AS 2010 began, Trinidad and Tobago’s stale political equilibrium seemed firmly entrenched. Patrick Manning, the prime minister, and Basdeo Panday, the opposition leader, had alternated in power for nearly two decades. Their parties stood for races rather than policies: Mr Panday’s United National Congress (UNC) represented the 40% of Trinidadians of Indian descent, while Mr Manning’s People’s National Movement (PNM) was identified with the islands’ blacks. The next election was not due until March 2013.

Yet in the space of just four months, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, an energetic lawyer, has managed to topple both of the country’s political titans. On January 24th, she unseated the 77-year-old Mr Panday in a UNC leadership challenge. Her forceful opposition then panicked Mr Manning into calling a snap election on May 24th, in which her UNC-led alliance took 29 of the 41 elected seats. Thanks to Mr Manning’s miscalculation, Trinidad and Tobago now has its first female prime minister and a rare opportunity for political renewal.

Mr Manning, who has governed Trinidad and Tobago for more than 12 of the past 18 years, was re-elected in November 2007 thanks to a split opposition vote and a strong economy. An energy boom caused GDP to grow by nearly 8% annually from 2000-2007, and the islands’ 1.3m residents remain prosperous despite suffering a recession last year. Labour is scarce, roads are jammed with new cars and education is free up to post-graduate level.

Even when times were good, however, crime was soaring, just as in other Caribbean countries. Over the last decade, Trinidad and Tobago’s murder rate has quadrupled, caused by an influx of guns stemming from the drug trade, a weakening of family ties, and a growing gang presence. Another gripe is the unreliable water supply, which is particularly poor in rural areas, and was further disrupted by a recent drought.

Mr Manning’s government was also undermined by corruption scandals. In the best-known example, Calder Hart, the former head of a state development agency, granted a $136m contract to build government offices to a Malaysian company that allegedly had ties to his relatives. The story was particularly damaging to Mr Manning because a British academic’s investigation of the case was televised and attracted large audiences. The public was further incensed by the construction of a lavish new official residence for the prime minister, and delays and cost overruns in building a cricket stadium. Sensing weakness, the UNC pushed for a no-confidence vote.

With a comfortable majority in the legislature, the PNM would easily have defeated such an initiative. But Mr Manning decided to take his case directly to voters and called an election instead. He may have counted on the opposition’s divisions to give him a majority, as in 2007. However, Ms Persad-Bissessar has none of the political baggage of Mr Panday, her predecessor, whose government fell in 2001 because of corruption allegations. She quickly joined forces with the rival opposition party, which separated from the UNC in 2006 because of conflicts with Mr Panday, and called the new alliance the “People’s Partnership. ” Her campaign focused on openness and accountability. Its advertisements depicted a multi-racial group of leaders discussing policy options—a welcome change from the traditional model of a leading man inspiring a throng of supporters.

The new prime minister will now have to show she represents a change of substance. She promised voters a sumptuous menu of treats if elected, including free laptops for students, additional health and pension spending, more police on the streets, and a freeze in the property tax. She has been far less specific about how to pay for these programmes. Energy revenues made up 55% of the government’s revenues over the last five years, but have been hit by lower prices. Having broken Mr Manning and Mr Panday’s stranglehold on power, Ms Persad-Bissessar will have to meet the standards of the new era of political accountability she has vowed to bring about.

The signing ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning, on the eve of a Parliamentary vote of no confidence debate, dissolved Parliament and set a general election date of 24 May.

With momentum growing in support of opposition leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar, Manning has been struggling in local polls.

Events took a nasty turn in recent days however.

American campaigner Bernie Campbell, arrived in Trinidad on April 23 to assist the Persad- Bissessar team.

Upon presentation of his travel documents, Campbell was informed that he was denied entry on the advisement of the Minister of National Security. Mr. Campbell was given a document which pertained to his denial of entry which he declined to sign. He was left standing in what had become an empty terminal for well over an hour.

Eventually he was informed that he would be taken by security to a hotel nearby and then brought to the airport the following morning to be placed on the American Airlines flight scheduled for departure at that time. After leaving the airport in the security vehicle, it was intercepted en route to the hotel by an unmarked car and the security with Mr. Campbell was questioned by two men. The security guard informed Mr. Campbell that he was unaware as to who the men who intercepted the vehicle were and advised him that he would be safer at the airport. Mr. Campbell was then driven back to the airport by the security where he stayed until his departure. He was escorted by airport security on board American Airlines flight number 1818.

The UNC had contracted the firm A.K.P.D to assist with certain key aspects of their election campaign. Mr. Campbell entered the island initially on April 15^th 2010. Mr. Campbell, a seasoned political strategist and speech writer for several leading U.S. political figures declared to the local immigration upon his first visit that he was here on business as a consultant. After concluding discussions with the Political Leader of the UNC, Bernie Campbell was formally engaged by the party. He then left Trinidad on April 19^th 2010 with the expectation that he would return to formally assume his assignment.

Persad-Bissessar said of the incident: “The team said they have never been subjected to any rejection from any of the countries visited before, and were surprised by the experience encountered here. My Party and I condemn the high handed authoritarian display of power perpetrated by the Manning administration upon the legitimate democratic exercise of the party in conducting its election campaign.”

The United States Embassy has been informed of the incident.

Under Regulation 10 of the Immigration Regulations, made under the Immigration Act, Chapter 18:01 of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, a foreign national can work locally for a period not exceeding one month in a twelve month period.  Upon re-entering the island to assume his duties Mr. Campbell would therefore have been eligible to do so under this section of the law.

The Ministry of National Security has issued a media release stating that no deportation order was issued or signed by the Ministry of National Security or any immigration officer. However, Mr. Cambpell was denied entry pursuant to Section 8(1) (q) of the Immigration Act 18:01 which states “any person who from information or advice which in the opinion of the Minister is reliable information or advice is likely to be an undesirable inhabitant or, or visitor to Trinidad and Tobago.” It is clear that the decision to rely upon this section can only be done by the Minister as it is he who has the authority to rely upon it.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday dissolved the twin island state’s Parliament, triggering  a general  election, more  than 2 years before it was constitutionally due. No date has yet been set though. The move came the day before he was to be challenged by a motion of no confidence brought by the Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad Bissessar.

This is the second time that Manning has opted for an early election.

He lost that one then…

If the Opposition UNC were to win, Kamla would become the first woman PM of Indian descent in the region.