New Trini PM vows to rule for all

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC): History was created in Trinidad and Tobago when Kamla Persad-Bissessar was elected its first female prime minister after Monday's general election.

The 58-year-old lawyer and her recently configured opposition coalition dealt a crushing blow to the incumbent People's National Movement (PNM), led by Patrick Manning.

Preliminary results indicate that the People's Partnership, which is an amalgam of five opposition parties and trade unions, claimed 29 seats, compared to the PNM's 12.

The victory comes after the embattled Manning, in the face of declining popularity at home, sought a fresh mandate from the people some two and a half years ahead of schedule.

It assures the incoming administration of a clear two-thirds majority in the 41-seat Parliament that has been dominated by the PNM for the past eight years.

Jamaican Prime Minister Golding yesterday congratulated Persad-Bissessar and said he looked forward to working with her administration in strengthening ties with Jamaica, as well as pursuing the CARICOM agenda for the economic and social development of the Caribbean region.

humbled

Persad-Bissessar, in accepting the strong mandate of the people, said, "My cup is full and runneth over. As prime minister-elect of our great republic of Trinidad and Tobago, let me say how overwhelmed I am, humbled to deliver the government of Trinidad and Tobago to you," she told a crowd of cheering supporters gathered at the Reinzi Complex, home of the United National Congress (UNC), in central Trinidad.

"Today you have given me your hand in trust, and today I am deeply humbled by the trust you have placed in me. I accept it with deep gratitude.

"Our democracy is still preserved. Let history record that the will of the people was carried out ... each of you took part in a process," she said.

In extending a hand to supporters of the outgoing PNM government, she promised an end to divisive politics, saying, "We will all rise. Every creed and race will find an equal space and place."

Persad-Bissessar joins the ranks of the late Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Janet Jagan of Guyana and Portia Simpson Miller of Jamaica who have served at the highest level of government in the English-speaking Caribbean.

plans for huge changes

With her victory, she promised to set about the immediate task of constructing a "capable and competent" Cabinet "without fear or favour" and in the interest of the common good.

She also pledged to change the old style of politics and to provide equitable administration.

A number of senior Cabinet members, including Finance Minister Karen Nunez Tesheira, were among the major casualties of Monday's election.

Apart from Nunez Tesheira, Public Administration Minister Kennedy Swartsingh; Education Minister Esther Le Gendre; Information Minister Neil Parsanlal; Public Utilities Minister Mustapha Hamid; Tourism Minister Joseph Ross and Tertiary Education Minister Christine Kangaloo were all defeated in the snap poll.

Political observers say the defeat could also signal the end of Manning's leadership of the 54-year-old PNM.

Manning himself has hinted at the possibility of bowing out of politics after 40 years in public life. The party's General Council was scheduled to hold discussions on the prime minister's future.

"The best decision will be taken in the interest of PNM," said Manning, who in 1995 also called a snap general election and was defeated.

In Monday's general election, the party also lost in some of its traditional strongholds like Arima, east of the capital.