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Manning Loses Election; Trinidad and Tobago Ushers In First Female PM

   VOA News 25 May 2010
   Trinidad    &    Tobago   opposition   leader   and   PM-elect   Kamla
   Persad-Bissessar  waves  to  supporters after the general election, in
   Port of Spain, 24 May 2010

Photo: AP

   Trinidad    &    Tobago   opposition   leader   and   PM-elect   Kamla
   Persad-Bissessar  waves  to  supporters after the general election, in
   Port of Spain, 24 May 2010

   Voters  in  the  Caribbean  nation  of Trinidad and Tobago have ousted
   Prime Minister Patrick Manning in Monday's snap general elections.

   Mr.  Manning's  People's National  Movement lost its 26-seat majority
   in  the  41-seat parliament to the opposition United National Congress
   coalition, headed by former Attorney-General Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

   Ms.  Persad-Bissessar  will  become the first female prime minister in
   Trinidad and Tobago history.

   Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning (File)

AP

   Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning (File)

   Mr.  Manning  called  the  snap  elections  midway  through his latest
   five-year  term, after coming under constant criticism for mismanaging
   public  funds, including spending on extravagant public buildings, and
   for corruption scandals. Â
   Mr.  Manning,  who  has  served  as  prime  minister  since 2002, told
   supporters that he took full responsibility for Monday's losses.
   The PNM has ruled energy-rich Trinidad and Tobago for most of the past
   50 years.

   Â

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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