Persad-Bissessar received her instrument of appointment from President George Maxwell Richards on Thursday at a short ceremony at President’s House, St Ann’s, creating history as the first female leader of the Opposition.
For the occasion, she temporarily removed the sling from her arm and glowed with happiness as she accepted the instrument.
Richards, who described the day as “historic”, said he received two letters on Monday—the letter of endorsement for Persad-Bissessar to become Opposi-tion Leader and the second, a letter from her expressing willingness to serve.
Richards thanked Basdeo Panday for his contribution during his tenure, and, paraphrasing the words of the Constitution, said, “In my judgment, Mrs Persad-Bissessar is best able to command the support of the greatest number of members of the House of Representatives who do not support the Government.”
Speaking after she accepted the instrument of appointment, Persad-Bissessar said as Opposition Leader, the UNC is now one step closer to getting into government.
“That is how I see my assumption of the post of Opposition Leader this afternoon. Our party now speaks with one voice. We will chart a new way forward to deliver on the hopes and expectations of our citizenry, desperate for a way out of the crisis which the Manning administration has led this nation into,” she said.
She continued, “I oppose the arrogance and self-glorification of the current leadership in the PNM. I oppose the lack of compassion and concern for the well-being of our citizens, so many of whom are ironically supporters of the ruling party. I oppose the trampling of the rights of workers. I oppose the view that people will vote only along tribal and ethnic lines regardless of whether they are being properly represented or not.
“But my greatest opposition is to the sense that things cannot be changed. I pledge to the nation that Trinidad and Tobago will be returned to the peaceful, stable and progressive society it once was.”
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, where the MPs who supported her as well as members of the UNC executive attended, Persad-Bissessar said she was ready to take the party forward and issued a call for all hands to come on deck.
