Yellow Is The Code: Persuasive Speaking At Its Best
- Wendy Campbell-Paul
- May 1
- 2 min read
Updated: May 4
We heard many speakers during the run up to the April 28 General Elections in Trinidad & Tobago; however, from our perspective, one speaker stood out as the most persuasive. That speaker is Miss Felisha Thomas, President General of the Public Services Association.
Wearing a green jersey and black pants and armed with a folder containing valuable statistical data, Miss Thomas mounted the United National Congress’ political platform on the night of March 29, 2025 at North Eastern College, Sangre Grande. During her delivery, Miss Thomas was very bold and confident, and at the end of it, we do not think anybody could disagree with what she said. In fact, we have not heard any adverse comments about the contents of her speech which was highly persuasive in nature.
A persuasive speech is designed to move audiences from one thinking to another without coercion. Instead, the persuasive speaker should use logos, ethos and pathos to support his/her argument.
Building on her promise to oust the PNM government, whom she described as an oppressive party, Miss Thomas used more logos (facts, statistics, examples) to support her claims that the then ruling party caused many people from various organisations to lose their jobs, and in other cases, jobs were not filled. With the use of logos, her ethos (credibility, trustworthiness and authority) shone through. Thereafter, the use of logos and ethos created pathos (anger, fear, sympathy and hope) within the listening audience. Also, it was during her speech that the catch phrase - Yellow Is The Code - was coined.
To say that Miss Thomas’s speech was just good is a gross understatement. It was excellent and it is the type of speech we advocate for instead of speeches laced with attacks on the speakers.
We commend Miss Thomas for her speech and we strongly believe that it was that major speech on March 29 and others she did, that greatly assisted the UNC to its resounding success in the national elections of 2025.
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