What Wins And Loses Elections In The Caribbean

By Dr. Isaac Newton

NEWS AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. April 30, 2025: Elections are not magic shows. People don’t vote just because a politician smiles wide, makes big promises, or talks about the “future.” In the Caribbean today, people vote based on one main thing: who understands their pain and helps fix their problems.

Supporters of Kamla Persad-Bissessar, leader of the United National Congress party, wave flags during a rally in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on April 26, 2025. Trinidad and Tobago votes in parliamentary elections Monday that will determine whether Prime Minister Stuart Young stays in power as the twin-island Caribbean nation battles an economic slump and a rise in gang violence. (Photo by Prior Beharry / AFP) (Photo by PRIOR BEHARRY/AFP via Getty Images)

Voters are not foolish. They are frustrated. They are tired of speeches that sound good but solve nothing. When the electricity goes off, when the tap runs dry, when there are no jobs after school, that’s when the real questions begin. And the biggest question is: “Who is actually making my life better?”

The truth is, this generation isn’t just listening—it’s watching. Generations A and Z want results. Not later. Now. And if leaders don’t deliver, voters don’t wait. They either stay home or vote for someone else.

Some politicians focus on the wrong things – global trends, fancy policies, or issues that don’t touch the everyday lives of the people, like plastic bans, marijuana debates, and climate change. While these are important issues, they hold no voting oxygen unless they are directly linked to meeting felt needs.

As Caribbean statesman Michael Manley once said, “People don’t live in abstractions. They live in the concrete reality of daily survival.”

That’s it right there. You can’t win elections if you ignore the people’s real struggles. Bread. Butter. Jobs. Money. Safety. These are not just economic issues, they’re emotional ones. They affect dignity, hope, and self-worth.

And let’s be frank. It takes more than talk to lead a movement. You need people on the ground. You need support in the diaspora. You need resources to organize, share your message, and build trust. Change doesn’t happen by accident, it requires planning and collective power.

Ultimately, the biggest mistake a leader can make is to stop listening. Bloated self-confidence, unavailability, and the inability to balance good governance with smart politics in the trenches are weapons that send politicians to the opposition bench or the retirement chair. When voters feel forgotten, they do not scream, they go silent. And that silence? That’s what brings down governments.

So if you want to lead, don’t just perform. Pay attention. Listen deeply. Speak honestly. Stay in touch with constituents. And serve boldly. Let not the slow erosion of attentiveness and empathy bring your public service to a halt. Most leaders fall not because they are evil, but because they become irrelevant. The winds of change don’t start with a roar. They begin with a whisper.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Isaac Newton is a Caribbean-born strategist, educator, and global consultant. With over 30 years of experience advising governments, business leaders, and youth, he specializes in connecting policy with people’s real needs. Dr. Newton is a Harvard-, Princeton-, and Columbia-trained professional who believes that leadership is most effective when it involves proximity to pain. His writings and teachings inspire young minds to think critically, act justly, and lead with heart.