Polls have closed, and the country now awaits the verdict of the electorate.
At the International School of Port of Spain in Westmoorings, TTT News caught up with Prime Minister Stuart Young and PNM Political Leader Dr. Keith Rowley, who both cast their votes in the morning period.
Prime Minister Young cast his vote just after 9am. He told reporters that he saw the long lines at the polling station as a positive sign.
“I went through the process as I was directed to. They actually had a lot of people in my section. So there was quite a long line of people, which I was pleased to see. I think that augurs well. It is certainly the longest line I have been in since I’ve been voting in Trinidad and Tobago, since I came back at the age that I could vote.”
Mr. Young said overall the voting experience went well for him and his son.
“Simultaneous with me, my son went in to vote, the first time voting as a young man, 18, And he was in and out of there in a matter of minutes.”
Prime Minister Young added that he was satisfied with the PNM’s campaign, describing it as clean, informative, and hopeful, especially among young people.
“We are the only ones that have put forward to the population a substantial and substantive manifesto, 190 pages, and it is up to the population now. I am not one who worries about those things once I am satisfied, which I am. But we ran a good, hard campaign.”
Also voting at the International School of Port of Spain was the Political Leader of the People’s National Movement, Dr. Keith Rowley, who was accompanied by his family. He said he’s looking forward to his retirement.
“But I’m looking forward to a different routine. What I’m really looking forward to is not having the stress of the schedule. Having to get up to do this, to do that all day into the night. Sometimes all night into the next day. And I think that day after day after day, year after year, now I have already a number of relaxation events in between with family and friends, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the year and an easier routine.”
Though the party’s internal elections are constitutionally due next year, Dr. Rowley said the date will be moved to 2025.
“It would come before next year. So, in the coming year, I am pretty sure, because I want to give it up. So, as I said, I won’t be transitioning the party to this one. As I won’t be transitioning the country to this one. Today’s process is guaranteeing that the transition in the country is smooth. So, that is accomplished. The next step is to do it in the party and those two processes, I think, it was my responsibility and my intention to do them smoothly.”
Dr. Rowley added that he’s open to mentoring young members of the party.