View source for United National Congress

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = United National Congress
| abbreviation     = UNC<br>UNCTT {{small|(internationally)}}
| logo             = United National Congress logo.svg
| presidium        = [[United National Congress#Members of the National Executive (NATEX) of the Party|National Executive (NATEX)]]
| youth_wing       = [[United National Congress#Youth Arm|UNC Youth Arm]]
| womens_wing      = [[United National Congress#Women's Arm|UNC Women’s Arm]]
| logo_size        = 125
| colorcode        = {{party color|United National Congress}}
| leader1_title    = Deputy Leaders
| leader1_name     = {{unbulleted list
| [[Roodal Moonilal]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://guardian.co.tt/news/victory-for-kamlasstar-team-in-unc-internal-elections-6.2.1511478.cc0a059df7 | title=Victory for Kamla's Star Team in UNC internal elections }}</ref>
| Jearlean K. John
|David A. Lee<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unctt.org/about-unc/unc-natex/|title=UNC Natex|date=27 February 2013|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120075346/http://unctt.org/about-unc/unc-natex/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| leader2_title    = Vice Chairwoman
| leader2_name     = [[Khadijah Ameen]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/KamlaPersadBissessar/posts/10158935109934798?|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/11/20/kamla-reveals-her-unc-stars-slate/|title=Kamla reveals her 'UNC Stars' slate|date=20 November 2020|website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128193723/https://newsday.co.tt/2020/11/20/kamla-reveals-her-unc-stars-slate/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| leader3_title    = Leader in the [[Senate (Trinidad and Tobago)|Senate]]
| leader3_name     = [[Wade Mark]]<br />([[President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago|President of the Senate]])
| leader4_title    = Leader in the [[House of Representatives (Trinidad and Tobago)|House of Representatives]]
| leader4_name     = [[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]] <br />([[List of prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago|Prime Minister]])
| leader           = [[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unctt.org/portfolio/political-leader/|title=Political Leader|date=6 March 2014|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119024046/http://unctt.org/portfolio/political-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/>
| ideology         = [[Social democracy]]<br />[[Labor rights|Labourism]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnc3.co.tt/the-link-between-labour-and-politics/ | title=The link between labour and politics | date=19 December 2021 }}</ref><br />[[Multiculturalism]]{{refn|<ref>{{cite journal| first=Kenwyn | last=Taylor |url=https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.911.3683&rep=rep1&type=pdf | title=MULTICULTURALISM AND THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN TRINIDAD: A CASE STUDY | journal=Journal of the Department of Behavioural Sciences | volume=1|issue=1| date=March 2012 | citeseerx=10.1.1.911.3683 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.335559.30f2d0dadd | title=Look to Canada for help }}</ref>}}<br>[[Third Way]]{{cn|date=August 2025}}
| headquarters     = 5 Mulchan Seuchan Road, [[Chaguanas]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://newsday.co.tt/2022/12/31/unc-moves-headquarters-again/|title = UNC moves headquarters again |date = 2022-12-31|access-date = 2023-03-04|archive-date = 2023-01-01|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230101082013/https://newsday.co.tt/2022/12/31/unc-moves-headquarters-again/|url-status = live}}</ref>
| website          = {{url|https://www.uncofficial.org}}<br>{{url|http://www.unctt.org/}}
| country          = Trinidad and Tobago
| wing1_title      = Affiliated Trade Union
| wing1            = [[All Trinidad General Workers' Trade Union]] ''(de facto)''<br>[[Oilfields Workers' Trade Union]]<br>[[Public Services Association]]
| predecessor      = {{collapsible list
|title=18 parties
|
*[[People's Democratic Party (Trinidad and Tobago)|PDP]] {{small|(1953–1957)}}
*[[Trinidad Labour Party|TLP]] {{small|(1934–1957)}}
*[[Party of Political Progress Groups|POPPG]] {{small|(1950–1957)}}
*[[Butler Party|BP]] {{small|(1936–1966)}}
**[[Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)|DLP]] {{small|(1957–1972)}}
***[[Liberal Party (Trinidad and Tobago)|LP]] {{small|(1966)}}
****{{nowrap|UDLP {{small|(1972–1976)}}}}
***[[Bhadase Sagan Maraj|DLP]] {{small|(1971)}}
***SIP {{small|(1965–1966)}}
***[[Social Democratic Labour Party of Trinidad and Tobago|SDLP]] {{small|(1972–1976)}}
***[[West Indian National Party|WINP]] {{small|{{nowrap|(1974–1976)}}}}
***[[Workers and Farmers Party|WFP]] {{small|(1965–1966)}}
****[[United Labour Front|ULF]] {{small|(1976–1986)}}
****[[Tapia House Movement|THM]] {{small|(1976–1986)}}
****[[Organisation for National Reconstruction|ONR]] {{small|(1973–1986)}}
****[[Democratic Action Congress|DAC]] {{small|{{small|(1971–1986; 2005–2009)}}}}
*****[[National Alliance for Reconstruction|NAR]] {{small|(1986–2005)}}
******CLUB '88 {{small|(1988–1989)}}<ref>{{Cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=oSJoDwAAQBAJ&q=club+for+love+unity+and+brotherhood+trinidad&pg=PA1605|title = Political Handbook of the World 2018-2019|isbn = 9781544327136|last1 = Lansford|first1 = Tom|date = 19 March 2019| publisher=CQ Press |access-date = 22 August 2021|archive-date = 25 February 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220225111854/https://books.google.com/books?id=oSJoDwAAQBAJ&q=club+for+love+unity+and+brotherhood+trinidad&pg=PA1605|url-status = live}}</ref>}}
| split            = <!--*****-->[[National Alliance for Reconstruction|NAR]] <!--{{small|(1986–2005)}}-->
| founder          = [[Basdeo Panday]]
| chairman         = [[Davendranath Tancoo]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unctt.org/portfolio/chairman/|title=Chairman|date=6 March 2014|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119031737/http://unctt.org/portfolio/chairman/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/>
| general_secretary = Peter Kanhai<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unctt.org/portfolio/general-secretary/|title=General Secretary|date=6 March 2014|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119024229/http://unctt.org/portfolio/general-secretary/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| founded          = {{start date|1989|04|30|df=y}}
| membership_year  = 2020
| membership       = 120,000+<ref name="auto4">{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/12/07/vasant-concedes-to-kamla-in-unc-poll/|title=Vasant concedes to Kamla in UNC poll|date=7 December 2020|website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=7 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207170840/https://newsday.co.tt/2020/12/07/vasant-concedes-to-kamla-in-unc-poll/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| position         = [[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]{{refn|<ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of World Political Systems |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-47156-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RyAGDAAAQBAJ&q=PNM%20trinidad%20tobago%20%22centrist%22&pg=PA322 |access-date=31 May 2020 |language=en |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225111855/https://books.google.com/books?id=RyAGDAAAQBAJ&q=PNM+trinidad+tobago+%22centrist%22&pg=PA322 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of World Political Systems |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-47156-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RyAGDAAAQBAJ&q=people's%20national%20movement%20%22center%20left%22&pg=PA109 |access-date=31 May 2020 |language=en |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225111845/https://books.google.com/books?id=RyAGDAAAQBAJ&q=people%27s+national+movement+%22center+left%22&pg=PA109 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trinidad and Tobago / Wirtschaftsanalysen - Coface |url=https://www.coface.at/Wirtschaftsanalysen/Trinidad-and-Tobago |website=www.coface.at |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201111705/https://www.coface.at/Wirtschaftsanalysen/Trinidad-and-Tobago |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| blank1_title     = [[Political alliance|Political coalition]]
| blank1           = {{unbulleted list
|UNC/[[National Alliance for Reconstruction|NAR]] (1995–2000)
|[[People's Partnership]] (2010–2015)<ref>{{cite news |title=Prakash Ramadhar on Partnership |url=https://www2.cnc3.co.tt/news/prakash-ramadhar-partnership |access-date=5 July 2020 |date=9 December 2015 |archive-date=17 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417053613/http://www.cnc3.co.tt/news/prakash-ramadhar-partnership |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/samnanton/status/674226166887260161 |access-date=5 July 2020 |work=Twitter |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526122603/https://twitter.com/samnanton/status/674226166887260161 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|UNC/[[National Transformation Alliance|NTA]]/MND ([[2023 Trinidadian local elections|2023]])<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/mnd-finally-joins-uncnta-alliance-for-lg-run-6.2.1738098.991e5d35ba | title=MND finally joins UNC/NTA alliance for LG run | first=Gail | last=Alexander | work=The Guardian}}</ref>
|[[Coalition of Interests]] ([[2025 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2025]])<ref>{{cite web | url=https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/kamla-announces-coalition-with-owtu-pep-love/article_3e079212-e8eb-11ef-8490-53e9565fe530.amp.html | title=Kamla announces coalition with OWTU, PEP, LOVE | date=12 February 2025 }}</ref>}}
| colors           = {{colorsample|{{party color|United National Congress}}}} Yellow
| seats1_title     = [[Senate of Trinidad and Tobago|Senate]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|16|31|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago|House of Representatives]]
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|26|41|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[Tobago House of Assembly]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|0|15|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
<small>(Does not contest)</small>
| seats4_title     = [[Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago|Regional corporations]]
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|7|14|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago|Regional municipalities]]
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|70|141|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
| seats6_title     = [[Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago#Trinidad|Indirectly elected mayors]]
| seats6           = {{Composition bar|2|7|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
| seats7_title     = [[Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago|Indirectly elected Aldermen]]
| seats7           = {{Composition bar|29|56|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
| newspaper        = ''The Checklist.''<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://thechecklist.unctt.org/about-us/|title = About Us| work=The Checklist. |date = 7 August 2021|access-date = 21 September 2021|archive-date = 21 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210921181440/https://thechecklist.unctt.org/about-us/|url-status = live}}</ref>
| flag             = [[File:UNCFlag.png|210px]]
| symbol           = [[File:United National Congress.png|100px]]<br />{{small|[[Sun]] [[Sunrise|rising]] above the [[Trinity Hills]]}}
}}
{{Politics of Trinidad and Tobago}}

The '''United National Congress''' ('''UNC''' or {{small|internationally}} '''UNCTT''') is one of two major political parties in [[Trinidad and Tobago]]. The UNC is a [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]] party.<ref>{{cite book|last1=East|first1=Roger|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VO4AwAAQBAJ&q=unc%20%22centre%20left%22%20%22trinidad%22&pg=PA526|title=Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders|last2=Thomas|first2=Richard J.|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317639404|page=526|language=en|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225111832/https://books.google.com/books?id=5VO4AwAAQBAJ&q=unc+%22centre+left%22+%22trinidad%22&pg=PA526|url-status=live}}</ref> It was founded in 1989 by [[Basdeo Panday]], a Trinidadian lawyer, economist, trade unionist, and actor after a split in the ruling [[National Alliance for Reconstruction]] (NAR). After spending six years in opposition, the UNC won control of the government in 1995, initially in coalition with the NAR and later on its own. In the [[2000 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2000 general election]], the UNC won an absolute majority in the [[Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago|Parliament]]. In 2001, a split in the party caused the UNC to lose its parliamentary majority and control of the government. From 2001 to 2010, the UNC was once again Parliamentary Opposition party. In May 2010, the UNC returned to government as the majority party in the [[People's Partnership]]. The UNC's Political Leader, [[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]], was sworn in as the first female [[Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago]]. Kamla Persad-Bissessar was Prime Minister from 2010 until 2015 and then again from 2025 to present after they won that year's [[2025 Trinidad and Tobago general election|general elections]]. 

The party symbol is the sun rising above the [[Trinity Hills]]. Historically, the UNC has been supported by a majority of [[Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian|Indo-Trinidadians and Tobagonians]], especially [[Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago|Hindu Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/trinidadandtobago/1897.htm|title=Trinidad and Tobago (11/03)|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=14 February 2019|archive-date=14 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214115628/https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/trinidadandtobago/1897.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2 September 2017|title=The legacy of Indian migration to European colonies|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|url=https://www.economist.com/news/international/21727896-century-after-india-ended-system-indentured-labour-its-diaspora-building|access-date=2 September 2017|archive-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901212224/https://www.economist.com/news/international/21727896-century-after-india-ended-system-indentured-labour-its-diaspora-building|url-status=live}}</ref> thus it is colloquially called the ''Indian Party'' or the ''Hindu Party''.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Abraham|first1=Sara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WFlRdMhp8gEC&q=unc+is+the+indian+party&pg=PA154|title=Labour and the Multiracial Project in the Caribbean: Its History and Its Promise|year=2007|publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=9780739116869|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225111848/https://books.google.com/books?id=WFlRdMhp8gEC&q=unc+is+the+indian+party&pg=PA154|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Spiritual Baptist]] and other racial and religious minorities of the country also support the party.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/archbishop-burke-staying-true-to-unc-6.2.1473949.0a05a91666 | title=Archbishop Burke staying true to UNC }}</ref>

In power since the [[2025 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2025 general election]], the party holds 26 out of 41 [[Member of parliament|Members of Parliament]] in the [[House of Representatives (Trinidad and Tobago)|House of Representatives]] and 16 out of 31 members of the [[Senate (Trinidad and Tobago)|Senate]], as mandated by the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago to the largest party in the lower house. The party has 70 out of the 141 local Councillors and is in control of 7 of the 14 [[Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago|regional corporations]] since the [[2023 Trinidadian local elections]]. The party has no representation in the [[Tobago House of Assembly]].

As of December 2020, the UNC has 120,000+ registered members.<ref name="auto4"/>

== History ==
=== Opposition party (1989–1995) ===
The party was founded on 30 April 1989 following a split in the ruling NAR. Six members of parliament, all of whom were former members of the [[United Labour Front]], left the NAR to form the Caucus for Love, Unity and Brotherhood 1988 (CLUB '88) which was chaired by [[Rampersad Parasram]]. CLUB '88 evolved into the UNC with Panday as leader and Parasram as its first chairman.

The UNC won 13 seats in the [[1991 Trinidad and Tobago general election|1991 general election]] and became the official opposition. It won a 14th seat in a by-election and gained another in 1995 when [[Ralph Maraj]] defected from the ruling [[People's National Movement]] (PNM) party. In 1995, the UNC lost one seat when Hulsie Bhaggan, member of parliament for [[Chaguanas]], left the party to form the [[Movement for Unity and Progress]] (MUP).

=== Governing party (1995–2001) ===
[[File:Basdeo Panday with Mikko Pyhälä (Ambassador of Finland) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|[[Basdeo Panday]], the [[Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago|fifth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago]] (1995–2001) and first leader of the United National Congress]]
In the [[1995 Trinidad and Tobago general election|1995 general election]], the UNC won 17 of 36 seats and formed a [[coalition government]] with the NAR which won 2 seats. In exchange for his support, NAR Political Leader [[A. N. R. Robinson]] was first appointed Minister Extraordinaire and then elected [[President of Trinidad and Tobago|President]] in 1997. Two PNM MPs defected and supported the UNC as independent members. This gave the UNC an absolute majority and caused relations with the NAR to deteriorate.

In the [[2000 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2000 general election]], the UNC won 19 seats and formed a majority government. However, internal party elections in 2001 exposed a rift in the party between Panday and Attorney-General [[Ramesh Maharaj]], who fielded rival slates. Maharaj's slate termed itself 'Team Unity'. Though Panday was not challenged as Political Leader, Maharaj's slate won 21 of the 24 executive posts, and Maharaj himself was elected Deputy Leader.

Panday refused to recommend Maharaj as Acting Prime Minister in his absence. Maharaj countered by initiating investigations into charges of corruption by Panday and his supporters. Panday then reduced the ministerial portfolios of Maharaj and his supporters. This led to the defection of Maharaj; two of his supporters, Agriculture Minister Trevor Sudama and Information Technology Minister Ralph Maraj, formed a new political party: [[National Team Unity|Team Unity]]. Early [[2001 Trinidad and Tobago general election|elections were called in 2001]], in which the UNC was reduced to 18 seats in the [[House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago|House of Representatives]]. The opposition PNM, which also won 18 seats, was called upon to form the government.

=== Return to opposition (2001–2010) ===
[[File:United National Congress (UNC).gif|right|thumb|200x200px|Former logo of the UNC.]]

==== 2002 general election ====
During the [[2002 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2002 general elections]], the UNC won 46.5% of the popular vote and 16 out of 36 seats in the House of Representatives. It became the opposition party to the ruling PNM government, which held the other 20 seats.

==== Party infighting ====
In April 2005, the UNC was further weakened when Pointe-à-Pierre MP [[Gillian Lucky]] and San Juan MP [[Fuad Khan]] declared themselves to be "independent UNC members" and relocated to the Opposition backbenches. On 31 May 2005, Panday, his wife Oma, former UNC MP Carlos John, and party financier Ishwar Galbaransingh were arrested for bribery. Panday refused bail and remained in prison for eight days.

On 2 September 2005, Panday announced that he would be willing to hand over party leadership to [[Winston Dookeran]], MP for St. Augustine, if Panday could remain party chairman.<ref>{{cite web|title=UNC leadership for Dookeran on condition|url=http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-09-04/news5.html|last=Alexander|first=Gail|date=4 September 2005|website=The Trinidad Guardian|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231259/http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-09-04/news5.html|archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref> As a result of negotiations between the two, Dookeran was nominated unopposed for the post of Political Leader and Panday was nominated unopposed for the party Chairmanship. However, both fielded rival slates for the remaining 16 executive posts.

On 2 October, Panday's slate won 12 of the posts including two of the three deputy leader positions and, after a recount, the vice-chairmanship. Dookeran's slate won the 4 remaining posts. Members of Dookeran's slate called for Panday's resignation as Leader of the Opposition. [[Gerald Yetming]], MP for St. Joseph, joined the Opposition backbenches in protest of Panday's refusal to relinquish his position.

In February 2006, Panday announced that he had reconciled with Maharaj, who marked his return to the party by speaking at a party rally held at Mid-Centre Mall in Chaguanas on 19 February. At that rally, Dookeran criticized his party for accepting Maharaj's return and was booed by the crowd.

On 8 March 2006, Yetming announced he was formally leaving the UNC and would serve out his term as an independent. His chief reason was the return of Maharaj to the UNC, a move which he opposed.

As internal wranglings continued in the party, it appeared that a rift between Dookeran and the Executive was deepening. Newspaper accounts indicated that pro-Panday executives and Dookeran were largely functioning independently of each other. Dookeran also suffered a loss of support as Deputy Leader [[Austin "Jack" Warner|Jack Warner]] and [[Roodal Moonilal]], MP for Oropouche, announced their support of Panday.

In March, Senator Robin Montano's Senate appointment was revoked by Panday. Montano had supported Dookeran and opposed the return of Maharaj to the UNC.

On 24 April, Panday was [[Basdeo Panday#Legal problems|convicted of fraud]] for failing to disclose a bank account under the rules of the Integrity Act. He was sentenced to 2 years hard labour. At the UNC rally held that night Dookeran was not permitted to speak on the platform. Maharaj, however was seated centre stage at that rally.

On 25 April, Panday's appointment as Opposition Leader was revoked by President [[George Maxwell Richards]]. In a surprise move the next day, seven UNC MPs announced their support of Deputy Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the new Opposition Leader. Persad-Bissessar was appointed Opposition Leader the following day but stated that she would step aside should Panday's appeal prove successful.

The Courts released [[Basdeo Panday|Panday]] on bail on Friday 28 April, on the ground of his medical ailments.<ref>Seuraj, Indarjit, [http://guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-04-29/news4.html Jail can’t cope with serious illness...Panday granted bail] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231559/http://guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-04-29/news4.html |date=26 September 2007 }}, ''[[Trinidad Guardian]]'', 29 April 2006.</ref> Following his release on bail, he tendered his resignation as chairman of the party on 1 May 2006.<ref>[http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,36817.html Panday stuns crowd] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060701233733/http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0%2C36817.html |date=1 July 2006 }}, ''[[Trinidad and Tobago Newsday]]'', 3 May 2006</ref> The UNC executive did not immediately accept his resignation.<ref>Alexander, Gail, [http://guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-05-03/news1.html UNC execs want Panday to stay] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231622/http://guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-05-03/news1.html |date=26 September 2007 }}, ''[[Trinidad Guardian]]'', 3 May 2006.</ref>

==== Resignation of Dookeran and return of Panday ====
In the months following, infighting in the UNC increased. Dookeran and the party Executive were entrenched in opposing positions. Dookeran organised his own political apparatus and held political meetings without the Executive's consent. He also ceased to attend Executive meetings and his few allies on the Executive were removed. Persad-Bissessar also replaced Dookeran's supporters in the appointed Senate.

Amidst the infighting, Panday returned to active politics in August 2006 and attempted to publicly broker a reconciliation between the two factions. This proved fruitless. Many, including Panday's supporters, privately held the view that Panday was working behind the scenes to undermine Dookeran's support within the Executive. Dookeran, who was seen as the legitimate Political Leader of the UNC, was unable to exercise the full powers granted to him in the Party's Constitution. However, Dookeran's call for internal change within the UNC was negatively viewed by some of the party's 'old guards' who felt their position threatened.

Panday loyalists organised themselves into a five-member Leadership Council, composed of the three Deputy Leaders (Persad-Bissessar, Wade Mark, and Jack Warner), the Party CEO Tim Gopeesingh, and the newly returned Maharaj. Panday was said to have been appointed as an advisor to the council.

On 10 September at a large rally, Dookeran announced his resignation as UNC Political Leader and the formation of a new party: the [[Congress of the People (Trinidad and Tobago)|Congress of the People]]. On 11 September, Panday resumed the Chairmanship of the party, and on 3 January 2007, Panday was reinstated as Political Leader of the party.

====2007 general election====
In the [[2007 Trinidad and Tobago general election|5 November 2007 general election]], the party won 29.73% of the popular vote and 15 out of 41 seats.<ref>See for more information [[2007 Trinidad and Tobago general election]].</ref>

====Rise of Kamla Persad-Bissessar====
[[File:Kamla Persad-Bissesar 2013.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|[[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]], the [[Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago|sixth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago]] (2010–2015) and third leader of the United National Congress]]
On 24 January 2010, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, member of parliament for Siparia, was elected the new leader of the UNC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id%3D161587178 |title=Trinidad News, Trinidad Newspaper, Trinidad Sports, Trinidad politics, Trinidad and Tobago, Tobago News, Trinidad classifieds, Trinidad TV, Sports, Business |access-date=9 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402002320/http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161587178 |archive-date=2 April 2010 }}</ref> In the internal election, she won 13,932 votes compared to 1,359 for Basdeo Panday and 1,072 for [[Ramesh Maharaj]] and became the first female leader of a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago.

===Return to government (2010–2015)===
Based on a campaign of change against the PNM, the UNC was successful in the [[2010 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2010 general election]], and Persad-Bissessar was appointed as the first-ever female [[list of Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago|Prime Minister]] of Trinidad and Tobago. The UNC won a majority of 21 seats. Their coalition controlled 29 seats in total; the [[Congress of the People (Trinidad and Tobago)|Congress of the People]] won 6 seats and the [[Tobago Organization of the People]] won Tobago's only 2 seats.

After the election, the coalition showed signs of weakening. The Movement for Social Justice, which did not win any seats in the election, left the coalition due to discontent with the running of the government. The Tobago Organization of the People failed to win a single seat in the 2013 Tobago House of Assembly elections.

During 2013, the UNC lost 2 seats in by-elections in [[St. Joseph (parliamentary constituency)|St. Joseph]] and [[Chaguanas West (parliamentary constituency)|Chaguanas West]].

=== Second return to opposition (2015–2025) ===
==== 2015 general election ====
{{see|2015 Trinidad and Tobago general election}}
In the [[2015 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2015 general elections]], the party won 18 of the 41 seats in the elections to form the main Opposition party in the 11th parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. Persad-Bissessar was appointed Leader of the Opposition by President [[Anthony Carmona]] on 21 September 2015.

==== 2015 internal election ====
An internal party election was held on 5 December 2015, which Kamla Persad-Bissessar won as political leader of the party against [[Roodal Moonilal]] and Vasant Bharath.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unctt.org/official-results-of-unc-internal-elections-2015/|title=Official results of UNC Internal Elections 2015|date=7 December 2015|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=28 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728054654/http://unctt.org/official-results-of-unc-internal-elections-2015/|url-status=live}}</ref> Controversy arose when ballots in favor of Roodal Moonilal were found near a river and at the back of a school used as a polling station. The ballots were left out in the open with no visible attempts to destroy or hide them. Some names were found twice on the voting list, which may have allowed one individual to vote twice. Moonilal filed a complaint for these issues to be rectified, however Kamla Persad-Bissessar was declared the winner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/kamla-persad-bissessar-wins-unc-elections/|title=Kamla Persad-Bissessar wins UNC elections|date=9 December 2015|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225111858/https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/kamla-persad-bissessar-wins-unc-elections/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2016 local election====
{{see|2016 Trinidadian local elections}}
In the [[2016 Trinidadian local elections|2016 local election]], the party won 54 of the 137 seats in the elections and held the majority in 6 of the 14 local councils. According to the election authorities, three of the UNC's candidates were found ineligible or withdrew themselves before polling day, resulting in a walkover victory for the PNM in one district.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the Elections and Boundaries Commission on the Local Government Elections Held on 28th November 2016|url=http://www.ebctt.com/wp-content/uploads/Final-Report-Local-Govt-Elections-2016.pdf|access-date=24 May 2018|archive-date=25 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525133442/http://www.ebctt.com/wp-content/uploads/Final-Report-Local-Govt-Elections-2016.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2017 internal election====
In the 2017 internal elections Kamla Persad-Bissessar won virtually all of the votes to continue as political leader of the party against Chanda Bhaggan and [[Christine Newallo-Hosein]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/kamla-persad-bissessar/unc-internal-elections-preliminary-results/10156945688062846/|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225111848/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnotes%2Fkamla-persad-bissessar%2Func-internal-elections-preliminary-results%2F10156945688062846%2F|url-status=live}}</ref> The voter turnout was the lowest recorded in an internal election for the UNC at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.looptt.com/content/unc-election-sees-lowest-voter-turnout-partys-history|title=UNC election sees lowest voter turnout in party's history|website=www.looptt.com|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715215520/http://www.looptt.com/content/unc-election-sees-lowest-voter-turnout-partys-history|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2020 general elections====
{{see|2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election}}
The 2020 general elections took place on 10 August 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago|COVID-19 pandemic]]. The UNC's campaign was based on the incumbent PNM government's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, not doing more to control the Venezuelan refugee crisis and having a failing economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-08-11/trinidad-and-tobago-pm-claims-election-victory-for-ruling-party |title=Trinidad and Tobago PM Claims Election Victory for Ruling Party |date=11 August 2020 |website=www.usnews.com |access-date=2021-02-12 |archive-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223062813/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-08-11/trinidad-and-tobago-pm-claims-election-victory-for-ruling-party |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53735408|title=Trinidad and Tobago poll: Governing party claims victory|work=BBC News|date=11 August 2020|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415042656/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53735408|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar faced backlash due to her statements on her opponent Prime Minister [[Keith Rowley]] as a "blank man on the other side", which many interpreted her as saying the "black man", however it was noted that later in her speech's transcript she referenced the "blank man" numerous times.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nneka Parsanlal |url=https://www.looptt.com/content/watch-black-or-blank-what-did-kamla-say |title=Watch: 'Black' or 'blank' what did Kamla say? &#124; Loop News |publisher=Looptt.com |date=2020-07-16 |accessdate=2021-02-12 |archive-date=8 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108053757/http://www.looptt.com/content/watch-black-or-blank-what-did-kamla-say |url-status=live }}</ref> The party also faced questions of corruption amid a police investigation that involved members of the UNC.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article244878272.html |title=After PNM win, Trinidad opposition demands election recount &#124; Miami Herald |website=[[Miami Herald]] |access-date=7 December 2020 |archive-date=5 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905085240/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article244878272.html |url-status=live }}{{subscription required|date=February 2021}}</ref> The UNC won 19 of the 41 constituencies, giving them two more seat than previously held. The results in six constituencies were subject to recounts, causing the final election results to be delayed by a week.<ref name="recount">{{cite web |last1=Neaves |first1=Julien |title=EBC recounts show minor changes |url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/08/18/ebc-recounts-show-minor-changes/ |website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday |date=18 August 2020 |access-date=20 August 2020 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820025904/https://newsday.co.tt/2020/08/18/ebc-recounts-show-minor-changes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the first parliamentary election in Trinidad and Tobago where the result was not finalized the day after the election.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Charles |first1=Jacqueline |title=After PNM win, Trinidad opposition demands election recount |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article244878272.html |website=Miami Herald |date=11 August 2020 |access-date=20 August 2020 |archive-date=5 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905085240/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article244878272.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, after the recount the UNC did not gain any constituencies, and remained the opposition in the parliament.

====2020 internal election====
{{main|2020 United National Congress internal election}}
The 2020 internal election took place on 6 December 2020,<ref>{{cite web|title=Watch: Date for UNC internal election announced|url=http://www.looptt.com/content/watch-date-unc-internal-elections-announced|access-date=2020-10-27|website=www.looptt.com|language=en|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204081744/http://www.looptt.com/content/watch-date-unc-internal-elections-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> after [[Leader of the Opposition (Trinidad and Tobago)|Opposition Leader]] Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the current leader of the UNC, faced losses commencing in January 2013 with the [[Wipeout (elections)|wipeout]] of her People's Partnership[[People's Partnership administration|-led administration]] from the [[Tobago House of Assembly]] due to the [[landslide victory]] of the [[Tobago Council of the People's National Movement]] at the [[2013 Tobago House of Assembly election]], loss in the [[2015 Trinidad and Tobago general election]] and loss in the [[2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=People have sent message |url=https://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.360658.3ff2b631f8 |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=www.guardian.co.tt |language=en |archive-date=5 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905085239/https://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.360658.3ff2b631f8 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Government loses key by-election |url=http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=931138277&Country=Trinidad%20and%20Tobago&topic=Pol_7 |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=country.eiu.com |archive-date=5 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905085230/http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=931138277&Country=Trinidad+and+Tobago&topic=Pol_7 |url-status=live }}</ref> The candidates for political leader were incumbent Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Team Star against former member of parliament for St. Augustine and former Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment in the People's Partnership's government, Vasant Bharath, on Team Lotus. Former senator and [[Ministry of Transport|Minister of Transport]] in the People's Partnership's government, [[Devant Maharaj]], was an early candidate for political leader, but was never formally nominated as he dropped out on nomination day on 15 November 2020, citing irregularities in the voting process. He endorsed Vasant Bharath and Team Lotus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/devant-out-election-race-kamla-a-noshow-on-unc-nomination-day-6.2.1250623.74440983be|title=Devant out election race, Kamla a no-show on UNC nomination day|website=www.guardian.co.tt|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122185355/https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/devant-out-election-race-kamla-a-noshow-on-unc-nomination-day-6.2.1250623.74440983be|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/11/15/two-way-race-for-unc-leadership-position-as-devant-pulls-out/|title=Two-way race for UNC leadership as Devant pulls out|date=15 November 2020|website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=21 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121015551/https://newsday.co.tt/2020/11/15/two-way-race-for-unc-leadership-position-as-devant-pulls-out/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/12/06/bodoe/|title=Bodoe, Sobers predict clean sweep for Kamla|date=6 December 2020|website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=6 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206164932/https://newsday.co.tt/2020/12/06/bodoe/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Focus on the leadership election occurred when Anita Haynes, Public Relations Officer of the UNC, was questioned by reporters on whether or not the Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar would resign.<ref>{{cite news |title=UNC has full confidence in Kamla |url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/08/12/unc-has-full-confidence-in-kamla/ |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday |date=12 August 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620082202/https://newsday.co.tt/2020/08/12/unc-has-full-confidence-in-kamla/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='No election observers' - UNC calls for recount in 5 seats |url=https://trinidadexpress.com/elections/2020/politics/no-election-observers---unc-calls-for-recount-in-5-seats/article_a2d208d6-dc10-11ea-a4e7-cba9ed191f2d.html |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=Trinidad Express Newspapers |language=en |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005153950/https://trinidadexpress.com/elections/2020/politics/no-election-observers---unc-calls-for-recount-in-5-seats/article_a2d208d6-dc10-11ea-a4e7-cba9ed191f2d.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=UNC: Full Confidence in Kamla despite election loss |url=https://www.103fm.tt/news/unc-full-confidence-in-kamla-despite-election-loss/ |access-date=12 August 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022100834/https://103fm.tt/news/unc-full-confidence-in-kamla-despite-election-loss/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trinidad & Tobago: 'No election observers' – UNC calls for recount in 5 seats |url=https://caribreport.com/2020/08/11/trinidad-tobago-no-election-observers-unc-calls-for-recount-in-5-seats/ |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=CARIBREPORT.COM |date=11 August 2020 |language=en |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812051830/https://caribreport.com/2020/08/11/trinidad-tobago-no-election-observers-unc-calls-for-recount-in-5-seats/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Devant Maharaj was a leading figure in calling for Kamla Persad-Bissessar to step down as political leader. He actively called for her to step down on [[social media]] and on [[billboard]]s he had put up.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/09/13/devant-i-am-behind-billboards-calling-for-kamla-to-go/|title=Devant : 'I am behind billboards calling for Kamla to go'|date=13 September 2020|website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205063853/https://newsday.co.tt/2020/09/13/devant-i-am-behind-billboards-calling-for-kamla-to-go/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 October 2020, Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the date for the [[Partisan primary|internal election]] to be held on Sunday 6 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://i955fm.com/opposition-leader-announces-date-for-internal-elections-for-her-party/,%20http://i955fm.com/opposition-leader-announces-date-for-internal-elections-for-her-party/|title=Opposition Leader announces date for Internal Elections for her party &#124; I955 FM}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

On election night, Persad-Bissessar said her Team Star was on the path to defeat Bharath's Team Lotus. She called for unity within the party and said their main political opponent was the People's National Movement. She claimed under her continued leadership that she would work to make the party more united and stronger. She also acknowledged that there was some reports of elections issues, but that overall everything had gone well. Persad-Bissessar said that the low voter turnout was due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], as it was in the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/victorious-kamla-calls-for-unity/article_897a85ae-387f-11eb-a45f-3fdadd12be3e.html|title=Victorious Kamla calls for unity|website=Trinidad Express Newspapers|date=7 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=11 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211133403/https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/victorious-kamla-calls-for-unity/article_897a85ae-387f-11eb-a45f-3fdadd12be3e.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Bharath conceded shortly after midnight and congratulated Persad-Bissessar and wished her success. He also stated the party needs to determine the reason for the low voter turnout then they need to "inspire their ground troops" to win the next general election. Bharath stated that he was willing to work with Persad-Bissessar to help rebuild the party. However, he mentioned that there were irregularities in the election which he had warned about and many were unable to vote. He said that active campaigner on Persad-Bissessar's team were presiding officers, his team was not granted access to a revised list of electors, that there were reports of voters being verbally abused and intimidated, there was paraphernalia of the Star Team being distributed at some precincts, and that his father John Bharath, a founding member of the UNC, was not on the voting list and that there were other people who were not on the revised voter list who were allowed to vote.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/vasant-concedes-defeat-with-an-appeal/article_482dcbba-387f-11eb-ac35-734adcd8fc29.html|title=Vasant concedes defeat, with an appeal|website=Trinidad Express Newspapers|date=7 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=7 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207120022/https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/vasant-concedes-defeat-with-an-appeal/article_482dcbba-387f-11eb-ac35-734adcd8fc29.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/> Devant Maharaj called on Persad-Bissessar to embrace all and rebuild the party.<ref name="auto2"/> The election had the lowest voter turnout for an UNC internal election with only 17,066 members out of 120,000+ members coming out to vote. This follows after the last internal election in 2017 was recorded to have the lowest voter turnout.<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/panday-unc-is-going-to-die-6.2.1260504.7122b98b81|title=Panday: UNC is going to die|website=www.guardian.co.tt|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=6 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106161649/https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/panday-unc-is-going-to-die-6.2.1260504.7122b98b81|url-status=live}}</ref>

Founder of the party, [[Basdeo Panday]], commented before the election that the UNC had no future under the leadership of Kamla Persad-Bissessar nor Vassant Bharath and would eventually die out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/11/17/panday-no-future-for-unc-under-kamla-bharath/|title=Panday: No future for UNC under Kamla, Bharath|date=17 November 2020|website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205063708/https://newsday.co.tt/2020/11/17/panday-no-future-for-unc-under-kamla-bharath/|url-status=live}}</ref> He reiterated again after the election results that the UNC would die, pointing that it had the lowest voter turn out for an UNC internal election and says that the COVID-19 pandemic had nothing to do with it as the last internal election was the same. He further said that Kamla Persad-Bissessar killed the party "beyond repair" and that the only way to end the "tribal politics" was for a new party to be formed.<ref name="auto3"/> However, political analyst Mukesh Basdeo disagreed with Panday, saying that the party received a significant number of votes despite the COVID-19 pandemic and that, had the election been held in other conditions, it would have shown a decline in the interest of the party. He also stated that the pandemic deterred people from coming out to vote. He noted that smaller third parties were crushed in the 2020 general election and that most of the votes went to the two major parties, the UNC and the PNM.<ref name="auto3"/>

===2022 internal election===
{{main|2022 United National Congress internal election}}
===2024 internal election===
{{main|2024 United National Congress internal election}}

===Second return to government (2025-Present)===
==== 2025 general election ====
{{Wikinews|United National Congress party wins elections, new government cabinet meets in Trinidad and Tobago}}The UNC contested the [[2025 Trinidad and Tobago general election]] as part of the "[[Coalition of Interests|coalition of interests]]" with the [[Progressive Empowerment Party]] and the [[Laventille Outreach for Vertical Enrichment]] movement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=Kamla announces coalition with OWTU, PEP, LOVE |url=https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/kamla-announces-coalition-with-owtu-pep-love/article_3e079212-e8eb-11ef-8490-53e9565fe530.html |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Trinidad Express Newspapers |language=en}}</ref> In the election the UNC won a majority of seats and returned to government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Trinidad and Tobago election: Opposition sails to victory |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx284988058o |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== List of political leaders ==
The political leaders of the United National Congress have been as follows (any acting leaders indicated in italics):

'''Key:'''

{{legend2|{{party color|United National Congress}}|UNC|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|{{party color|People's National Movement}}|[[People's National Movement|PNM]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|{{party color|National Alliance for Reconstruction}}|[[National Alliance for Reconstruction|NAR]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{ublist|''PM'': [[List of Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago|Prime Minister]]|''LO'': [[Leader of the Opposition (Trinidad and Tobago)|Leader of the Opposition]]}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=3 | Leader
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Position
! colspan=2 | Prime Minister
|-
! rowspan=4 | 1
| rowspan=4 | [[File:Basdeo Panday with Mikko Pyhälä (Ambassador of Finland) (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| rowspan=4 | [[Basdeo Panday]]
| rowspan=4 | 16 October 1988
| rowspan=4 | 2 October 2005
| rowspan=2 | ''LO'' {{small|(1990–[[1995 Trinidad and Tobago general election|1995]])}}
! style="background-color: {{party color|National Alliance for Reconstruction}}" |
| [[A. N. R. Robinson|Robinson]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|People's National Movement}}" |
| [[Patrick Manning|Manning]]
|-
| ''PM'' {{small|([[1995 Trinidad and Tobago general election|1995]]–[[2001 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2001]])}}
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
| ''Himself''
|-
| ''LO'' {{small|([[2001 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2001]]–2006)}}
! rowspan=5 style="background-color: {{party color|People's National Movement}}" |
| rowspan=5 | [[Patrick Manning|Manning]]
|-
! 2
| [[File:Winston Dookeran (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| [[Winston Dookeran]]
| 2 October 2005
| 10 September 2006
| [[Member of Parliament|''MP'']]
|-
! (1)
| [[File:Basdeo Panday with Mikko Pyhälä (Ambassador of Finland) (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| [[Basdeo Panday]]
| 10 September 2006
| 24 January 2010
| ''LO'' {{small|(2007–2010)}}
|-
! rowspan=6 | 3
| rowspan=6 | [[File:Kamla Persad-Bissessar, 2025.jpg|100px]]
| rowspan=6 | [[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]]
| rowspan=6 | 24 January 2010
| rowspan=6 | ''Incumbent''
| ''LO'' {{small|(2006–2007)}}
|-
| ''LO'' {{small|(2010)}}
|-
| ''PM'' {{small|([[2010 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2010]]–[[2015 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2015]])}}
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
| ''Herself''
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''LO'' {{small|([[2015 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2015]]–[[2025 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2025]])}}
! rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|People's National Movement}}" |
| [[Keith Rowley|Rowley]]
|-
| [[Stuart Young|Young]]
|-
| ''PM'' {{small|([[2025 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2025]]–present)}}
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
| ''Herself''
|}

== Election results ==

=== House of Representatives ===
[[File:Trinidad and Tobago 2020 General Election Results Map.svg|thumb|right|500px|Yellow indicates seats won by the UNC in the [[2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election]].]]

{{Chart|definition=United National Congress popular vote percentage.chart|data=United National Congress popular vote percentage.tab|Width=350}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |'''Election'''
! rowspan="2" |'''Party leader'''
! colspan="3" |Votes
! colspan="2" |Seats
! rowspan="2" |'''Position'''
! rowspan="2" |Government
|-
!No.
!'''%'''
!±
!'''No.'''
!±
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[1991 Trinidad and Tobago general election|1991]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Basdeo Panday]]
|151,046
|29.2%
|—
|{{Composition bar|13|36|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 13
|2nd
|{{no2|PNM}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[1995 Trinidad and Tobago general election|1995]]
|240,372
|45.8%
|{{increase}} 16.6%
|{{Composition bar|17|36|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 4
|{{Steady}} 2nd
|{{yes2|UNC–[[National Alliance for Reconstruction|NAR]]}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2000 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2000]]
|307,791
|51.7%
|{{increase}} 5.9%
|{{Composition bar|19|36|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|{{increase}} 1st
|{{yes2|UNC}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2001 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2001]]
|279,002
|49.9%
|{{decrease}} 1.8%
|{{Composition bar|18|36|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|{{Steady}} 1st
|{{no2|PNM Minority}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2002 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2002]]
|284,391
|46.9%
|{{decrease}} 3.0%
|{{Composition bar|16|36|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 2
|{{decrease}} 2nd
|{{no2|PNM}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2007 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2007]]
|194,425
|29.7%
|{{decrease}} 17.2%
|{{Composition bar|15|41|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|{{Steady}} 2nd
|{{no2|PNM}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2010 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2010]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]]
|316,600
|43.7%
|{{increase}} 13.9%
|{{Composition bar|21|41|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 6
|{{increase}} 1st
|{{yes2|[[People's Partnership|PP]]}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2015 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2015]]
|290,066
|39.6%
|{{decrease}} 4.1%
|{{Composition bar|17|41|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|{{decrease}} 2nd
|{{no2|PNM}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2020]]
|309,188	
|47.1%
|{{increase}} 7.5%
| {{Composition bar|19|41|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|{{Steady}} 2nd
|{{no2|PNM}}
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2025 Trinidad and Tobago general election|2025]]
|335,161
|54.0%
|{{increase}} 6.9%
|{{Composition bar|26|41|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 7
|{{increase}} 1st
|{{yes2|[[Coalition of Interests]]}}
|}

=== Corporations ===
[[File:Trinidad local election 2019 - Results by Corporation.svg|thumb|right|500px|Yellow indicates seats and corporations won by the UNC in the [[2019 Trinidadian local elections]].]]

{{Graph:Chart|width=350|type=rect|colors=#FCCC08|showValues=
|xAxisTitle=Local elections
|xAxisAngle=-40
|x=1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019
|yAxisTitle=% of popular vote
|y=36.9, 49.9, 52.2, 45.6, 52.0, 27.0, 50.0, 54.4}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Election<ref>{{cite web|title=Publications and Reports {{!}} Elections And Boundaries Commission|url=https://www.ebctt.com/publications-and-reports/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-08|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502175843/https://www.ebctt.com/publications-and-reports/|url-status=live}}</ref>
!
! colspan="3" |Votes
! colspan="2" |Councillors
! colspan="2" |Corporations
|-
!Leader
!No.
!Vote share
!±
!No.
!±
!No.
!±
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[Elections in Trinidad and Tobago#1992 local government elections|1992]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Basdeo Panday]]
|113,502
|36.9%
|{{increase}} 4.5%
|{{Composition bar|53|139|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 53
|{{Composition bar|4|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}}1
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[1996 Trinidadian local elections|1996]]
|177,848
|49.9%
|{{increase}} 13.0%
|{{Composition bar|61|124|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 8
|{{Composition bar|6|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[1999 Trinidadian local elections|1999]]
|176,840
|52.2%
|{{increase}} 2.3%
|{{Composition bar|57|124|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|{{Composition bar|6|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{Steady}}
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2003 Trinidadian local elections|2003]]
|147,727
|45.6%
|{{decrease}} 6.6%
|{{Composition bar|43|126|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 14
|{{Composition bar|5|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2010 Trinidadian local elections|2010]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]]
|202,380
|52.0%
|{{increase}} 6.4%
|{{Composition bar|88|134|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 45
|{{Composition bar|9|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 4
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2013 Trinidadian local elections|2013]]
|121,944
|27.0%
|{{decrease}} 25.0%
|{{Composition bar|44|136|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 44
|{{Composition bar|5|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2016 Trinidadian local elections|2016]]
|180,798
|50.0%
|{{increase}} 23.0%
|{{Composition bar|54|137|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 8
|{{Composition bar|6|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}}[[Chaguanas|1]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2019 Trinidadian local elections|2019]]
|202,584
|54.4%
|{{increase}} 4.5%
|{{Composition bar|65|139|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 9
|{{Composition bar|7|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}}[[Sangre Grande region|1]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[2023 Trinidadian local elections|2023]]
|173,961
|52.5%
|{{decrease}} 1.9%
|{{Composition bar|70|141|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{increase}} 5
|{{Composition bar|7|14|{{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{Steady}}
|}

===Tobago House of Assembly===
{{see also|Tobago House of Assembly}}

{{Graph:Chart|width=55|type=rect|colors=#FCCC08|showValues=
|xAxisTitle=Tobago House of Assembly elections
|xAxisAngle=-40
|x=2001
|yAxisTitle=% of popular vote
|y=7.8
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Election
! rowspan="2" |Leader
! colspan="3" |Votes
! colspan="2" |Seats
! rowspan="2" |Position
! rowspan="2" |Government
|-
!No.
!%
!±
!No.
!±
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|United National Congress}}" |
![[Tobago House of Assembly elections#2001|2001]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Publications and Reports {{!}} Elections And Boundaries Commission|url=https://www.ebctt.com/publications-and-reports/|access-date=2020-11-16|language=en-US|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502175843/https://www.ebctt.com/publications-and-reports/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[Basdeo Panday]]
|1,757
|7.8
|—
|{{composition bar|0|12|hex={{party color|United National Congress}}}}
|{{steady}}
|3rd
|{{no2|[[Tobago Council of the People's National Movement|PNM]]}}
|}

== Members of the National Executive (NATEX) of the Party ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left"
|-
! colspan="2" |Position
!Officeholder
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Political Leader
|[[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Deputy Political Leaders 
| {{unbulleted list
| [[Roodal Moonilal]]
| Jearlean K. John
|David A. Lee}}
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Chairman
|[[Davendranath Tancoo]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Vice Chairwoman
|[[Khadijah Ameen]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|General Secretary
|Peter Kanhai
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Policy and Strategy Officer
|[[Sean Sobers|Sean S. Sobers]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Education Officer 
|[[Vandana Mohit]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Research Officer
|[[Saddam Hosein]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Elections Officer
|Don T. Sylvester
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Treasurer
|[[Colin Neil Gosine]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Party Organizer
|[[Ravi Ratiram]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|International Relations Officer
|[[Nicholas Morris (politician)|Wilfred Nicholas Morris]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Northeast Regional Representative
|[[Anil Roberts]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|South Regional Representative
|Shanty Boodram
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Northwest Regional Representative
|[[Eli Zakour]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Central Regional Representative
|[[Barry Padarath]]
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Tobago Regional Representative
|Taharqa Obika
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Youth Arm Chairman
|Daniel Rasheed
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Women's Arm Chairwoman
|Kenya Charles
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Public Relations Officer
|Kirk Meighoo
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Social Media Manager
|William Archie
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Legal Officer
|Brian Baig
|}

==Youth Arm==
The new executive members of the UNC Youth Arm are as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unctt.org/youth-arm/|title=Youth Arm|date=7 March 2014|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125184905/https://unctt.org/youth-arm/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left"
|-
! colspan="2" |Position
!Officeholder
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}"| 
|Chairman
|Daniel Rasheed
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}"|
|Vice Chairwoman
|Shaniqua Piper
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}"|
|Secretary 
|Tramaine Edwards
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}"|
|Assistant Secretary
|Amaara Hosein
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}"|
|Welfare Officer
|Krishna Avidesh Sankar
|}

==Women's Arm==
The executive members of the UNC Women's Arm are: 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left"
|-
! colspan="2" |Position
!Officeholder
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Chairwoman
|Kenya Charles
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Vice Chairwoman
|Vandana Mohit
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Secretary
|Sophia St.Hilaire
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Assistant Secretary
|Racquel Ghany
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Treasurer
|Wendy Renuka Francis 
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Welfare Officer
|J-Lynn Roopnarine
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|United National Congress}}" |
|Public Relations Officer
|Marissa Ramlogan
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite web |last=Brereton |first=Bridget M. |author-link=Bridget Brereton |year=2020 |title=United National Congress |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/United-National-Congress |url-access= |work=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=7 March 2022}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://unctt.org/}}

{{Trinidad and Tobago elections}}
{{Trinidad and Tobago political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1989 establishments in Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1989]]
[[Category:Political parties in Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties in North America]]
[[Category:Socialism in Trinidad and Tobago]]