The politics of Trinidad and Tobago function within the framework of a unitary state regulated by a parliamentary democracy modelled on that of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,from which the country gained its independence in 1962. Under the 1976 republican Constitution,the monarch was replaced as head of state by a President chosen by an electoral college composed of the members of the bicameral Parliament,consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning was a Trinidadian politician who was the fourth prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago;his terms ran from 17 December 1991 to 9 November 1995 and from 24 December 2001 to 26 May 2010. He was also the political leader of the People's National Movement (PNM) from 1987 to 2010. A geologist by training,Manning served as Member of Parliament for the San Fernando East constituency from 1971 until 2015 when he was replaced by Randall Mitchell,but with the seat in 2020 being won by his son Brian Manning. Patrick Manning was the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives. He was the Leader of the Opposition from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1995 to 2001.
San Fernando,officially the City of San Fernando,is the most populous city and second most populous municipality in Trinidad and Tobago,after Chaguanas. Sando,as it is known to many local Trinidadians,occupies 19 km2 and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad. It is bounded to the north by the Guaracara River,the south by the Oropouche River,the east by the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway,and the west by the Gulf of Paria. The former borough was elevated to the status of a city corporation on 18 November 1988. The motto of San Fernando is:"Sanitas Fortis" - In a Healthy Environment We Will Find Strength. San Fernando is called Trinidad and Tobago's "industrial capital" because of its proximity to the Pointe-à-Pierre oil refinery and many other petrochemical,LNG,iron and steel and aluminium smelters in places such as Point Lisas in Couva,Point Fortin,and La Brea.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar;born Kamla Susheila Persad,22 April 1952),often referred to by her initials KPB,is a Trinidadian lawyer,politician and educator who is the Leader of the Opposition of Trinidad and Tobago,political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) political party,and was the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 26 May 2010 until 9 September 2015. She was the country's first female prime minister,attorney general,and Leader of the Opposition,the first woman to chair the Commonwealth of Nations and the first woman of Indian origin to be a prime minister of a country outside of India and the wider subcontinent.
Winston Chandarbhan Dookeran is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician and economist as well as international public official. Dookeran is the current secretary-general of EUCLID,an intergovernmental institution of higher learning. He previously served as political leader of the Congress of the People,central bank governor,minister of finance,and minister of foreign affairs.
Presentation College San Fernando is a selective,government-assisted Roman Catholic Boys’Secondary School located in San Fernando,Trinidad and Tobago. It claims to be the first Catholic secondary school in South Trinidad,having been established around 1930 in the basement of San Fernando Presbytery. It relocated to the Colony Buildings at La Pique in 1931. Originally named St. Benedict's College,the name was changed in 1948 when management of the school was assumed by the Presentation Brothers.
The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford,Ireland,by a local Irish businessman,Edmund Ignatius Rice,now Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice. Presentation Brothers live and work in Ireland,England,USA,Canada,Ghana,Nigeria,Zimbabwe,Zambia and Grenada with about 100 brothers throughout these countries.
The Congress of the People (COP) is a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Its current political leader is Kirt Sinnette. Its symbol is the "Circle of Circles".
Anand Ramlogan is a member of the Bar of Trinidad and Tobago,England &Wales and the British Virgin Islands. He is the founder and head of Freedom Law Chambers which is based in the city of San Fernando,Trinidad. He served as junior counsel to the late Sir Fenton Ramsahoye QC in whose footsteps he followed to become the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago during the period 28 May 2010 –2 February 2015. As Attorney General,he was also the titular head of the bar.
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 24 May 2010. The date of the general elections was announced by Prime Minister Patrick Manning on April 16,2010,via a press release. The election was called over two years earlier than required by law. Polls showing that the UNC-led opposition coalition was likely to win the election were confirmed by the subsequent results.
Faris Al-Rawi is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician. He was the former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago from 2015 to 2022. He is also a Member of the House of Representatives for the constituency of San Fernando West.
Nikoli Edwards is a politician and political activist from Trinidad and Tobago. On 11 January 2017 he was appointed as a temporary Independent member of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago by former President Anthony Carmona. He launched a new political party called the Progressive Party on 16 June 2019. On the 11th of August 2020,Trinidad and Tobago held their General Elections where Edwards contested a seat,San Fernando West. His rivals were Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Sean Sobers (UNC). Nikoli Edwards,interim leader of the Progressive party lost the general elections and San Fernando West was retained by current Member of Parliament and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi. Nikoli obtained 211 votes for the Progressive Party.
Pennelope Althea Beckles-Robinson is a Trinidad and Tobago attorney and politician. She has served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for Arima since the 2020 general election. She is the current Minister of Planning and Development. Previously she was the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Camille Robinson-Regis is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian lawyer and politician,representing the People's National Movement. She was first elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for Arouca South in 1992 and is the current Member of Parliament for Arouca/Maloney. She is the Minister of Planning and Development,the Lady Vice-Chairman of the People's National Movement,and the Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives.
Isabel Ursula Teshea,TC was an Afro-Trinidadian social worker,human rights activist,and politician. One of the founders of the People's National Movement,she served as vice chair of the party and was the first woman to hold the office. When Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence from Britain,she ran as a candidate,becoming the first woman elected in the newly established House of Representatives. She became the first woman cabinet Minister and later ambassador for the country. Posthumously,she was awarded the Trinity Cross,the highest honor of the country.
Christine Carla Kangaloo is a Trinidadian politician,who is the president of Trinidad and Tobago since 2023. She was president of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago from 2015 until her resignation to run for president in 2023. She is the only person to serve as both President and Vice President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago,the first woman to serve as Senate Vice President and third woman to serve as acting President of Trinidad and Tobago and Senate President. She became the second woman to serve as President of Trinidad and Tobago upon her assumption of office on 20 March 2023. Kangaloo has served as an Opposition Senator,Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister,Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister of Science,Technology and Tertiary Education in previous People's National Movement governments.
Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and former leader of the Congress of the People. She was a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for San Fernando West from 2010 until 2015.
Randall Mitchell is a politician and lawyer in Trinidad and Tobago who has served as the Minister of Tourism,Culture and the Arts since 19 August 2020. He first entered Parliament as the elected representative for San Fernando East in the 11th Republican Parliament (2015). He was appointed a senator in the Trinidad and Tobago Senate on 19 August 2020. He is a member of the People's National Movement.
Anita Haynes is a Trinidad and Tobago politician representing the United National Congress. She has served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for Tabaquite since the 2020 general election. She was previously an Opposition Senator from 2017 to 2020. She is the first female MP for Tabaquite.
Brian Manning is a Trinidad and Tobago politician representing the People's National Movement (PNM). He has served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for San Fernando East since the 2020 general election. He is the current Minister in the Ministry of Finance.
