The Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bisessar has offered her greeting to the country for the New Year 2020. You can read it below:

Kamla: As we start a new year, let’s adopt the approach of uniting to build for the future together. It’s time to get T&T working again and the UNC can, and will get the job done.

My fellow citizens,

A New Year is upon us once again, as well as the start of a new decade, and with it brings renewed hope – hope for new opportunities and better times ahead. With God’s grace, we have endured the challenges that presented themselves in 2019, and we are thankful for the opportunity to welcome another year.

In a few months, the people of our great nation will make a choice for their future, and for future generations. In 2020, the people will have the opportunity to choose a leader and team with the vision and plan to get our country working again, and there is no doubt that the party I lead, the United National Congress, has the capability, the competence, and the expertise to get the job done.

While we all hope that better days are ahead, we can only achieve our shared goal of a brighter, more prosperous future for our country if we work together. We must draw on our courage, our resilience, our innovative spirit and meet these challenges head-on.

For more than four years, the people of Trinidad and Tobago have suffered under a regime that has grown oppressive, and which has shown its inability to govern. This Rowley-led administration’s lack of vision, its incompetence and lack of care for people have caused widespread hardship, pain and despair among the population.

We are all aware of the critical problems facing us which are hindering our country’s path to
growth and prosperity. High levels of criminal activity continue to pose a threat to the safety and security of our people,
and to date, there has been little progress. 2019 was another bloody year, as we saw the regrettable statistic of 533 murders recorded – the second highest number this decade. 

Even though our protective services have ramped up efforts to stop the scourge of crime, citizens
remain fearful as criminals continue their reign of terror. Thousands have faced repeated flooding disasters, and some have received no assistance from the Government. At these times of crisis, we saw the true spirit of our citizens as they joined together to bring relief to flood victims, and even assisted in clean-up efforts. I saw the devastation first-hand, this year just a few weeks before Christmas, and my team and I did our best to offer comfort to those affected.
As we head into a New Year and a new decade, more than 60,000 of our citizens remain unemployed, have no income, and limited prospects, as this Rowley regime has failed to put any measures in place for job creation. 

Even in the face of these difficulties, you, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, have endured, and you have shown that you are ready for change and committed to building a brighter future for our country.

The UNC’s vision has always been to create a better future for all.  We are ready to build on the work done during the Government I led and move Trinidad and Tobago forward. We will do so by investing in education and health, focusing on creating the environment for business growth and job creation and most importantly, by restoring a safe and secure environment in our communities.

The UNC continues to engage with people to hear their concerns and develop workable solutions to address some of the problems facing our nation. We are the only political party that engages in this type of nationwide consultation – putting people at the centre of our policies, plans and proposals. We saw the results of our work in the outcome of the 2019 local government election where the UNC gained the highest number of votes as compared to any other party and made inroads into several electoral districts.

We will continue the rollout of our sectoral plans for the transformation of Trinidad and Tobago. Our National Economic Transformation Masterplan sets out a comprehensive, workable plan to rebuild our economy, create more than 50,000 jobs, and generate new revenue streams.

We have developed 12 key strategic Prosperity Engines spread across communities in Trinidad and in Tobago. These prosperity engines will mobilize and engage the private sector, both local and international, and will have large positive multiplier effects in kickstarting economic recovery, fostering growth and supporting diversification. These prosperity engines will spur a dynamic, sustainable, technological, resourceful economy which allows our people to prosperand fulfil their potential.

These are just 12 projects that we will embark on when we return to office that will create jobs:
1. Brechin Castle Agro-Processing Complex
2. St. Madeleine Manufacturing Facility
3. East West Biotechnology Manufacturing Corridor
4. Sevilla Digital Innovation Park
5. Tamana ‘SolarTech’ Renewable Energy Park
6. West Port of Spain 'Trinidad Creative Arts Street/Area’
7. East Port of Spain Steelpan Manufacturing Facility
8. Piarco Aircraft Maintenance, Repair & Operations Hub
9. Cedros Special Economic Zone
10. Point Galeota Energy Logistics Hub
11. Plymouth International Cruise Ship/Marina Complex
12. Tobago’s First Locally Branded Hotel

As we start a New Year, let’s adopt the approach of uniting to build for the future together. It’s
time that we get T&T working again. The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve better.   Our nation deserves a return to good governance under the United National Congress. May the good Lord continue to bless and keep you and your families as I wish you a blessed and prosperous 2020.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Leader of the Opposition