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1st LD: Opposition leader wins general election in Trinidad and Tobago

Xinhua, September 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Keith Rowley of the People's National Movement (PNM) won the general election Monday in Trinidad and Tobago, becoming the prime minister of the Caribbean country.

Preliminary results showed that the PNM has won 23 of 41 seats in parliament.

"We are confident that the country has been placed in good hands. The PNM will take the responsibility of governing the country," Rowley said after the victory.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, leader of the ruling coalition, the People's Partnership, conceded defeat in a live television speech late Monday.

Rowley, who is married with two daughters, was born on Oct. 24, 1949 in Tobago.

He first served in parliament as an opposition senator in 1987-1990, and later served successively as minister of agriculture, lands and marine resources, minister of planning and development, minister of housing and minister of trade and industry.

He has been the member of the House of Representatives for Diego Martin West in the parliament since 1991.

Following the PNM's defeat in the 2010 general election, Rowley was appointed leader of the opposition and was elected the political leader of the PNM.

Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean composed of two main islands, covering an area of 5,128 square km. A former British colony, the country gained independence in 1962. Endi