A New Kamla: Will the Nation Give Her a Chance?
Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been part of Trinidad and Tobago’s political life for decades. She has had her victories and she has faced her share of criticism. For some, her first term left questions about decision-making and accountability. But today, a different picture is emerging. Older now, with nothing left to lose, she seems more focused on legacy than politics. The question is whether this “new Kamla” is one the nation is ready to give a chance.
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Justice Delivered: Caroni Land Leases
On August 12, over 200 former Caroni (1975) Ltd workers finally received the land leases they had been waiting on for more than 20 years. Each recipient was granted two acres — agricultural and residential — bringing closure to decades of frustration after the company’s closure in 2003.
Persad-Bissessar described the land as more than property. She called it “a key to open four doors”:
1. Security of tenure.
2. Access to financing through collateral.
3. New opportunities for farming and enterprise.
4. Generational wealth for families.
This wasn’t just about politics. It was about justice — fulfilling a promise that had been stalled for years, and opening a pathway for youth to use agriculture in new ways, with technology and entrepreneurship at the centre.
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A Youth-Centred Agenda
At the Future Leaders Internship launch, Persad-Bissessar made another bold call: youth development must be at the centre of the next national budget. It wasn’t a campaign line — it was a directive to her ministers.
She also announced the return of the laptop programme for form-one students, while expanding opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital sales, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship. The message was clear: preparing the next generation is no longer optional — it is essential.
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Connecting With the Culture
At the same event, she walked in alongside Yung Bredda, laughed with the crowd, and even joked that she’d like to sing like him in another life. It may have been a light moment, but it showed a willingness to connect with the culture of the people — not just stand above it.
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Tougher on Accountability
Back in office, Persad-Bissessar has restructured her Cabinet, adding new portfolios like Artificial Intelligence, Homeland Security, Defence, and Rural Development. She has also moved to dismantle the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA), calling it an “abysmal failure,” and pledged to strengthen the Board of Inland Revenue instead.
Faced with a US$1.6 billion fiscal deficit, she has promised to cut waste, reduce luxury spending, and resist the reintroduction of property taxes. It’s a harder stance than before, signaling a Kamla who is now less concerned with popularity and more focused on accountability.
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Partnering Globally for Local Growth
On August 7, her administration worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch a US$20 million Social High Impact Fund to support NGOs, CSOs, and SMEs. She also announced a National Youth Empowerment Platform and hosted the Latin America & Caribbean Human Development Report launch — connecting Trinidad and Tobago’s development goals to international partnerships.
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“When UNC Wins, Everybody Wins”
During the campaign, Persad-Bissessar often reminded the country: “When UNC wins, everybody wins.” It wasn’t just a party slogan — it was her attempt to position her leadership as inclusive, where progress extends beyond political lines and benefits the nation as a whole.
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A Question for the Nation
In just a few months, Kamla Persad-Bissessar has:
Delivered long-overdue Caroni land leases.
Declared a youth-centred budget.
Revived laptops for schools while pushing modern skills.
Restructured her Cabinet to tackle new priorities.
Taken steps to cut waste and enforce accountability.
Partnered globally with the UNDP.
Connected with youth culture alongside Yung Bredda.
Reframed politics with her campaign message: “When UNC wins, everybody wins.”
She is older now, with nothing left to lose — and perhaps that makes her more serious, more determined, and more focused on leaving a legacy.
The question is no longer whether Kamla Persad-Bissessar can win an election. She already has. The question now is: will she leave a legacy worth remembering?
