As the year concludes with traditional exchanges of goodwill and personal resolutions, Dr. Jamelia Harris examines the profound role of hope as both individual virtue and collective societal force. While hope has long been recognized in theological contexts as an active motivator that sustains effort and prevents despair, its manifestation at the societal level represents a shared belief in achievable progress through combined efforts.
Political strategists have consistently leveraged this powerful emotion, as evidenced by campaign slogans from Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again.” Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape similarly reflects this pattern, with Dr. Keith Rowley’s 2015 “Let’s Do This” and Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s 2025 “When UNC wins, everybody wins” both tapping into collective optimism—though with varying degrees of credibility.
Recent research across Caribbean labor markets reveals striking regional contrasts. During studies conducted with university students in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad, Guyanese students emerged as uniquely optimistic about post-graduation employment prospects. This sentiment aligns with Guyana’s extraordinary economic performance, including its world-leading 44% growth in national output during 2024. Beyond statistical indicators, conversations across Guyanese society—from taxi drivers to trade unionists—consistently reflected this collective confidence in a brighter future.
Trinidad and Tobago presents a concerning counter-narrative where collective hope appears to be steadily diminishing. Labor market engagement has reached historic lows, with participation rates declining from 61.8% in 1984 to 55.1% currently. This trend is particularly pronounced among male workers, whose participation has plummeted from over 80% to just above 60%, while female engagement remains below 50% despite slight improvements.
The erosion of collective engagement extends beyond economic spheres. Democratic participation has deteriorated significantly, with 2025 voter turnout hitting a record low of 54% compared to 66.8% in 2015. Simultaneously, civic engagement through charitable organizations has declined from 13.7% during 2005-2009 to 9.6% in the 2010-2014 reporting period according to World Values Survey data.
These interconnected trends create a dangerous feedback loop: diminishing hope reduces collective engagement, which subsequently worsens socioeconomic conditions, further eroding hope. Breaking this cycle requires concerted national effort and serious engagement with fundamental questions about national identity, shared aspirations, resource allocation, and inclusive development strategies.
Dr. Harris concludes with a hopeful aspiration for 2026: that Trinidad and Tobago might begin earnestly addressing these essential questions about its collective future.