Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape has been shaken by a heated confrontation between government and opposition figures following controversial remarks by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The controversy emerged when the Prime Minister characterized the nation as a “lawless dump” during discussions about newly implemented traffic penalty increases on December 28.
Opposition Chief Whip and PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales launched a scathing rebuke against the Prime Minister’s comments, demanding an immediate public apology. In a strongly worded Facebook statement on December 29, Gonzales condemned the description as “an appalling betrayal of the office she holds” and labeled the language as “careless and contemptuous.”
The political firestorm centers around Legal Notice No 471 of 2025, published on December 25, which substantially increased penalties for traffic violations. The revised framework introduces tiered speeding fines ranging from $2,000 for minor violations to $6,000 for severe infractions, while driving without insurance now carries a staggering $10,000 penalty—a tenfold increase from previous rates.
Gonzales emphasized that while Trinidad and Tobago faces challenges similar to other nations, the country remains “blessed and fortunate in ways far better than others.” He asserted that national leadership should demonstrate “humility, morality and integrity” rather than engaging in public degradation of the nation.
The Opposition has scheduled a news conference for December 30 at the Opposition Leader’s office to address this controversy among other national issues. This development marks another chapter in the ongoing political tension between the ruling UNC party and opposition PNM, recalling Persad-Bissessar’s pre-election promise in April 2024 to reduce traffic fines and implement driver education programs when she served as opposition leader.
The Prime Minister has defended the policy shift as necessary to combat persistent dangerous driving, arguing that previous measures including the demerit points system failed to adequately deter repeat offenders. The government has consequently scrapped most of the demerit system in favor of significantly higher fixed penalties.