Trinidad and Tobago: Voters usher opposition back into power | The Statesman

Voters in Trinidad and Tobago chose not to give Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s coalition a new five-year term, opting to bring back the opposition under Keith Rowley. People in the oil-rich, twin island nation off South America’s northeastern shoulder voted yesterday in elections that had the prime minister battling both the opposition — and an upstart splinter party launched by disgraced football honcho Jack Warner. Persad-Bissessar’s main challenger was Rowley, a vulcanologist; his People’s National Movement (PNM) has governed the nation more than any other since independence from Britain in 1964. “These are not the times of milk and honey. There are difficult times ahead. We have a resilient people, particularly a large body of young people who are looking for a future from our country,” the prime minister-elect said to chants of “Rowley, Rowley” from hundreds of supporters.

Trinidad and Tobago: Independent Liberal Party chairman: Warner can run in the election | Trinidad Express

Chairman of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Rekha Ramjit yesterday said the party’s political leader, Jack Warner, is eligible to run in the upcoming general election as a candidate. Ramjit said based on the criteria as laid out by the Constitution, Warner is “of good character, and has not been convicted of a criminal offence”. Ramjit told the Express in a telephone interview: “He is certainly eligible to run as a candidate. The constitution of Trinidad and Tobago which deals with the criteria for representatives is very, very clear.