Fuad Abu Bakr
Fuad Abu Bakr | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 August 1985 |
| Party | New National Vision |
Other political affiliations | Jamaat al Muslimeen |
| Spouse | Kristy Ramnarine |
| Relations | Radanfah Abu Bakr (brother) |
| Parent(s) | Yasin and Atiyah Abu Bakr |
| Education | Queen's Royal College Kingston University City, University of London |
Fuad Abu Bakr (born 30 August 1985) is a Trinidad and Tobago politician, businessman and community activist who is the leader of the New National Vision political party.[1]
Early life and education
Fuad Abu Bakr was born in 1985, the son of Yasin Abu Bakr, head of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, and his wife Atiyah (formerly Grace Telesford).[2] He is one of his father's 15 children.[3] When Abu Bakr was four his father attempted to overthrow the government of Trinidad and Tobago.[2]
Abu Bakr completed his secondary education at Queen's Royal College in Port of Spain,[2] and then spent two years studying Arabic and Islamic jurisprudence at the Islamic Call Society's college in Libya.[3] He later studied at Kingston University and at the City, University of London, both in the United Kingdom.[1]
Political career
Fuad Abu Bakr is the political leader of the New National Vision.[1]
Under Abu Bakr's leadership, the NNV contested 12 of 41 seats in the 2010 general elections.[4] Abu Bakr was a candidate for the Port of Spain North/Saint Ann's West, and placed third, receiving 93 of 13,344 votes cast.[5]
In the 2015 general elections Abu Bakr contested the Diego Martin West seat and came fourth of six candidates. He received 194 of 17,026 votes cast.[6] In the 2020 general elections he ran for the Port of Spain South seat and came fourth. He received 147 of 10,452 votes cast.[7]
Abu Bakr was arrested on 30 June 2020[8] during riots in Port of Spain over the killing of three men, Joel Jacob, Noel Diamond and Israel Clinton, by police.[9] He was charged with "using violent language to provoke persons to commit a breach of the peace" and breaking regulations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also charged with obstructing a police officer, and three counts of assaulting a police officer in connection with a Black Lives Matter protest earlier that month in Port of Spain.[8] His father, Yasin Abu Bakr, claimed his son has been trying to calm protestors, not incite them, when he was arrested.[10] Charges against Abu Bakr stemming from the BLM protest was dismissed in May 2023 after the police officer who filed the charges repeatedly failed to appear in court.[11]
In the 2025 general elections he is a candidate for the Port of Spain South seat representing the NNV.[12] He was the party's only candidate,[13] and has endorsed the UNC as "best hope for poor and disenfranchised citizens".[14] On 9 April he led a protest in east Port of Spain against Keith Scotland, the member of parliament for Port of Spain South, questioning the ruling People's National Movement's commitment to "uplift[ing] African people" what it meant to be a "PNM stronghold".[15]
Personal life
Abu Bakr is married to Kristy Ramnarine, a television producer at CNC3.[16] Footballer Radanfah Abu Bakr is one of his brothers.[17]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNM | Keith Scotland | 5,523 | 59.9% |  | |
| COP | Kirt Sinnette | 2,218 | 24.1% |  | |
| PF | Winzy Adams | 670 | 7.3% | | |
| NTA | Gail Gonsalves-Castanada | 352 | 3.8% | | |
| NNV | Fuad Abu Bakr | 268 | 2.9% | | |
| All People's Party (Trinidad and Tobago) | Kezel Jackson | 149 | 1.6% | | |
| Majority | 3,305 | 35.8% | | ||
| Turnout | 9,215 | 36.09% | |||
| Registered electors | 25,534 | ||||
| PNM hold | |||||
References
- 1 2 3 "Fuad Abu Bakr | NNV: Port of Spain South". Trinidad and Tobago Express. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- 1 2 3 Pires, BC (26 July 2015). "Growing up Abu". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- 1 2 Fraser, Mark (24 July 2014). "I dont live in anybodys shadow". Trinidad and Tobago Express. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "Disorder: Brad Boyce protesters spring surprise on Volney at St Joseph meeting". Trinidad and Tobago Express. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ↑ Elections and Boundaries Commission (2010). Report of the Elections and Boundaries Commission on the Parliamentary Elections held on Monday 24th March, 2010. p. 215.
- ↑ Elections and Boundaries Commission. Results of the Parliamentary Election Held on Monday 7 September 2015
- ↑ Report of the Elections and Boundaries Commission on the Parliamentary Elections held on Monday 10th August, 2020
- 1 2 Loutoo, Jada (1 July 2020). "Fuad Abu Bakr charged". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ Kissoon, Carolyn (30 June 2020). "Police open fire, as protests escalate". Trinidad and Tobago Express. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "'My son was the peacemaker'". Trinidad and Tobago Express. 1 July 2020.
- ↑ Ramdass, Rickie (4 June 2023). "Bakr freed of charges after cop fails to show, file missing". Trinidad and Tobago Express. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ Narcis-Scope, Fern (8 April 2025). Notice of Taking a Poll – Listing of Candidates and Polling Stations for the 2025 Parliamentary Elections (PDF). Elections and Boundaries Commission.
- ↑ Jacob, Roger (4 April 2025). "17 parties, 161 candidates to contest April 28 general election". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ↑ De Silva, Radhica (15 April 2025). "Fuad Abu Bakr endorses UNC as best hope for poor and disenfranchised". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ Bartlett, Joey (10 April 2025). "Abu Bakr leads protest against PNM in East Port of Spain". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ↑ "Fuad Abu Bakr victorious in High Court case". Loop News. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ↑ Noel, Otancia (23 July 2015). "Fuad Abu Bakr: Jamaat acted to save T&T; my father is a scapegoat". Wired868. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ↑ Elections and Boundaries Commission. Parliamentary Elections 2025. Detailed Preliminary Results Archived 2 May 2025 at the Wayback Machine