Predictions for an Opposition Party Win in Trinidad & Tobago’s General Elections · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

By midnight Trinidad and Tobago time, the country should know which political party will form its next government. As predicted, it has been a tight race — out of just over a million eligible voters, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has thus far tallied over 400,000 votes. Many seats have already been declared, but two critical marginal seats, St. Joseph and La Horquetta/Talparo, both in the east Trinidad, are still up for grabs.
As expected, the two Tobago constituencies have gone entirely to the opposition People's National Movement (PNM).
PNM wins Tobago East & West #S6TT
— CCN TV6 (@tv6tnt) September 8, 2015
Should the PNM win the two marginal seats — and by all appearances, they are poised to claim victory for at least one of them, St. Joseph — they will have beat the incumbent by 23 seats to 18 — a slim majority, but a win nonetheless. Some media houses and pollsters have been taking the liberty of calling the election in favour of the PNM, even though final numbers have not yet come in:
Awaiting OFFICIAL WORD but @tv6tnt has declared the #TTElections2015 for the PNM.
— Wesley Williams (@wes2212) September 8, 2015
Nigel Henry calls general election for PNM 22 to UNC 19….still to be confirmed @tv6tnt
— Mark Bassant (@MarkBassant1) September 8, 2015
The still-sitting prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, retained her seat by a definitive margin:
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar retains her seat in Siparia #PushForPower #S6TT pic.twitter.com/duH9Vlzys1
— CCN TV6 (@tv6tnt) September 8, 2015
Jubilant UNC supporters @PM constituency office in Siparia @tv6tnt pic.twitter.com/4vowj0Nj2f
— Mark Bassant (@MarkBassant1) September 8, 2015
PM gives brief victory speech after winning Siparia seat with over 14,000 votes counted so far for her @tv6tnt
— Mark Bassant (@MarkBassant1) September 8, 2015
As things stand now, it looks as though her victory may remain limited to her personal triumph in the constituency of Siparia and the ‘safe seats’ that her party enjoys in east and central Trinidad.