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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 Trinidad and Tobago 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.
The United National Congress is one of two major political parties in Trinidad and Tobago and the current parliamentary opposition. The UNC is a centre-left party. It was founded in 1989 by Basdeo Panday, a Trinidadian lawyer, economist, trade unionist, and actor after a split in the ruling National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR). After spending six years in opposition, the UNC won control of the government in 1995, initially in coalition with the NAR and later on its own. In the 2000 general election, the UNC won an absolute majority in the Parliament. In 2001, a split in the party caused the UNC to lose its parliamentary majority and control of the government. From 2001 to 2010, the UNC was once again Parliamentary Opposition party. In May 2010, the UNC returned to government as the majority party in the People's Partnership. The UNC's Political Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, was sworn in as the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Kamla Persad-Bissessar was Prime Minister from 2010 until 2015.
The People's National Movement (PNM) is the longest-serving and oldest active political party in Trinidad and Tobago. The party has dominated national and local politics for much of Trinidad and Tobago's history, contesting all elections since 1956 serving as the nation's governing party or on four occasions, the main opposition. It is one out of the country's two main political parties. There have been four PNM Prime Ministers and multiple ministries. The party espouses the principles of liberalism and generally sits at the centre to centre-left of the political spectrum.
Basdeo Panday was a Trinidadian and Tobagonian statesman, lawyer, politician, trade unionist, economist, and actor who served as the fifth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001. He was the first person of Indian descent along with being the first Hindu to hold the office of Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North, Panday served as Leader of the Opposition four times between 1976 and 2010 and was a founding member of the United Labour Front (ULF), the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), and the United National Congress (UNC). He served as leader of the ULF and UNC, and was President General of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers' Trade Union from 1973 to 1995.
Winston Edward Peters, also known by his sobriquet Gypsy, is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and calypsonian who served as Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Community Development in the People's Partnership Coalition led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Peters also served as Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism from 27 May 2010 to 22 June 2012.
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General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, 10 August 2020, to elect 41 members to the 12th Trinidad and Tobago Republican Parliament. It was the 14th election since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 and the 22nd national election in Trinidad and Tobago ever. Tracy Davidson-Celestine, political leader of the Tobago Council of the People's National Movement (PNM) became the first woman to lead a Tobagonian political party with representation in the House of Representatives. Additionally, two of the three largest parties elected in 2015, the United National Congress (UNC) and the Congress of the People (COP), were led by women.
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References
- ↑ "Lovell Francis defends thesis on Trinidadian Sugar Industry". University of the West Indies at St. Augustine. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- 1 2 Alexander, Gail (13 August 2019). "Lovell tipped to replace McDonald". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ↑ Ramdass, Anna (27 May 2018). "'I could have been a millionaire', says MP". Trinidad and Tobago Express . Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ↑ Douglas, Sean (13 November 2018). "Francis: I was bad lad". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday . Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ↑ "The Honourable Dr. Lovell Francis, MP". Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ↑ Sookraj, Radhica (22 September 2015). "Moruga/Tableland MP joins Education Ministry". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ↑ "Lovell Francis on his way out". Trinidad and Tobago Express . 27 May 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ↑ Williams, Curtis (19 May 2020). "PNM rejects Francis for Moruga/Tabeland". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ↑ Douglas, Sean (11 August 2020). "Francis: Glad PNM won, but sad to lose Moruga/Tableland". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ↑ Felmine, Kevon (20 May 2020). "No Lovell, no vote". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ↑ Douglas, Sean (17 August 2021). "Ex-ministers Edmund Dillon, Lovell Francis appointed diplomats". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday . Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ↑ "Dhanpaul resigns from NIF". Trinidad and Tobago Express . 24 August 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ↑ Alexander, Gail (20 August 2021). "Lovell looking forward to the South Africa posting". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ↑ "Her Excellency receives Five Heads of Mission". The Office of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.