(Trinidad Express) People’s National Movement (PNM) political leader, Dr Keith Rowley will be sworn in as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at 1.30p.m. today.
Rowley visited President House yesterday where he met President Anthony Carmona. He arrived at around 10.30am and drove off half an hour later.
The swearing in ceremony is expected to take place at Queens Hall, Port of Spain. Rowley’s party defeated outgoing prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s People’s Partnership at the polls on Monday.
He is the second Tobagonian to become Prime Minister. The first was Arthur NR Robinson.
Faris Al-Rawi, who convincingly won San Fernando West, a key seat formerly held by his mother, Diane Seukeran, is tipped to become the new Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, according to well-placed sources.
Al-Rawi, who served as a member of Rowley’s team of attorneys, comes from a political family. His grandfather, the late Lionel Seukeran, was a major speaker on the Opposition bench during the period of former prime minister Eric Williams.
According to a release from the Office of the President, for the first time in the history of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister-elect and the Attorney General will be streamed live on the Internet at www.otp.tt.
“ByE bye, Kamla, bye bye.”
So sang the crowd at Balisier House last night as the People’s National Movement (PNM) announced that it had won the 2015 general election.
PNM chairman Franklin Khan said the margin of victory was 23-18.
Deputy political leader Rohan Sinanan was proclaimed as the mastermind behind the PNM’s victory.
Rowley said it was the “dawn of a new era”.
Rowley announced the party’s victory at the polls around 11.15 p.m. to the media.
As Rowley walked to the stage downstairs around 11.36 p.m. the crowd chanted his name.
They clapped, screamed and waved flags to herald his arrival. Rowley addressed the PNM faithful who packed the Balisier House car park.
“We have been passed an awesome responsibility, to me it is humbling. I am grateful,” Rowley said.
Rowley thanked the supporters and the members for not losing faith.
“Five years ago in this very same place a different mood overtook us. We were down, but not out,” Rowley said.
Rowley said the party had to remake itself.
“Once again, the people of Trinidad and Tobago have called on the People’s National Movement,” Rowley said.
Difficult days ahead
He said the Government would be guided by the party’s principles and the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago.
Rowley said there are difficult days ahead but the Government will manage the difficult times.
He said Tuesday night was “the wedding” but the country must live in harmony from now on.
