Tuesday, November 18, 2008

How many of you can say THAT!

As a Trinidadian I along with the rest of the world looked on with keen interest at the US election, and like everyone else saw history made, well it got me comparing the history on my island with the history of America in terms of Presidents, you guys have had 44 presidents thus far. We've had only five. So it thought how can I spin this fact that would make me feel better about my relatively young country? Like this.............. I've lived an amazing life! Do you know that in my lifetime I have lived through all the Prime Ministers (Presidents) that this country has ever had! Yup all five of them!


Now while Obama is the 44th President of the US, my Prime Minister the Honorable Patrick Manning is the 5th leader this country has had! The first leader, was Dr Eric Williams, he took us from being a colony of England to being independent, this happened six years before I was born, however unlike the US we can have the same Prime Minister for................. ever! As long as the electorate is happy with him. In fact Eric Williams may well have been PM for life, had he not died while in office. He served for twenty straight years!

Hereunder are the sum total of everyone who has been the leader of this great nation Trinidad and Tobago: (the dates are when the served as PM)



George Chambers: 30 March 1981 - 18 December 1986 A.N.R. Robinson: 19 December 1986 - 17 December 1991 Patrick Manning: 17 December 1991 - 9 November 1995 Basdeo Panday: 9 November 1995 - 24 December 2001 Patrick Manning: 24 December 2001 - present
And there you have it, the first two Prime Ministers are now dead, the third actually went on to become President ( a mostly ceremonial post), and the last two have been competing and still is competing for the post of Prime Minister during elections.
So that is a quick look at the political landscape of Trinidad, considering how much your elections were in the news, and it's now finished, I figured you would say to yourself, 'I wonder who leads Trinidad and Tobago?' now you know!




23 comments:

SG said...

How did I miss this blog?!?! Apparantly I'm not the only one...

Very interesting stuff! Only five! Wow.

So I'm guessing a black President is no big deal in Trinidad. lol. Well it's a big deal here and I think it's great!

Bo said...

Hi my precious little Trinidadian (love that word)...this was a great post! Now, tell me something...do you now live in the U.S. or in Trinidad? No matter really, but because of you...I'm going to put Trinidad on my "Bucket List"...I loved your video with the coconuts!
Hugs, ;-) Bo

mrsben said...

Raxx, it's so nice to have someone else share some insight of their country's Politics. Thanks so much for sharing it with me. I found it really interesting.

(In our country Canada I am hoping some day they will adopt the way the Americans do it. Here we vote for a PARTY. The member candidates of the PARTY choose their Leader first, and IF they win their Leader becomes the Prime Minister of our country. (There are numerous Parties but only one Leader per party.) In our most recent election we had; the Leaders chosen this time around I feel were the deciding factors and to who won and who didn't.)

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

Raxx - A day in the life said...

mrsben it's exactly the same with us here, and of course each party member becomes a minister of something!

mrsben said...

Raxx, with Trinidad once being under British rule; I suspect there is a similarity in the election process due Canada is still part of the British Commonwealth, though some (namely French descent and new Immigrants) wud very much like to change it. (We do have a Governor General who represents her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and is appointed by a special Gov't committee. SHE is fully bilingual (speaks fluent English 'n French), was born in Haiti, educated in Canada and is of the black culture. (We adore her.)
To date 'my' country however has had fourty elections and a total of twenty-two Presidents (some who have been relected).

CLASS is over!!!! Aren't you glad? SMILES

mrsben said...

Woops...that shud have read "twenty-two PRIME MINISTERS". LOL (Teacher fails!)

Raxx - A day in the life said...

mrsben, thanks for the info, I heard of your Govenor General, I admire her too! Being next door to the US I forgive your 'Presidential' mistake! lol!!

Buffie said...

That was VERY interesting! I loved learning the history all be it a short one, of your country's leadership...

Nope not too many people can say that!

Buffie :)

Justine said...

Wow, that was really really interesting to read, Raquel! Thanks for sharing it with us! And don't you think Mr. Manning kind of resembles Sidney Portier? When will this "election" of yours be over? Who do you want to win?

Justine :o )

Jill said...

I love learning about other countries! So my next question is a stupid one but one that I ask anyone from somewhere other than the U.S.! Do you have Walmart there???

Anonymous said...

Hi sweet Raquel... Long time no post... I have missed you and glad to see you pop on up to the top of my list... Great bit of history you gave us tonight with you Prime Ministers and Presidents... It is interesting that there have been so few... All good looking men too ;-D ... Have a great night... Give those beautiful kids a big hug from me...

(((HUGS)))
Donna

nikkicrumpet said...

I love any post you do that tells us about your country. I don't know anything about it...so I love all this information. Very interesting stuff! And how is the costume hunt going???

Lisa (aka) French said...

Very cool info here;) Nice to see someone knows it's Prime Minister not president everywhere lmao) French;)

Anonymous said...

So what was wrong with being English????

Only joking, I wouldn't want to start an international slagging match!

Nice to see you know about your politics, I'm afraid I just read the basics and then vote for who I think seems best. I ought to go into it more but I never do.

Maybe it's people like me who have got the country into the current state?

SmilingSally said...

Thanks for the history lesson.

squawmama said...

Het girlfriend I am passing a bookworm award/meme to you... it's a little different... Have fun doing it..

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Anonymous said...

Little bitty pretty one!! What a great post! I loved learning more about your beautiful country!!
Be a sweetie,

Shelia :)

Anonymous said...

Hey Girlfriend! ]

Party on my blog for french!

PS be back to read your blog...

xoxoxoxox
donna

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

I loved this post. It was very interesting. Your blog is wonderful, my friend!!
xoxoxo Terrie

SG said...

LMAO Jungle Fever!!!

Deb said...

Hi Raxx! Great post! Very informative and something I did not know. Thanks so much for sharing this, I loved learning about your country. Deb

Bridget said...

Hi Girlie, Did you make it home safe last night? Are your arms tired? lol

Tootsie said...

that is cool! thanks for the info...I had no idea!