First woman Prime Minister in Trinidad
TRINIDAD: Prime Minister Patrick Manning was ousted on Monday in
Trinidad and Tobago’s general election, with a coalition of opposition
parties winning at least 27 of 41 seats in Parliament, according to
preliminary results.
Former Attorney General Kamla Persad-Bissessar is set to become the
first woman Prime Minister in the energy-rich Caribbean nation. She
heads the United National Congress (UNC), which put together a coalition
to oust Manning’s People’s National Movement (PNM). Manning conceded
defeat after an election that saw him accused of mismanaging funds and
spending exorbitantly on public buildings, charges that he denied.
“I take full responsibility,” Manning said. “We have lost and we have
conceded.”
Manning called snap elections midway in the five-year term of his
administration to thwart an opposition motion of no-confidence in him.
Port of Spain, Tuesday, Reuters
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