Trinidad and Tobago President, Paula-Mae Weekes, who is due to leave office later this month, left the country Tuesday on vacation, the Office of the President has announced.
It gave no further details regarding the vacation, adding that Weekes, the country’s sixth head of state, will return on January 12.
President of the Senate, Christine Kangaloo is acting as president.
An election for a new president of the twin island republic is scheduled to be held January 20 after President Paula-Mae Weekes, who took office on March 19, 2018, indicated she was not interested in a second five-year term. At that time, she was the only nominated candidate and was elected without need for a vote, becoming the first woman in the country’s history, to hold the title of president.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley dismissed suggestions that he intended to become the next head of state, becoming the second active politician following the late A.N.R. Robinson to hold the post.
“That is not an option at all,” he told the Express newspaper, dismissing the speculation as senseless gossip which started by an Opposition blogger.
Asked by the newspaper whether in selecting a new president the government would adhere to the apparent convention of selecting someone from among retired judges or from the legal fraternity, the prime minister said no.
“I am open to a person who is qualified to hold the position, and a person who is willing. Because being qualified is one thing, being willing is another.
“And qualified means someone who can discharge the responsibilities as contemplated in the letter and spirit of the law and who on a fair assessment would find acceptance by the wider public. Having said that, I don’t know of anybody in the country who would find acceptance by everybody and who would also be infallible,” Rowley added.
CMC/
