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AS she congratulated newly appointed Prime Minister Kamla Per­sad-Bissessar on her “historic” return to office, President Christine Kangaloo said yesterday the new Government has been given a clear mandate to lead this country forward.

Kangaloo also commended Tri­nidad and Tobago for a smooth transition of power through a peaceful demonstration of the democratic process, and called for the people to prosper under Persad-Bissessar’s administration.

Kangaloo, Tri­nidad and Tobago’s second woman President and commander-in-chief, is also now part of a historic trifecta in the country’s governance history, with the appointment of Persad-Bissessar and Wednesday’s decision by the People’s National Movement (PNM) to select Arima MP Pennel­ope Beckles as the party’s first woman Opposition Leader.