Trinidad elects first female premier

GREETINGS,

Trinidad elects first female premier

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the first woman to lead Trinidad and Tobago

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Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the first woman to lead Trinidad and Tobago

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Trinidad and Tobago’s outgoing Prime Minister Patrick Manning

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Former Attorney General Persad-Bissessar’s bloc, the United National Congress coalition, won at least 27 of 41 seats in Parliament.

“I’m deeply humbled by the trust you have given to me,” Persad-Bissessar said in a victory speech in which she emphasized unity for the nation’s diverse races, AFP reported.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning conceded defeat some five hours after the polls closed late on Monday.

“What I do know is that we’ve lost the elections,” Manning said live on television late on Monday. “I take full responsibility for the defeat.”

Manning decided to call a snap election in April, in the middle of his five-year term, to avoid an opposition motion of no-confidence.

His administration was faced with severe criticism over rising crimes, corruption, mismanaging funds and neglecting health care. Manning has ruled Trinidad and Tobago for 13 years.

Large gas and oil reserves have turned Trinidad and Tobago into one of the wealthiest nations in the Caribbean.