Joshua Seemungal
Senior Reporter
joshua.seemungal@guardian.co.tt
T&T is now less than two months away from returning to the polls for the August 14, 2023, Local Government Elections.
With political scientists like Dr Winford James and Dr Shane Mohammed highlighting several issues affecting the electorate including deteriorating infrastructure, high levels of crime, unemployment and inflation, the Sunday Guardian set out to speak with young potential voters about their thoughts heading into the elections.
Speaking to people between the ages of 19 to 35 years, across parts of east and west Trinidad over the past week, we received an overwhelming number of claims of disenchantment and displeasure towards the quality of governance and politics.
While the respondents varied from construction workers to UWI students, from bank workers to unemployed single mothers, their responses were similar–they all said there was a sense of hopelessness within their generation about the current state and future of the country.
Their general sentiment was that the main political parties lack connection to today’s youth and are failing to inspire through progressive policy-making which has left the country stagnant.
Most of them felt that voting in the upcoming local government elections would do little to change things in any meaningful way.
Dominique Lezama, 23, UWI student
“The Government allocates their money to some of the dumbest causes. It’s like a black hole. We have a lot of educated, well-trained professionals here in Trinidad, but we have nowhere to put them because so much of it is a management issue. So when it comes to my vote, it feels like no matter who I vote for, we are so stuck in our ways. There’s no way for us, as a populace, to directly communicate with our politicians. There’s a huge sense of disconnect. I feel no one’s actual issues are being addressed.
“I have so many friends and they say, as soon as I get this degree, I am out of here. This is a sinking ship. If there was a well-funded, well-established party with a lot of progressive ideals, they would have my vote absolutely because these people are giving us nothing. Literally nothing. I’m asking for so little. Like just give us a state address–where you’re saying we’re gonna try something new and different. The kids are depressed. Our schools are understaffed and underfunded. My mother is a primary school teacher and to hear what they go through is terrible.
“When I got older, I realised none of them are running on policy. What are you doing differently to increase the quality of life of the people? It was an absolute spit in the face when they removed tariffs on luxury vehicles, I’m like, look at the price of flour in the supermarket. It’s $100. How are you putting food in your children’s lunch kits? In fact, it is just cheaper to buy fast food than it is to make a meal at home.”
Jabez Rodriguez, 20, telecommunications
“I will be voting in the upcoming Local Government Elections. I never voted, but this will most likely be my first time. Everyone has a right to vote, depending on your choice and what you want for your country. It’s what each party is doing for your country, and whichever is the better one, you vote for them. And so far, none of them are doing better. We need something different. I’m willing to give a new party a chance.”
UWI student Cassidy Robinson.
JOSHUA SEEMUNGAL
Cassidy Robinson, 20, UWI student
“No (I have no motivation to vote). We can see it getting progressively worse, and I feel like there’s no glimmer of hope that it’s going to get better. We just want to leave before it ends up like Venezuela. Oil is gone. We can’t do anything. Let’s look at something else, like tourism, marketing. Let’s enhance our cocoa industry or something. We have other things we can focus on, and the oil is gone. We can’t depend on a non-renewable resource, something that is clearly not serving us anymore. We can all see the potential. We can all come up with solutions but nobody is listening to us. They are not doing anything different.”
Kern, 35, skilled labourer/businessman
“I wouldn’t vote because I’m not seeing any changes. They are not really doing anything. First, to begin, employment is very hard because you have no work, and when you manage to get work, they talk to you how they want and do not pay you right. Everything is going up, except your pay. The crime rate is crazy. Everyone walking around frustrated.”
JC, 20
“No. I won’t be voting. There is never a true change. It feels like the same thing over and over, but different scenarios.”
Abijah, 20, bank worker
“I’m not sure if I’ll vote. I’ve never voted before. I feel there’s just a battle between the UNC and PNM, and it’s less about improving the economy, and Trinidad and Tobago.”
Alisha, 24, mother of two
“No, I won’t vote. I don’t know anything about local government. I’ve never voted before. I think politics is nonsense. There needs to be some sort of change–100 per cent.”
Amy, 26, public servant
“No. I don’t think I’ll be voting. I’ve voted before, but I don’t think anything has changed and I don’t think until I see different parties and stuff, I will be casting a vote.”
UWI student Naveed Mohammed.
JOSHUA SEEMUNGAL
Naveed Mohammed, 19, UWI student
“I probably would be willing to vote in the Local Government Elections. The parties always make promises that they don’t keep, and that never really changes. That doesn’t motivate me to vote but at the end of the day, we need change in the country, and over the last 10 years, there hasn’t been much change at all. It’s gotten worse. I would vote to get some change in the country. Yeah, I would most likely be willing to give a chance to a new party.
“Most people I know–most friends–nobody is concerned about politics. I would rather people use their heads when they are voting and not use the race card. Use the facts–What has changed? What did the parties do? Think about that and not use race.”
Reshawn, 23, public servant
“No. I won’t be willing to vote. I’ve voted already. I’m being real with you, my brother, everyone says politics is corrupt, but corruption is part of life now, you know. I accept what is going on. I don’t think voting for a particular party will change anything. It will be the same because we are in 2023 and nothing has changed as yet. And everyone says they are looking for a change, and change hasn’t happened yet.”
Kimberly, 32
“No. I wouldn’t vote. I don’t really vote on the whole. I wouldn’t do that. I don’t have time for politics. I don’t care at all. The country is in a mess. I don’t think they can really help with that. To me, that starts from home. They could only change so much. We need to change as a people.”
Shania Joseph, 22, UWI student
“Yeah, I plan to vote in the upcoming elections. I am disenchanted with politics as well. I’m impartial to it, but I think it’s important to vote to give your choice, because then you would sit back and say they’re in power and they’re not doing anything, but you didn’t do anything to try and help change that.”
Tye, 21, UWI student
“Local politics is completely disconnected from young people. Politics is like a game, and you can’t hate the person. You have to learn the rules of the game and play accordingly. It’s not for the people anymore. I think politicians should be good when necessary to be good, but they shouldn’t be evil unnecessarily in that they should make the most rational choice that’s most mutually beneficial to the people and the Government, and everyone’s benefit holistically.
“I don’t think a new, youth-oriented party can necessarily overcome the systemic problems because the socialisation process is already ingrained into people that it only has two parties. That you either have to be a PNM or UNC because there’s no other option. However, for it to change, I think the culture of the people will have to change.”
