With just 12 days to go before the General Election, the People’s National Movement (PNM) has presented its 2025 manifesto.
Titled A Bold New Chapter: Transforming Governance For A Stronger, Safer, And More Prosperous Trinidad And Tobago, Chairman of the PNM, Stuart Young, unveiled the document at Balisier House on Wednesday.
Giving a brief synopsis of the contents, he said the manifesto is divided into six priority areas. The document, he explained, is well detailed, and the policies are innovative and responsible. He assured that they will not bankrupt Trinidad and Tobago or result in any negative consequences.
One of the areas outlined involves the reformation of the education system to encourage a nation of learners, leaders, and innovators.
“We have already engaged with CARICOM and CARICOM Leaders have agreed to set up a body to look at the education system throughout CARICOM because as we know our testing depends on CXC, so we’re going to work on it at that level as well.”
Another priority area is the focus on wellness and taking healthcare into the future through digitisation.
“What we’re going to focus on is the digitisation of records, the digitisation of the ability for prescriptions, thaty= cut costs, make sure people are able to get the types of drugs they want. You’ve already seen this start to be rolled out, for example, when we did the tour recently of the Central Block in Port of Spain General and this is now going to be an area of focus.”
PNM Political Leader Dr. Keith Rowley said the manifesto is not driven by populism and takes into consideration both local and international challenges.
He noted that engagement for the manifesto began as far back as 2015, and it is a working document with a particular commitment to the next generation.
“You would see a lot of continuation of improved governance, upgraded services, modernisation of the institutional arrangements. That is what this manifesto brings and that is what we think is what is required now in Trinidad and Tobago because we have a whole truckload of government commitments already. We don’t need another truckload of government commitments. What we need to do is to do better in the areas where we already have commitments.”
Dr. Rowley advised the public to be realistic, practical, and responsible.