Former temporary senator Jowelle De Souza resigned from the United National Congress (UNC), citing concerns over the party’s leadership and what she described as a lack of commitment to meaningful advocacy.
Her departure comes just weeks after she publicly defended Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who had criticised what she called U.S. President Joe Biden’s “woke liberal agendas,” particularly policies on gender reassignment surgeries for minors. De Souza, Trinidad and Tobago’s first transgender senator, supported Persad-Bissessar’s stance, stressing the need for psychiatric support before children make irreversible medical decisions.
Despite that recent defence of the UNC leader, De Souza now says the party has no room for her or others who question its direction. In a resignation letter made public, she said she initially accepted her Senate appointment believing she would be able to push for key issues, including animal rights and concerns affecting San Fernando. However, she wrote that it soon became clear that her appointment was not about “genuine advocacy” but rather a political manoeuvre intended to distract from the appointment of PNM senator, Richie Sookhai.
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