IN AN impassioned and heartfelt address, newly appointed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar vowed to lead a government defined by compassion, unity, and resolve.

Speaking after she was sworn in at President’s House, St Ann's, Port of Spain, on May 1, she promised a new era of inclusion, care and responsible governance for all citizens.

In a notable difference from her first swearing-in, Persad-Bissessar chose to swear on the Constitution, as opposed to her 2010 swearing-in, when she took the oath on the Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu holy book. As she read the oath, administered by President Christine Kangaloo, Persad-Bissessar's voice wavered with emotion. Persad-Bissessar, now 73, was 58 when she sworn in on May 24, 2010.