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Main Points
PNM chairman and Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales has predicted strong voter participation at Trinidad and Tobago’s next local government and general elections, claiming citizens are increasingly dissatisfied with the UNC Government. Speaking at an Opposition press conference on Tuesday, October 6, Gonzales said he believed voters would use the next available election to express their displeasure with the Government. “I guarantee you, any election that is called in Trinidad and Tobago, be it general election or the local government elections, citizens of this country will be galvanised and they will come out in droves to register their displeasure,” Gonzales said. He described the Government as having become unpopular within a short period of time and predicted that participation at future elections would be high. “The next local government election, next general election, I guarantee you the participation from the citizenry will be very high because people are already fed up with them,” he said. Gonzales also accused the Government of causing what he described as “pain and mayhem and tears” for citizens, continuing the Opposition’s criticism of the UNC’s performance since taking office. His comments were made as the Opposition challenged the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes increasing the number of municipal corporations in Trinidad from 14 to 17. Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has accused the Government of attempting to reshape the local government map for political advantage. The Government has rejected that characterisation and has presented the proposed restructuring as local government reform. Gonzales’ claims about public dissatisfaction and future voter turnout represent his political assessment. No election result or future level of voter participation can be established in advance.
