PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago President, Paula-Mae Weekes, who is due to leave office later this month, has left the country Tuesday on vacation, the Office of the President has announced.
It gave no further details regarding the vacation, adding that Weekes, the country’s sixth head of state, will return on January 12.
President of the Senate, Christine Kangaroo, is acting as President.
An election for a new president of the twin island republic is scheduled to be held on January 20 after President Weekes, who took office on March 19, 2018, indicated that she was not interested in a second five-year term. At that time, she was the only nominated candidate and was elected without the need for a vote, becoming the first woman in the country’s history to hold the title of President.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley dismissed suggestions that he intended to become the next head of state, becoming the second active politician following the late ANR Robinson to hold the post.
“That is not an option at all,” he told the Express newspaper, dismissing the speculation as senseless gossip started by an Opposition blogger.
Asked by the newspaper whether, in selecting a new President, the government would adhere to the apparent convention of choosing someone from among retired judges or from the legal fraternity, the Prime Minister said no.
“I am open to a person who is qualified to hold the position and a person who is willing. Because being qualified is one thing, being ready is another.
“And qualified means someone who can discharge the responsibilities as contemplated in the letter and spirit of the law and who, on a fair assessment, would find acceptance by the wider public. I don’t know of anybody in the country who would find acceptance by everybody and would also be infallible,” Rowley added.
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