Patrick Manning’s PNM wins again

09.NOV.07

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Prime Minister Patrick Manning has promised that those who did not support the People’s National Movement (PNM) in Monday’s general election would not be victimised by his new government.{{more}}

Manning made the declaration Wednesday, in his address after being sworn in as Prime Minister for the fourth time by President George Maxwell Richards, during an historic ceremony at Woodford Square, Port of Spain.

“The resources will be deployed for the benefit of all and together we shall all move over the next five years to make Trinidad and Tobago one of the best places on planet Earth,” Manning said.

The PNM won 26 of the 41 seats, just two seats short of a special majority that would have given Prime Minister Patrick Manning the power to make constitutional changes without Opposition support.

The UNC won 15 seats and will form the Opposition while the Congress of the People (COP) won none.

Prior to this year’s elections, of the 36 constituencies the PNM held 20 seats and the UNC Opposition had 16.

Meanwhile, United National Congress Alliance co-leader Basdeo Panday was confirmed as Opposition Leader Wednesday night.

Panday said he had resolved himself to return to the Parliament as Opposition Leader for the second time.

“I’m gonna give them hell,” he said in an interview with the Express.