Introduction
2023 Trinidadian local elections
After the Privy Council ruled that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago had misconstrued a recent Act of Parliament in deciding to postpone local government elections for one year, the government returned to parliament and set a date for the election, which was held on 14th August 2023. The ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) won 72 of the 139 electoral districts but lost the popular vote by over thirty thousand votes. However, the election results were contested by the opposition United National Congress (UNC) in several districts. It challenged the Electoral & Boundaries Commission (EBC) on its decision to award the Arima Northeast electoral district to the PNM. The district was declared a tie (623 votes each) after the election, but after the first recount, on 17th August, it was awarded to the UNC. The PNM requested a second recount and the result shifted in its favour by one vote. The UNC subsequently mounted a legal action against the EBC but was unsuccessful in its bid.
Freedom of Assembly
Protest over poor road infrastructure and land slippages, call for urgent repairs
On 17th July, residents of La Pastora Village in Lopinot, northern Trinidad, protested over the deplorable state of the Lopinot Road, which is the only access in and out of the area. The community is facing severe challenges due to poor road infrastructure and land slippages, making transportation and daily life extremely difficult. Meanwhile, on 7th August, taxi drivers and residents of Manzanilla also took to the streets to protest the bad roads in their area. The protesters called for urgent repairs and maintenance of the roads, which they say are causing significant damage to their vehicles and posing a danger to pedestrians.
Residents block roads to demand action on water crisis
On 22nd August, Mayaro residents—eastern Trinidad—protested over a month-long water crisis. One resident, Linda Gunpat, said they always have problems accessing pipe-borne water. “The protest was the culmination of residents’ frustration over a month-long water scarcity,” she said.
The demonstration, which began at 3 am along Point Radix Street, Ortoire, and spread to St Joseph Road and Ortoire Hill Road, was dispersed by police as dawn broke. No injuries or arrests were reported. In response, the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA) offered assurance of imminent relief for the beleaguered community. According to Loop, a digital news outlet, the WASA acknowledged that it had experienced challenges recently with the water supply to parts of Mayaro.
A month later, on 20th September, residents once more blocked roads at Union Village, Rio Claro, due to the persistent water issues. Member of Parliament for Mayaro, Rushton Paray, expressed his support for the actions initiated by the residents of Union Village and its neighbouring communities:
“Once again, the inefficiencies of WASA, stemming from unresolved engineering challenges, have disrupted water distribution in the Mayaro Constituency. Today, in my capacity as the Member of Parliament, I wish to express my unwavering support for the actions initiated by the residents of Union and its neighbouring communities in response to these persistent water issues.”
Workers protest poor conditions
On 24th August, Caribbean Packaging Industries workers protested for better wages and working conditions outside the company’s Champ Fleurs office. They rejected the offer of a 4 per cent salary increase, saying that they have been working on 2018 salaries. Also, they emphasised their desire for a more practical outcome to negotiations.
On 28th September, the Contractors and General Workers Trade Union (CGWTU) led a protest at the San Fernando Corporation Building in Carib Street. They denounced the lack of basic resources, such as grease for vehicles, crawlers to inspect underneath vehicles, a proper lunchroom, and protective gear, with the last time they received such supplies being in 2019.