On 28 April, Trinidad and Tobago held a general election to elect all members of the House of Representatives, following the recent dissolution of Parliament by Prime Minister Stuart Young.  The opposition party, the United National Congress (UNC), secured a landslide victory, with party leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar becoming the country's new Prime Minister (she previously held the role from 2010 to 2015). The UNC’s victory ends a decade of the incumbent People’s National Movement (PNM) in power. 

According to preliminary results, the UNC won 26 of the 41 seats, while the PNM garnered 13, and the Tobago People’s Party, 2 seats respectively. For the first time in over a decade, Parliament will have representatives from three different parties. Voter turnout was 53.9 per cent, slightly lower than the 58.0 per cent recorded in the 2020 elections. Data on the proportion of seats held by women in the new parliament was not yet available as of 15 May. International observation missions, reported an overall peaceful and transparent electoral process.

Sources:  CARICOM, Commonwealth , Elections & Boundaries Commission Trinidad and Tobago, The Guardian, BBC, Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, Daily Express, International IDEA

On 25 March, Trinidad and Tobago’s Court of Appeal overturned a 2018 High Court ruling that had declared parts of the Sexual Offences Act criminalizing consensual anal sex between adults unconstitutional. The original case was brought by Jason Jones, a UK-based LGBTQIA+ activist from Trinidad and Tobago, who argued the unconstitutionality of section 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act, claiming they violated his rights to privacy, belief, and expression. The Appeal Court ruled that the law is protected by the Constitution’s ‘savings clause’, which shields colonial-era laws from legal challenges, even if they conflict with current human rights standards. The judges stated that changing the law is Parliament’s responsibility and noted that sections 13 and 16 have never been enforced. LGBTQIA+ advocates called the decision a major setback and a failure of the justice system to protect its population. Jones has announced his plans to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which remains the highest court of appeal for Trinidad and Tobago.

Sources: The Guardian, Trinidad Express, Global Voices 

Following a surge in violence, including over five murders committed in 48 hours, the government has declared a three-month national state of emergency effective from 30 December until 30 March. The country has recorded 623 murders in 2024, the highest in history, most of which are tied to organized crime. The emergency powers announced on 30 December are set to increase the number of police and army staff in the streets and provide security forces in the country with expanded powers to detain suspects believed to be involved in crimes and conduct property searches without warrants. Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s office has, however, made clear that no curfew will be imposed. While some citizens welcomed the move, experts argue it will not address the country’s root causes of violence, such as the drug trade and illegal arms trafficking. Civil society groups have also raised concerns about the measure, citing the risk of potential racial profiling and the criminalization of poorer communities.

Source: The Guardian, Aljazeera, New York Times, Trinidad Guardian

On 2 August, the seven-member National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform presented its final report to Prime Minister Keith Rowley. The findings draw on consultations with a variety of societal actors across the country and with the country’s diaspora. The report highlighted that the current institutional setting of the country does not correspond with the needs of a contemporary democratic republic, emphasizing a need for change. Further, it included several key proposals, such as instituting a two-term limit for the Prime Minister and setting fixed general election dates. Other proposals included faster and more effective trials, increased accountability for those in office, and the adoption of a stronger approach to corruption. Critics have questioned the independence of the commission and argued that it did not engage a sufficiently broad segment of the population. A national public consultation to discuss the report is expected to take place at the end of the year.

Sources: Trinidad Express, Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform