, and despair, leaving a nation in darkness,” Persad-Bissessar claimed.
However, she emphasized that preparations were already being established to restore residents’ safety and stated that her party was prepared and eager to alter this.
“We have a comprehensive crime-fighting plan that will restore safety and security to our streets. We will rebuild the economy, repair broken institutions, and bring hope back to the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” she stated.
