by SANKA PRICEin TrinidadPATRICK MANNING gambled and lost. And today, Trinidad and Tobago has its first female Prime Minister.Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the opposition coalition People’s Partnership (PP) were last night romping to a massive victory in general elections held here yesterday.By 11 p.m., the PP was projected to win 30 seats in the 41 seat House of Representatives. At about 10:45 p.m. a sombre-looking Manning, speaking from the PNM’s headquarters at Balisier House in Port-of-Spain, conceded defeat before a small crowd and accepted full responsibility for it.He told those gathered that he would now have to consider his future in politics, but was not worried about himself.“I assure you of one thing, that the best decision will be taken in the interest of the People’s National Movement,” said Manning, who called a snap poll and lost for the second time in his career. The first time was in 1995.At the United National Congress headquarters in Couva, Manning’s concession was met with wild screams of jubilation. There was already a party atmosphere there, and the fête simply surged thereafter as they awaited the arrival of Persad-Bissessar.On television, several analysts said the victory was a rejection of Manning’s leadership, moreso than an endorsement of the coalition.Former principal of the University of the West Indies St Augustine campus, Dr Bhoe Tewarie noted that the formation of the coalition under the leadership of Persad-Bissessar provided the alternative vehicle the country was looking for to ditch Manning.Some PNM commentators argued that based on voting patterns it would seem that even traditional PNM supporters either voted against PNM, while others did not vote at all. One even said Manning should have announced his resignation in his concession speech.This victory is yet another first for Persad-Bissessar. She was the twin-island republic’s first female attorney general when she was sworn in November 1995. She also acted as prime minister in September 2000, thus being the first female to act in this capacity. A mother of one and grandmother of two, Persad-Bissessar is married to her childhood sweetheart Dr Gregory Bissessar, whom she wed when she was 18 years old.Last night’s victory also proved the number 24 is a lucky one for Persad-Bissessar. That is, she had become leader of the United National Congress (UNC) on January 24, then Leader of the Opposition on February 24, and now has scored a resounding victory over the PNM yesterday: May 24.The results bring to an end a long, bruising and hard-fought five-week campaign, but people here are still asking why Manning called the poll midway into his term which was scheduled to end in 2012. That answer is certain to be revealed to all in the days and weeks ahead.
