Senior Reporter
kay-marie.fletcher
@guardian.co.tt
It’s been 365 days since the United National Congress (UNC) assumed office, ending a decade-long stint on the opposition benches.
After ten years in opposition, the party re-emerged with a fresh face.
Several Cabinet members, including Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander and Defence Minister Wayne Sturge, are newcomers to the political arena, while the Prime Minister chose two former People’s National Movement (PNM) ministers, John Jeremie and Kennedy Swaratsingh, to sit on the Senate bench.
The new Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led administration also came into office with a manifesto filled with major promises to the nation, from reducing crime to economic growth.
With high expectations, the Government has spent the last year under a national microscope as the country watched and waited to see what will come to pass with this new administration.
Over the recent weeks, Guardian Media traversed the length and breadth of the country from Port-of-Spain to San Fernando to Sangre Grande to find out if citizens feel those campaign promises have been kept and to hear their message for the Prime Minister’s one year into her term.
In the heart of Chaguanas, many people praised the Prime Minister’s efforts, acknowledging that it’s only been one year, so they didn’t expect her to achieve everything.
Speaking to Guardian Media at the Chaguanas Market, one vendor Fareeda Arjoon said, “I’ll say continue doing a good job and I ain’t expect she to do all the things at one time. It’ll take time for she to do it because she now come in in office but I think people should give she a chance. She’ll do something good.”
Similarly, another Chaguanas market vendor Rajesh Beharry said, “She’s doing a good job and she has good judgement on people and so far she’s doing a good job for the people. What I like is that she’s enforcing the rules and the laws that were there all the time and nobody was enforcing it. She’s enforcing it now. Some people might vex but the right thing is the right thing.”
In Carapo, one resident Cynthia Dass said, “She’s doing good yes and I wish her very good luck.”
But some citizens in the north expressed a different view, as they told Guardian Media they believe crime and unemployment are too high.
Thirty-one-year-old Port-of-Spain resident Wayne Joseph said, “The economy not good right now. The Government not good right now. Crime swamping Trinidad right now. It getting real out of hand.”
Laventille resident Marva Farrell-Jones, 75, said, “I haven’t seen any progress in the country yet because a lot of people are still unemployed. I think that they can do a little better.”
Echoing similar sentiments, some Valencia and Sangre Grande residents said they are displeased with the lack of jobs, but are also frustrated over the increased fines.
Sangre Grande farmer Glenroy Carrington said, “If you have no work, you will go and thief by me and if you ain’t have no work, you’ll go and thief by Maraj, and this is what they’re bringing we to come to because everybody ain’t have no work, everybody ain’t have no land, everybody ain’t getting no justice.”
Speaking out about the increased fixed penalty fines, Valencia resident Glen Singh said, “One year later it’s a disgrace, although I’m working in the Government, it’s still a disgrace because they give us the backpay and they take it back in ticket, so what’s the sense. You’re spinning top in mud... They start off nice and all of a sudden changes just come unexpectedly.”
In Tunapuna, many young people expressed their frustrations over the lack of employment as well.
And some residents expressed concern over the Prime Minister’s ability to lead the country, questioning the state of her health.
Looking ahead, residents in San Fernando told Guardian Media that they believe the Prime Minister should place more focus on a particular sector of society.
San Fernando street vendor Gaston Bourne said, “You see the poor people on the streets, that’s the people she has to help if she want to get back there for a next five years.”
