PORT-OF-SPAIN – Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has placed two women in leading positions on the opposition benches in the Lower and Upper houses of Parliament.
Port-of-Spain South MP Marlene McDonald was named as the Opposition Chief Whip, while former Arima MP Pennelope Beckles will return to the political limelight as leader of the opposition benches in the senate.
This means that when the Parliament convenes next Friday, it will be an historic session with Kamla Persad-Bissessar as this country’s first woman prime minister, McDonald as the first woman opposition chief whip and Beckles as the first woman leader of the opposition bench in the Senate.
Rowley made the announcement at a press conference at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Port-of-Spain, where he also named the six new opposition senators.
“Well, certainly, it is very humbling to be named as the Chief Whip and certainly I will put my best foot forward at the start of this new time,’ McDonald said.
Beckles, who is seen as a stalwart in the PNM, was bypassed to contest the Arima seat in the May 24 general election, a move that upset PNM supporters and led to Congress of the People’s Rodger Samuel winning the seat – traditionally considered a PNM stronghold. (TRINIDAD EXPRESS)
