The People’s National Movement’s (PNM) fourth leader, Dr. Keith Rowley, now Prime Minister-elect, will be Trinidad and Tobago’s second Tobago-born Prime Minister following yesterday’s 2015 general election victory.
Rowley follows Tobago-born late Prime Minister Arthur NR Robinson into history in this regard.
Rowley said the PNM had won 23 of the 41 constituencies. The PNM took the election 23 to 18.
Jack Warner’s Independent Liberal Party (ILP) lost its bid in all the seats it contested, even though Warner at the close of polls had projected his party might have won “one to three seats”.
Rowley, during his victory statement, again warned that difficult times were ahead.
He said his first priorities were the swearing in of an attorney general, whom he declined to identify, and the delivery of the 2016 Budget.
Outgoing Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar conceded at midnight, speaking after Rowley made his victory speech.
She said the people’s wishes must be respected as the people had chosen.
Persad-Bissessar said she would not stop serving the people and there would be a healthy Opposition in the Parliament.
