The New President of Trinidad and Tobago

On Friday, January 20th, 2023, for the second time in history, a female President for Trinidad and Tobago was elected, Ms. Christine Carla Kangaloo. The prior female president was Paula Mae Weekes, who was elected in 2018. 

The Nomination Process 

Kangaloo resigned as Senate President in mid-January and was nominated for president by the government. The Electoral College took over two and a half hours to vote for Kangaloo to become president, winning the election 48 to 21 against veteran Senior Counsel Israel Khan.  

Who is Christine Kangaloo? 

Christine Carla Kangaloo started her legal journey in 1985, working for a legal team named Hobsons. Throughout the years, she has continued to advance up the legal ladder. Then, in 2001 she was appointed as an Opposition Senator. Ms. Kungaloo is an alumna of the University of the West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School. 

Defining Achievements 

A long list of defining achievements can be written about Kungaloo's impressive career. Two examples of her accomplishments are listed here. 

1. Kangaloo is the only one to have served as Vice President and President of the Senate. 
2. The Ministry’s free birth certificate program was fortunate to receive the Prime Minister’s Award for Innovation in 2005.  
3. She has also overseen the "Mail-In Mail-Out" service, "Here to Help." It was a campaign to help remote areas offer their services, upload the Companies Registry Online, and revamp the Land Registry’s payment system. That program won the Prime Ministry’s award in 2006 for Service Excellence. 

To that list, she is now fortunate to add to the list the seventh head of state and Trinidad and Tobago Commander in Chief. 

Nominating Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley was quoted as having expressed his confidence in the decision in the following statement. 

"It is with a sense of great pride that as Member of Parliament for Diego Martin West and along with all other members who signed or otherwise endorse her nomination that, as Prime Minister of this Republic that I present Ms. Christine Carla Kangaloo as a most worthy candidate for the consideration of this esteemed Electoral College to be elected to the position of President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago."  

The Caribbean is confident Ms. Kangaloo will be an excellent president for Trinidad and Tobago. 

CITED: www.caribbean.loopnews.com, www.caribbeannationalweekly.com, www.ttparliment.org