Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT (born 1 December 1961)[5] is a Trinidadian politician, who is the president of Trinidad and Tobago since 2023. She was president of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago from 2015 until her resignation to run for president in 2023. She is the only person to serve as both President and Vice President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago, the first woman to serve as Senate Vice President and third woman to serve as acting President of Trinidad and Tobago and Senate President. She became the second woman to serve as President of Trinidad and Tobago upon her assumption of office on 20 March 2023.[6][7][8] Kangaloo has served as an Opposition Senator, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education[9] in previous People's National Movement governments.[10]

Christine Kangaloo
Kangaloo in 2008
7th President of Trinidad and Tobago
Assumed office
20 March 2023[1]
Prime MinisterKeith Rowley
Senate PresidentNigel de Freitas
Preceded byPaula-Mae Weekes
President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
23 September 2015 – 17 January 2023
PresidentAnthony Carmona
Paula-Mae Weekes
Prime MinisterKeith Rowley
Preceded byRaziah Ahmed
Succeeded byNigel de Freitas
Member of the Senate
In office
23 September 2015 – 17 January 2023
Succeeded byRichie Sookhai
Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education
In office
8 November 2007 – 25 May 2010
Prime MinisterPatrick Manning
Preceded byMustapha Abdul-Hamid
Succeeded byFazal Karim
Member of Parliament for Pointe-à-Pierre
In office
5 November 2007 – 8 April 2010[2]
Preceded byGillian Lucky
Succeeded byErrol McLeod
Minister of Legal Affairs
In office
14 May 2005 – 7 November 2007
Prime MinisterPatrick Manning
Preceded byPeter Taylor
Succeeded byPrakash Ramadhar
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (Social Services Delivery)
In office
15 October 2002 – 13 May 2005
Prime MinisterPatrick Manning
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Vice-President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
5 April 2002 – 28 August 2002
Senate PresidentLinda Baboolal
Preceded byWade Mark
Succeeded byRawle Titus
Opposition Senator
In office
12 January 2001 – 13 October 2001
Personal details
Born (1961-12-01) 1 December 1961 (age 62)[3]
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies Federation, British Empire[3]
Political partyIndependent (2015–present)[a]
Other political
affiliations
People's National Movement (2001–2015)
Spouse
Kerwyn Garcia
(m. 1998)
[3]
Alma mater
Profession
  • Politician
  • lawyer

Biography

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Christine Kangaloo was born into a Presbyterian Indo-Trinidadian family to Carlyle and Barbara Kangaloo and she is the fifth of their seven children.[3][11][12] In 2018, she and her husband converted to Roman Catholicism.[13] She graduated from the University of the West Indies and Hugh Wooding Law School and with a degree in law.

On 12 January 2001, she first became a member of parliament as an opposition senator under the tenure of Opposition Leader Patrick Manning.[14] She then served as Vice President of the Senate and subsequently Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in 2002. She was then appointed Minister of Legal Affairs in 2005.[15][16] In the 2007 Trinidad and Tobago general election, she was elected to the House of Representatives as the People's National Movement (PNM) candidate for Pointe-à-Pierre and served as the Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education.[17][18] On 23 September 2015 she was elected as President of the Senate.[19]

Notes

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  1. ^ Kangaloo was elected senate president and president under the nomination of the PNM. She resigned her party membership prior to taking office.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Haynes, Kejan (2 March 2023). "Kangaloo inauguration set for March 20th". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Trinidad gov't dissolves parliament for election". Reuters. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2020.[dead link]
  3. ^ a b c d "The President | The Office of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago".
  4. ^ Webb, Yvonne (8 January 2023). "Attorney Kerwyn Garcia on life with presidential nominee: 'I'm always Mr Christine Kangaloo' - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". newsday.co.tt. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  5. ^ Taitt, Ria (7 January 2023). "FROM RED HOUSE TO PRESIDENT'S HOUSE". Trinidad Express Newspapers. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago Parliament". Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  7. ^ "96.1 WEFM". Retrieved 15 July 2020 – via Facebook.
  8. ^ "Photos of the Day: President Inauguration". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  9. ^ "More places for T&T law students at St Augustine campus". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago Parliament". Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  11. ^ "'Her Christian faith".
  12. ^ Mc Letchie, Alison (2013), "The Parasitic Oligarchy? The Elites in Trinidad and Tobago". (Doctoral dissertation).
  13. ^ "President-elect Christine Kangaloo: I won't isolate myself". 19 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Kangaloo to act as President of Trinidad & Tobago". Trinidad and Tobago Government News. Retrieved 15 July 2020.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  16. ^ "The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  17. ^ Lord, Richard. "?PM: Two elections coming this year". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Battle over Marabella sports ground". Trinidad and Tobago Newsdday. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  19. ^ "T&T Guardian". Retrieved 15 July 2020 – via Facebook.
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Political offices
New title Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (Social Services Delivery)
2002–2005
Position abolished
Preceded by
Peter Taylor
Minister of Legal Affairs
2005–2007
Succeeded by
Prakash Ramadhar
Preceded by Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education
2007–2010
Succeeded by
Fazal Karim
Preceded by President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago
2015–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Trinidad and Tobago
2023–present
Incumbent