By: Paul Sarran
June 17, 2025
The mess following the PNM’s electoral defeat is not just a moment of political turbulence; it is a turning point that will define the future trajectory of the party. As a young, upcoming political scientist, I feel a profound embarrassment and deep concern for the state of the party I care about and for the country’s democratic process. The PNM’s poor showing at the polls was a manifestation of growing disconnection from its base, a disconnection that is now further compounded by decisions made by its leadership in the wake of its electoral rejection by the electorate.
Instead of turning inward and assessing its own weaknesses, the PNM’s opposition leader chose to revert to the tried and tested formula of appointing the veteran figures whose credibility, policy innovations, and ability to connect with the growing and youthful electorate are, at best, questionable. This approach signals a resistance to renewal and an alarming unwillingness to reflect honestly on the messages that the electorate delivered at the polls.
Such a decision cannot be dismissed as a simple reshuffle or a matter of loyalty; it speaks directly to a growing perception within the party and amongst its supporters that renewal is not a priority. The PNM finds itself stranded in its own past while the country moves forward. This is not a sustainable trajectory. Without bold and purposeful renewal, there is a very real danger that the party will remain stranded in opposition for the foreseeable future, potentially for the next 10 years, while the electorate evolves and moves further away from its fold.
This moment demanded a dramatic break from the routines and relationships that kept the PNM from understanding its own weaknesses. The electorate made a powerful, unmistakable judgment that the party was not offering a forward-thinking or adaptable platform to address the growing worries of ordinary people their financial struggles, their growing disillusionment with institutions, their doubts about fairness, justice, opportunity, and representation. The PNM’s response should have been a decisive renewal a clear signal that it was turning a corner, developing new policy perspectives, and extending its reach to a new generation of stakeholders.
Instead, by retaining many of its veteran figures and choosing not to elevate its new and energetic voices, the PNM signals a defensive reflex, a reliance on its past, a fear of change, and a disbelief in the ability of its younger members to contribute meaningfully to its future. This is a policy of staying within a circle of familiarity a circle that, meanwhile, is growing narrower with each electoral showdown. The moment called for renewal; instead, renewal was neglected in favour of preserving a bygone era.
Some may say there is virtue in retaining experience that institutional knowledge is indispensable. While there is a kernel of truth in this view, the reality is that experience without renewal converts political institutions into stagnant clubs, unable to respond to the dramatic and growing demands for transformation. The PNM cannot rely upon its past glories or its most veteran members to carry it forward in a new era. It must identify, empower, and promote its future its new generation its new policy innovators its future standard-bearers to enable its eventual return to power.
As a young upcoming political scientist, I feel not only deep embarrassment but profound concern for the future of our country’s democratic institutions. Without a strong opposition an opposition that is forward-thinking, adaptable, and representative there can be no healthy democracy. The PNM’s current trajectory signals its inability to provide that strong opposition. This is not a moment for political games, loyalty rewards, or retaining power within a small circle of insiders. This is a moment for renewal, for putting country first, and for honouring the messages delivered by the electorate through their vote.
If the PNM cannot break free from its reliance on veteran figures and find a way to bring forward its new generation of thinkers, innovators, and policy advocates, then it cannot hope to connect with the electorate or inspire the country’s imagination. Without renewal, without a clear break from its past, the PNM will remain stranded in opposition a fate that neither its members nor its supporters wish for, and that Trinidad and Tobago cannot afford.
Furthermore, renewal involves not just a reconstitute of individuals but a transformation in policy priorities, in communication, and in the way the party reaches out to its base. It must demonstrate a genuine understanding of the struggles ordinary people face today. This includes a strong focus on education, health care, employment, and growing the country’s economy in a way that is sustainable and equitable. This renewal must reflect the rich diversity of our society and enable the PNM to become a powerful vehicle for delivering opportunity and fairness to all. Without these significant and purposeful steps, the PNM will continue to linger in opposition, stranded by its own inaction and a growing perception that it cannot connect with or inspire the future.
She must reshuffle the Senate in order for the party to rebuild. This means choosing individuals who bring forward new perspectives, policy expertise, and credibility, reflecting a realistic understanding of the electorate’s desires. A reshuffle will enable the PNM to break free from its current stagnation and become a strong, forward-thinking opposition, poised to contribute constructively to the democratic process and to eventually win back the confidence of the people.
(The author Paul Sarran is a Political Science Student at The University of the West Indies Global Campus in St Augustine)
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