Trinidad Elects Its First Female Prime Minister, a Hindu

By Krishna Mohan Das
Monday,May 31,2010

(Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar Prime Minister of Trinidad)

Trinidad and Tobago has elected its first female Prime Minister in the person of Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar following elections held on Monday. She is a devout Hindu, and her People’s Partnership won 29 out of the 41 parliamentary seats. Persad-Bissessar is expected to swear in as Prime Minister on Tuesday evening by President George Maxwell Richards.

She will also become Chairman of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Among her academic credentials are a B.A., LLB degree in Law, Master’s in Business Administration, and a Diploma in Education, all from the University of the West Indies.

She was the first woman to lead any political party in oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago. Her meteoric rise had its genesis last January 24 when he challenged her former political guru and mentor, Basdeo Panday for the leadership of the United National Congress. She won ten to one in the tally of votes.