ARIMA, Trinidad and Tobago — Curtis Anthony Obrady argues Trinidad and Tobago economic growth forecasts indicate that the country is moving from stabilization toward stronger expansion under Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s government. In a letter addressed to the editor, Obrady credits the administration’s leadership and policies for the projected rise in real GDP growth from 0.7 per cent in 2026 to 3.2 per cent in 2027.
Full text of the open letter
Subject: From Slow Growth To Strong Breakout, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Is Steering Trinidad And Tobago Toward Real Economic Power
BY, Curtis Anthony OBRADY
35 pinto road Arima
Curtisobrady42@gmail.com
(868)735-7430
Dear Editor,
The latest World Bank forecast has now confirmed what serious observers already understand. Trinidad and Tobago is entering a period of transition, and more importantly, a period of recovery that is being shaped by leadership, discipline, and clear direction under Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and our people’s UNC government.
The numbers are straightforward. The economy is expected to grow by 0.7 per cent in 2026. That is modest. That is measured. But what matters is what comes next. The World Bank projects a strong expansion in 2027, with real GDP growth reaching 3.2 per cent.
That is not accidental. That is not luck. That is the result of correction after years of mismanagement and stagnation.
You cannot understand these numbers unless you understand what the country has just come out of.
For close to a decade, the previous PNM administration failed to build resilience in the economy. They failed to diversify in any meaningful way. They failed to create confidence in investment. They failed to protect the population from rising insecurity and economic pressure.
That is the reality.
When an economy is left weakened, when confidence is low, when institutions lose effectiveness, recovery does not happen overnight. It requires deliberate policy, strong leadership, and a government that understands both the urgency and the responsibility of rebuilding.
That is exactly what Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and our people’s UNC government are now doing.
The 0.7 per cent growth forecast for 2026 must be seen for what it is. It is the stabilisation phase. It is the period where systems are being corrected, where policy direction is being reset, and where the groundwork is being laid for expansion.
Serious economies go through this phase. There is no shortcut.
What matters is the trajectory.
And the trajectory is clear.
The World Bank is projecting that by 2027, Trinidad and Tobago will move into a stronger growth phase of 3.2 per cent. That is a significant shift. That is a breakout moment. That is the point where recovery turns into expansion.
That does not happen without leadership.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has always demonstrated an understanding of economic management that balances growth with stability. Her previous tenure showed that disciplined governance can deliver results, and her return to leadership is already restoring confidence both locally and internationally.
Investors pay attention to signals. International institutions pay attention to governance. The World Bank does not make projections in a vacuum. Their outlook reflects expectations about policy direction, institutional strength, and the credibility of leadership.
That is why this forecast matters.
It is a signal that Trinidad and Tobago is moving in the right direction again.
And let us be very clear about what this means for the population.
Growth is not just a number on paper. Growth affects jobs. Growth affects income. Growth affects business opportunities. Growth affects your ability to plan your future with confidence.
When the economy expands, people benefit.
When the economy is managed properly, stability returns.
When leadership is decisive, uncertainty is reduced.
That is the connection.
Under Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and our people’s UNC government, the focus is not on empty talk. The focus is on creating the conditions for real economic activity. That includes restoring investor confidence, strengthening institutions, improving governance, and ensuring that the country is positioned to benefit from both regional and global opportunities.
This is how you build prosperity.
It is also how you build safety and security.
Economic strength and national security are connected. When people have opportunities, when systems function properly, when governance is stable, the country becomes safer. That is not theory. That is fact.
The failures of the past showed the opposite. Weak governance leads to instability. Economic pressure leads to social strain. Lack of direction leads to uncertainty.
That is why leadership matters.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is not just managing an economy. She is restoring a nation’s confidence in itself.
And that is why gratitude is important.
The population must recognize when leadership is working in their interest. The population must acknowledge when the country is being guided out of difficulty and into opportunity.
Our people’s UNC government has taken on the responsibility of rebuilding after years of decline. That is not easy. That is not quick. But it is necessary.
And the results are beginning to show.
A stabilising economy in 2026.
A projected expansion in 2027.
A return to confidence.
A return to direction.
This is what progress looks like.
This is why the people of Trinidad and Tobago can now begin to look forward with greater certainty. Prosperity is not a promise anymore. It is becoming a measurable outcome. Safety and security are not distant goals. They are tied directly to the stability being restored through governance.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar deserves recognition for steering the country at a time when strong leadership is required. Our people’s UNC government deserves credit for taking the necessary steps to put Trinidad and Tobago back on a path of growth and stability.
The work is ongoing. The responsibility is significant. But the direction is correct.
And for the first time in a long time, the data supports that direction.
That is what matters.
That is why the country must stay focused.
That is why leadership must be supported when it delivers results.
Because the future of Trinidad and Tobago depends on decisions being made today.
And under Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and our people’s UNC government, those decisions are finally moving the country forward.
