At some point, we have to face the truth: the government is not coming to save you. Whether it’s PNM or UNC, the average citizen in Trinidad and Tobago has been conditioned to wait — for handouts, for jobs, for housing, for a “better tomorrow” promised on platforms but never delivered in real life.
And the saddest part? Too many people still believe.
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A Culture of Waiting
From the time you’re young, you’re taught to “apply through the system.” Get a CEPEP job. Wait for HDC. Hope a government contract comes through. And for many, especially in vulnerable communities, it’s all they’ve ever seen. It becomes normal — generational, even.
But while some sit and wait for crumbs from red or yellow hands, others have quietly decided to build, create, hustle, and move ahead — with or without the state.
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PNM or UNC – The Promises Sound the Same
Let’s be real: the political theater in Trinidad is predictable.
PNM says: “We building for the future.”
UNC says: “They mash up what we build.”
Back and forth. Election to election.
Meanwhile, the average citizen is stuck. The school still leaking. The hospital still full. The roads still broken. The grants delayed. The business approvals tied up in red tape. The youth still unemployed and the elders still lining up for a $1,000 food card.
So how long are we going to keep pretending one party has the golden solution?
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Personal Responsibility vs. Systemic Reality
Yes, the system is flawed. Corruption exists. Bureaucracy is thick. And for some, the deck is stacked unfairly. But at some point, personal responsibility has to kick in.
Some people are waiting for state housing while others are renting a room, saving hard, and slowly building.
Some wait for URP, while others learn a trade and start small.
Some complain on Facebook — others are registering businesses, getting certified, and pushing forward.
The point is: waiting alone doesn’t pay off.
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What’s the Plan B?
No politician — no matter how charismatic — can hand-deliver you a meaningful life. That responsibility falls on you.
So what’s your plan if the government never steps in?
Will you learn a skill?
Start a side hustle?
Organize in your community instead of just complaining about it?
Because at this rate, “waiting on the government” has become the most dangerous form of procrastination in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Final Thought
Being aware of systemic failures is one thing. But tying your entire future to a party, a promise, or a politician is a guaranteed way to stay stuck.
Whether it’s red or yellow, North or South — nobody is more responsible for your progress than you.
So wake up. Vote if you must. Demand better — always. But don’t sit still and rot while you wait. The world moving. Life going on. And opportunity — real opportunity — rarely comes stamped with a party logo.
